Sunday, June 12, 2011

Toddlers and Doctors Offices

Another Dr. Adveture-At 7:45 AM
Just because you're at a doctors office doesn't mean you and your child have to be board, or whip out Angry Birds for the little one (or yourself) to be saved from said boredom. Here are a few little things I have learned to make Toddlers + Doctors Offices = 100% Survivable, if not even Lots of fun, depends on the reason for the doctor appointment. 

1. The Great Outdoors??-Normally doctors offices have lovely greenery outside that is just calling a for a toddler to explorer. If you're able to-utilize this instead of just waiting in the waiting room. (Which is normally all germy anyways). If you're doing this, let the receptionist know and make sure they have your cell phone-so they can call you when the room is ready.

I see Dori, I see Nemo, I see Gabby
2. Fish Tanks-Who doesn't love Finding Nemo the movie-and when a little kid can Really find Nemo or Dori or the other Cast members in a doctors office-it's a movie come true. Heidi Anne loves to make up names for the "extras" (fish that are not in the movie but seem to somehow end up in the same fish tank as them).
It's just fun to watch Heidi Anne watch the fish.

3. The Magazines-Sometimes they have good magazines for kids, like Highlights or Family Circle, to read to kids or play games with them. I have Heidi Anne play counting or color games if I find an article I really like.
I'll Just Take This With Me......
Side note-If you find a good magazine in the waiting room-take it to the back room with you. Use hand sanitizer like it's going out of style when done reading magazines.
Scenario:
Me: "Heidi Anne, count how many flowers are on this page?" She counts--I read and think "Wow, I can do that with paper baking cups, straws, and old scrapbook paper-Cute!)
Heidi Anne: Proudly shouts out of  "nowhere" "6, Momma, 6!!"
Me: Good! How many purple flowers? (Hmmm, she's counting to fast, better write down this website...)

4. If you have brought crayons with you- It's fun to trace hands on the butcher paper on the examination tables then color them-and Heidi Anne likes to do it as well. Don't worry-they have to be replaced after each patient anyways. So live a little.

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