Don’t Touch--and Tell an Adult

Should you tell your kids the dangers of hypodermic needles? And if so, when? And how?

Yes, and the proper time is whenever a teachable moment presents itself.

Rather than worry about the best age or way to put it, you’d be better off listening for a time when hypodermic needles are important or pertinent to your child, says psychologist Edward Christophersen, chief of behavioral pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and author of a number of books on child rearing.

The most obvious time is vaccination time, when needles are of tremendous interest to your child. But interest may also arise from needles they see on television news and programming, off magazine racks, or from someone they know who uses insulin.

“The secret is in discussing needles when kids are interested,” Christophersen said. And if a child brings up the question, “Give one short, honest answer.” The scenario to avoid, he says, is the lecture series. “I would not sit and have a conversation about needles. But I would be prepared to talk about them at a moment’s notice, no matter what the age.”

And what to say? What your child should know about finding a hypodermic needle is the same as for finding a gun: If you find one, don’t touch it. Tell an adult what you found.