Positive Distraction Knowledge Hub

Positive distraction is widely used in healthcare to help children cope with stressful medical procedures. This Knowledge Hub explains how distraction techniques work and how they support children, families, and healthcare professionals during treatment.

Helping children stay calm during stressful moments is an important part of supportive healthcare and emotional wellbeing.

Distraction techniques are widely used to help shift attention away from fear, uncertainty, or discomfort and toward something engaging or calming. Activities such as simple games, breathing exercises, storytelling, or sensory play can help children feel more comfortable during difficult moments.

For children facing medical treatment, hospital visits, or stressful situations, these approaches can make a meaningful difference to how they experience care.

At TLC for Kids, positive distraction has been central to our work for more than 27 years. Through practical tools such as the Tap 2 Distract app and the TLC Distraction Box Program, we help children and families manage anxiety during medical care and everyday challenges.

This knowledge hub brings together a collection of articles explaining how distraction techniques support children during stressful moments.

Understanding Positive Distraction

Positive distraction is more than simply keeping someone occupied. It is an evidence-informed approach that helps redirect attention away from stress, anxiety or discomfort, creating an opportunity for people to feel calmer, more engaged and better able to cope with challenging situations.

If you’re new to positive distraction, these articles provide a great place to start.

Learn More About	Description
What Is Positive Distraction?	Discover what positive distraction is, how it works and why it is widely used across healthcare and other settings. Learn more →
How Positive Distraction Helps Reduce Stress and Anxiety	Learn how distraction techniques can help interrupt the stress response and support emotional regulation. Learn more →
Positive Distraction for Children	Explore why positive distraction is particularly effective for children during stressful or unfamiliar experiences. Learn more →
Distraction Techniques for Children	Practical distraction activities that can help children feel calmer during everyday challenges and medical procedures. Learn more →
The Theory of Positive Distraction	Understand the psychological principles and research that support positive distraction techniques. Learn more →
Distraction Activities for Children During Medical Procedures	Evidence-informed activities that can help reduce anxiety before and during healthcare experiences. Learn more →

Positive Distraction in Healthcare

Positive distraction has been used in healthcare settings for many years to help children and families navigate medical procedures, reduce anxiety and improve the overall healthcare experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about how positive distraction is used in hospitals and healthcare settings, explore these related resources:

Learn More About	Description
Distraction Techniques Used in Hospitals	Discover how hospitals use positive distraction to reduce anxiety and improve patient experiences during medical procedures. Learn more →
How Parents Can Help Children Cope with Medical Procedures	Practical strategies parents can use before, during and after healthcare appointments. *Learn more* →
How to Help Children Cope with Medical Procedures	Evidence-informed approaches that help children feel calmer and more prepared. Learn more →
Helping Children Stay Calm During Vaccinations	Learn practical techniques to reduce anxiety before and during vaccinations. *Learn more* →
Needle Phobia in Children	Understand why needle fear develops and explore strategies that may help children manage it. Learn more →
Healthcare Distraction Techniques for Children	Explore the evidence behind positive distraction and why it has become an important part of paediatric care. Learn more →

Practical Tools That Use Positive Distraction

TLC for Kids provides practical tools that use positive distraction to support children and families during stressful moments. See how positive distraction is used in practice through the Tap 2 Distract app and the TLC Distraction Box Program.

These programs are designed to provide immediate support when it is needed most, helping children redirect their attention during medical procedures and stressful experiences.

Supporting Children During Stressful Moments

Distraction techniques can support children not only in hospitals, but also in everyday situations such as school stress, medical appointments, or moments of anxiety at home.

Parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, and carers can use simple activities to help children regulate emotions and feel more comfortable during challenging experiences.

Research in paediatric healthcare settings shows that distraction techniques can help reduce anxiety and perceived pain during procedures for children.

Guidance from organisations such as the World Health Organization highlights the importance of supporting emotional wellbeing alongside medical care.

Learning how these techniques work can help families and professionals create calmer environments for children during stressful moments.

Breathing Techniques

Sometimes the simplest way to create a moment of calm is to focus on your breathing.

Guided breathing exercises are used every day in hospitals, clinics, workplaces, schools, airports and many other settings to help people slow down, regain focus and feel more in control during stressful situations. When combined with positive distraction, breathing can gently shift attention away from what feels overwhelming and towards something calm, familiar and manageable.

Tap 2 Distract includes three guided breathing activities that are available instantly, without subscriptions, advertisements or complicated setup. Simply open the activity and follow the visual guide whenever you need a moment to reset.

Explore Our Breathing Techniques

Technique	Description
Box Breathing	A simple four-step breathing exercise used to support calm, focus and emotional regulation. Learn more →
Figure 8 Breathing	Combines slow breathing with visual tracking to encourage relaxation and reduce mental overload. Learn more →
Guided Simple Breathing	Follow an expanding and contracting visual guide, ideal for children and adults alike. Learn more →
Breathing Techniques	Explore our complete guide to breathing techniques, where they are used, and what research suggests about their benefits. Learn more →

Learn More About TLC for Kids

TLC for Kids is an Australian charity supporting children and families during serious illness and medical treatment.

Our services provide digital and physical tools that help reduce stress and anxiety, alongside wraparound programs that support children, families, and healthcare professionals through emotionally challenging moments.

Learn more about our services