How to Prepare Yourself and Your Child for a Checkup

Well-child checkups are a routine part of your child’s life. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a yearly visit for all children over the age of one.

We asked Dr. Chrystal de Freitas, pediatrician and author of Jake’s Kindergarten Checkup, for her tips to help prepare both parents and children to get the most out of their appointment:

For the Kids

Plan ahead. Let your child know before the scheduled appointment that they will be visiting the doctor to make sure that their body is healthy. Positioning the visit in a positive manner should help to alleviate any fear that something may be wrong. Children who are more sensitive may agonize for days before their checkup, so use your best judgment as to how far in advance you will let them know about the appointment.

Get them involved. Ask your child to be a participant in the process. Make a list of topics that you feel they may want to review. In addition to health issues, include some fun achievements that you may want to share on your child’s behalf with the provider such as a recent award, team participation, or a great dental checkup. Getting them involved will help to empower them.

Act it out. Many children like to play out their visit beforehand. Try providing your child with a doctor’s kit to get them familiar with what may happen at the appointment. A picture book about going to the doctor can also help to alleviate fear that the child may have about the unknown. Keep in mind that all good nurses will review in detail all that she or he will be doing along the way. Letting your child know that there should be no big surprises should help to reassure them.

Be positive. Be positive, but don’t lie. There is no need to say, for instance, that a shot won’t hurt. Of course it hurts, but certainly not as bad as a child usually imagines it. To help put it in perspective, you can teach your child the concept of the pain being on a scale from 0-10: “0” is no pain while “10” is very painful. Let your child know that a shot is about a 2 or 3 on the pain scale so they can grasp that though there will be a little pain, it won’t be great. Most pre-school children can understand this concept.

For the Parents

Get a head start. Arrive early so there is plenty of time to do the paper work. Your health provider will need to know your insurance information and any recent updates, so arriving in advance of the appointment will save you the stress of rushing around. Your child can play in the waiting room while you check in.

Be prepared. Don’t forget to bring your child’s immunization card to the visit, as keeping track of vaccines and updating your records is vital for school entrance paperwork. Also be prepared to tell your health provider about any updates in your child’s health history, allergies, or other concerns that you may have. Making a list before hand can help you remember all of the key updates once you arrive.

Keep it light. Don’t make false promises that there won’t be shots if you know there will be just to ease your child’s fear. If your child is particularly anxious about the possibility of a shot, speak to your physician. There are numbing creams, sprays, breathing techniques and other approaches to managing their anxiety. Even just telling a joke or talking about a funny memory can do wonders!

Be calm. Avoid excessive reassurance, apologies or criticism if your child is distressed. Typically, a sense of calm acceptance on the parent’s behalf goes a long way in providing the child with comfort.

Do a happy dance. Last, but most importantly, plan time to celebrate in your own way with your child after the checkup. This could be lunch out, an ice cream cone, a small toy or treat, a special errand together. Take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with your child one on one.

You can learn more about Dr. de Freitas and Jake’s Kindergarten Checkup here or stick around and read up on the Apps for Parents That Will Make Your Life Easier here.