Parenting the parents of pediatric patients.

Managing the behavior of pediatric patients has been the focus of many studies; however, paying attention to the parents and their individual circumstances may be just as important to achieve our treatment goals. Parents today expect to be involved in treatment decisions and often have distinct expectations regarding their children's experiences. Parental attitudes and emotions can adversely affect the tone of the appointment and negatively influence the child's perception of the event. Managing the behavior of a challenging child is difficult, but combining that with the challenging behavior of a parent can be exhausting. This article will provide anticipatory guidance on how to enhance communication skills to avoid confusion and offer direction to parents before, during, and after the treatment of their children.