A 6-year-old is preparing to have a dental procedure.His anxious mother is in the room with him.When the child asks if everything will be okay,she assures him it will but continues to pace and wring her hands.What is the most appropriate action for the dentist to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Children learn to cope with anxiety by imitating and learning from others.In this case,the mother is demonstrating emotional/behavioral manifestations of anxiety.By allowing the mother to remain in the room in her current emotional state,anxious behavior is reinforced to the child as a method of coping.

A 6-Year-Old Is Preparing to Have a Dental Procedure