Dear Lizzie,
I’m often at the pediatrician’s with my kids, and the waiting room has become a test of patience. Can you suggest ways to make the wait less tedious?
Dear reader,
With the arrival of the cooler months, many of us are spending a lot of time in the pediatrician’s waiting room. While this can be a challenging space for keeping little ones contained and entertained, I’ve gathered some tips to help make your visits less daunting.
Involve your kids in preparing for the trip to the pediatrician. Say, “We might have to wait for a bit while we are at the doctor’s office today. Waiting can be so hard, even for the grownups! Last time you brought your favorite coloring book and that really helped. Do you have any ideas for this time?”
Involving your kids in coming up with a plan gives them back some control, which often helps with behavior.
You can even encourage them to pack a small backpack of things to keep themselves occupied. Kids often thrive when trusted with genuine responsibility, and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by how well they handle the task.
Here are a few more tips to help you manage the pediatrician’s waiting room during sick season:
Pack a few small toys — whether it’s action figures, dolls or cars, these can be a great distraction. If you really want to keep the kids focused, try keeping these toys out of the usual rotation. Save them for trips to the pediatrician so that novelty is on your side.
Sick kids usually mean extra screen time. If you are worried about overstimulation from too many screens but need an app to keep the kids entertained, try Pok Pok, an ad-free digital playroom that’s both engaging and calm. You don’t even need wifi to access it. It’s completely open-ended and your child can pace their experience. For a special offer, use the code 50WORKSPACE to get a free trial and a discount on their annual subscription.
A good picture book of short stories can be very helpful in a pinch. Bring one along that offers the same characters on various adventures. Our favorites include “George and Martha,” “Frog and Toad” or “Little Bear and Friends.”
You can also consider downloading your child’s favorite songs or audiobooks, which, with child-friendly headphones, can provide a peaceful escape from a busy waiting room.
Reusable sticker books are also a hit, allowing kids to create their own scenes in an immersive but quiet activity. There are so many options to choose from, so you can customize the books to meet your child’s interests.
Finally, when all else fails? A packet of Post-it notes can always save the day. Even very young toddlers will have a blast sticking and unsticking Post-it notes to the wall. Bigger kids can make patterns, play counting games or draw silly pictures.
Good luck, and remember, a little preparation can go a long way.
Lizzie
******Announcing: A special, pre-holiday Instagram Live event with Ask Lizzie from the Marblehead Current and Mud Puddle Toys
– WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 30 at noon
– WHERE: Tune in to instagram.com/MHDcurrent
– WHAT: Current columnist and nationally-recognized play expert Lizzie Assa will be broadcasting live from Mud Puddle Toys, answering your pre-holiday questions and providing gift ideas.
