As a parent, your child’s health is important, which means your child needs regular doctor visits—not just when they’re sick or injured but also when they’re healthy. Despite the importance of office visits, they can be a source of fear and anxiety for many kids, making those visits especially challenging.
At Harbor Community Health Centers, our pediatric team understands kids' unique health needs and anxieties about office visits. Our team offers some simple steps you can take to dispel your child’s worries and make their next visit a more pleasant experience for both of you.
Help your child understand the importance of seeing the doctor regularly to help them grow stronger and stay healthy. Avoid complex explanations and present doctor visits as a part of their normal routine. If your child has questions, be sure to answer using simple terms and in a clear and reassuring manner.
There are lots of books and videos available that focus on pediatric visits, with the intent of helping kids feel more at ease. Check your library or look online for videos you can share with your child so they feel more comfortable with the experience before their appointment day.
Letting your child play the role of a healthcare provider in a pretend game can help relieve a lot of anxiety. Use a stuffed animal or doll (or yourself) in the role of patient, and walk your child through the steps they can expect in their checkup. Consider investing in a toy medical kit for your child to play with.
Many kids have a favorite stuffed animal, toy, or blanket that helps them feel more relaxed and calm. Bringing it along for the visit helps them feel comforted and reassured when they need it most.
Bringing a new book or a game you can share with your child in the waiting room provides a good distraction and bonding time. Plus, it makes the wait more enjoyable and helps time pass more quickly.
Visiting a healthcare provider is a big event for most kids, and celebrating their effort afterward with a small reward gives your child something to look forward to. A trip to the park, watching a video together, or a small treat turns an anxious moment into a more positive memory.
As a parent, you’re a powerful role model for your child. Seeing your own doctor regularly helps your child understand the importance of healthcare visits, so they feel more comfortable and more in control when it comes to their own medical appointments.
Most of us have times during the day when we feel more energized and generally in a more upbeat, positive mood. Kids are the same. Avoiding times when your child is more likely to feel tired or hungry (or when a beloved TV show is on) can help avoid irritability and frustration right from the start.
Encourage your child to see their pediatrician as an ally—someone who wants to help them grow up healthy and strong. Not only can this viewpoint calm anxiety during childhood, but it can also pave the way for lifelong healthy habits.
Our pediatric team has extensive experience helping kids feel more relaxed and comfortable during office visits, and we can provide additional tips to help your child (and you) feel calmer before the visit.
If it’s time to schedule your child’s next office visit, call 310-547-0202 to schedule an appointment with the Harbor Community Health Centers team at our 425 South Pacific Avenue location today.
