• Receive honest information
• Build trusting rapport with medical providers
• Have parental support and involvement
• Explore and play with medical materials
• Have been prepared for a medical procedure through a variety of modalities (images, videos, tactile, auditory, rehearsal)
• Have a plan for coping and distraction during the procedure
• Are praised for their efforts (ex: “Great job keeping your arm still!”)

During a wellness exam

Know before you go

Call your doctor prior to your child’s wellness visit to gather information on what will occur. Are they due for any vaccinations? Will there be a vision/hearing screening? Will a urine sample be required?

Preparation at home

After you have gathered the information, you can then begin to prepare your child at home. Using a medical play doctor kit, add real materials that your child may see at their visit (gloves, bandages, gauze, tape, syringes, cotton balls). Give your child time to explore and play with lots of opportunities to lead and make choices. They can decide what role they want to have (doctor, nurse, patient, parent), where and how to use the medical materials and how long to play for.

After they have played and explored for a bit, you can teach them what will occur at their upcoming appointment. Be mindful of giving them as many choices as possible.

• “During the exam do you want to sit on my lap or by yourself?”
• “Do you want to watch what the doctor is doing or look away?”

Empower them through validation

• “Going to the doctor can be scary, but I will be there to help you through it.”
• “Needles do hurt. You can squeeze my hand or take deep breaths to help.”