Most parents of hospitalized or soon to be hospitalized children are faced with the dilemma of not knowing how to prepare their children, communicate concerns, and not knowing what to expect from the child. Research has shown how a hospital experience can have lasting effects on children, and it must not be forgotten that the family is the primary support system. Educating the child and the family is very important. This book offers insight on how the hospital experience can affect a child, suggestions on how to communicate more effectively, and some tips on how to help the child cope with hospitalization before, during, and after. It is the intention of the information in this booklet to be a great help to parents of hospitalized children everywhere.