A nurse is planning to reinforce teaching with a preschooler who is about to undergo an incision and drainage for cellulitis on the left arm. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use?

A. Plan for a 30-min instructional session: Preschool-aged children have limited attention spans, generally lasting 5 to 10 minutes. A 30-minute session would likely be too long for effective learning and may increase anxiety rather than improve understanding. Short, focused sessions are more developmentally appropriate. B. Schedule the instructional session for 24 to 36 hr before the procedure: Preschoolers benefit from teaching close to the time of the procedure, ideally within a few hours, because their sense of time is limited and they may forget information presented far in advance. Scheduling too early reduces comprehension and retention. C. Take the child on a tour of the surgery and recovery areas: Tours can be overwhelming and frightening for preschoolers, who may not understand abstract concepts of procedures and recovery areas. Hands-on, play-based techniques are more effective than visual tours for this age group. D. Help the child put a dressing on a doll: Using a doll for demonstration is a developmentally appropriate, play-based technique that allows preschoolers to role-play and understand the procedure in a concrete, safe manner. It reduces anxiety by familiarizing the child with what will happen to their own body through imitation and interactive learning.