How to Make a Check-Up a Fun Experience For Your Child

Regular checkups help keep children healthy, but there’s no denying that for some kids, they can cause some anxiety, too. Learn some simple things you can do to relieve your child’s stress and incorporate some fun into their next doctor visit.

Doctor visits are an important part of staying healthy at every age, and for kids, they’re especially critical. Regular checkups ensure your child’s growth and development stay on track, while also providing important preventive care to avoid serious illnesses.

Still, despite their importance, doctor visits remain a source of fear and anxiety for many kids. Taking time to help your child relieve those anxieties can make future visits a lot more pleasant for them — and for you, too.

Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy offers comprehensive pediatric care for kids from infancy all the way through the teen years. Here, our expert team reviews simple steps you can take to help your child overcome their “doctor visit anxiety.”

Put a positive spin on it

Like adults, kids tend to be most nervous about things they don’t understand. Helping your child understand the benefits of seeing their doctor can aid them in feeling more confident about their visit, especially when framed as an important part of “growing up.”

Focus on how the doctor visits will help your child grow strong and healthy during childhood and as they become grownups, too.

Play pretend

Most young kids learn best through play. Set up a pretend doctor’s office at home with a toy stethoscope, bandages, and stuffed animals or dolls as patients. Take turns being the doctor and the patient. Let your child practice checking your heartbeat or giving their teddy bear a “shot.” This builds familiarity and helps them feel more relaxed about their own visit.

Bring some comfort from home

Many kids have favorite comfort items, like a stuffed animal, blanket, or toy. Allowing them to bring their own comfort item to their visit can go a long way toward relieving anxiety, helping them focus on something pleasant and familiar.

Build in some excitement

Try treating their office visit as an adventure. Let them select their own outfit and pack a bag with a book, game, or another distraction, along with their comfort item. Giving them a task to prepare helps instill a feeling of control that can also help ease anxiety.

Celebrate after their visit

Part of that excitement and adventure can include a small celebration afterward. Plan to visit a park, enjoy a healthy snack, buy a small toy, or share a video or game to give your child something to look forward to once their doctor’s appointment is done. Be sure to praise your child for their cooperation and underscore how proud you are.

A lifetime of good health

Helping your child feel positive about doctor visits now sets the stage for healthy behaviors that can last a lifetime. To schedule a check-up for your child or to learn other ways you can ease their anxiety, request an appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, today.