Kids' Age-by-Age Doctor Guide

Kids love repetition and rhyme, and music can help calm an anxious child. This fun, traditional song is great to sing together anytime and especially on doctor days.

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Repeat this lyric for four, three, and two monkeys ... and then ...

One little monkey jumping on the bed
He fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said,
"That's what you get for jumping on the bed!"

Now I'm the Doctor (for Preschoolers)

For your preschooler, put together some props for role-playing: tongue depressor, a box of inexpensive bandages, fever scan tape (available at drugstores) to take your child's temperature, an old white shirt (to use as a lab coat), an alphabet eye chart (you can make one), a small toy hammer for testing reflexes, and a toy funnel stethoscope. Encourage your child to play doctor and nurse with you—and then reverse roles.

To make the toy stethoscope, you'll need two small plastic funnels and 18 inches of clear, plastic tubing. Just attach the tubing over the ends of the funnels and your child can listen to her heartbeat. Place one funnel on her heart and the other funnel to her ear. She can also listen to knees bending, stomachs gurgling, and other body noises. There are several places on the body where she can pick up a heartbeat—have her search and experiment.

You can help your child become interested in the props by reading stories about visits to the doctor. Here are a few to get you started: The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor, by Stan and Jan Berenstain; My Doctor, by Harlow Rockwell; and Nicky Goes to the Doctor by Richard Scarry.

Using Doctor Tools Creatively (Preschoolers and School-Age Kids)

Here are a few activities that allow your child to use doctor tools for creative fun art projects:

• Gather some cotton balls, gauze, and cotton swabs. Dip these into poster paints and use these as painting tools.
• Provide eyedroppers, thinned poster paint (by adding water), and absorbent paper (like paper towels or coffee filters). Using the eyedropper as a painting tool can make designs. "Drip-drop-drip-drop"—create a colorful art masterpiece.
• Make a set of dominoes by writing on tongue depressors. Divide each wooden stick in half with a felt-tip marker. On each half place a different number of dots. Make a bunch. Grab a parent or friend and play this matching game.
• Make a health collage. Find pictures in magazines of health professionals, doctor tools, pill bottles, and even healthy foods. Glue these onto a poster. Discuss the importance of staying healthy and how health professionals such as doctors and nurses can help you.