This study was carried out with 3 to 6 year-old boys undergoing circumcision, with a view to understanding the meaning of the interactions they experienced them during the post-operative period as well as identifying their strategies while experiencing the surgery. Symbolic Interactionism was used as a theoretical reference framework, and Grounded Theory as a methodological framework. Due to these children's verbal development characteristics, the interview was mediated by therapeutic play. Their mothers were also interviewed as informers of their children's experience. Data were analyzed up to the point of categorization of the meanings, revealing the following category of concepts: Trying to regain control. Understanding the whole experience offers important elements to rethink nursing care to preschool boy who undergo circumcision, as well as to his family.
pediatric nursing; play and toys; phimosis; child, preschool
