Resources for Tweens & Teens (12+)
Teens can learn to use pain management skills independently…and the impact is huge. Who doesn’t want more power and control?
As kids get older, there are more and more opportunities for skill building and independence. Empowerment is the name of the game, but we are never too old to benefit from the support of trusted adults.
A good place to start
Digital Tool
Take Control Mobile App for Teens
Meet the monsters helping your teen breathe easier, stress less, and take control during shots. Because doc visits don't have to be the actual worst.
Downloads
Printable Take Control Poke Plan for Teens
We all do better with a plan! Use this to help teens create one of their very own before their next poke.
Downloads
Creating Comfort for Teens Quick Guide
This infographic is a great overview of the best pain management strategies for helping teens get through shots and other needle procedures feeling calm, comfortable, and in control.
Downloads
Understanding Pain Handout
Knowing how pain works is key to learning how to prevent and manage it. This handout breaks it all down to make it easier for patients and providers.
Let’s dig a little deeper
Video
Numbing Cream: How to make it work for you!
Learn how to do this research proven, expert recommended strategy
Video
Be The Boss Of Your Brain
Learn how to manage pain during medical procedures with this video from Stanford Children's Health.
Blog Post
No Shame In This Game: Supporting Tweens and Teens Through Needle Anxiety
Being a teenager is all about independence and having more control of their lives. Needle fears can get in the way of them taking control of their healthcare. Here is what teens and their adults can do that really helps.
Stuff to show your parents
Digital Tool
Pain Champions Guide for Parents
Learn all you need to know about how to manage needle pain and anxiety through this interactive tech tool.
Video
Built to Empower: Pain Management Tools for All
Dr. Jody Thomas talks about how the Meg Foundation's freely available resources and tools are designed to empower kids, families, and adults to better manage their pain experience.
Video
Framing the Story AFTER Needle Pokes
What you say after a needle poke matters, and sets the stage for the future!
Digital Tool
ImaginAction
This website teaches you how you can use your imagination to have more control over your brain, your body, and your experience.
Video
Be The Boss Of Your Brain
Learn how to manage pain during medical procedures with this video from Stanford Children's Health.
Blog Post
No Shame In This Game: Supporting Tweens and Teens Through Needle Anxiety
Being a teenager is all about independence and having more control of their lives. Needle fears can get in the way of them taking control of their healthcare. Here is what teens and their adults can do that really helps.
Want to see all our resources for tweens and teens? Check out our Resources library.
A Note About Keeping This Free
Good pain care should be a right, not a privilege.
We’ve spent our careers treating pain and medical anxiety, and we know that comfort and control come from putting the power where it belongs: in your hands. Everything here is free and open source by design. No parent should have to pay to learn how to get their child through a vaccine or a bad headache. No provider should have to hunt for what they need to do their job well. Hundreds of thousands of people have used Meg tools, and not one of them has ever been asked to pay.
But free still costs something.
We rely on the generosity of people like you to keep it that way. It takes about 1 in 30 of us, each giving $15 a month, to keep these tools available for free. If they helped you and you’re able, $15 a month keeps these resources available the next time you or another family need them.
Thanks for being here. Whether you are able to give or not, I’m so grateful a kid somewhere has you in their corner.
— Dr. Jody, Founder and CEO
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