Monday is pre-school booster day for us, so to prepare my daughter for the injection we’ve set up a doll’s hospital.  This is giving her the chance to test out what will happen and prepare herself for the encounter. We have

– some dressing up costumes – doctors and nurses overalls, with a toy stethoscope and thermometer

– lots of dolls and teddies with a variety of injuries (see pics!)

– bandages (made from strips of muslin cloth), cotton wool pads and cotton buds, and sticking plasters. It’s great for children to be able to use real items in their play as it gives them the opportunity to handle and become familiar with real-world objects. Providing these props makes them feel ‘grown up’ and validates their play. My kids just love getting their hands on ‘real’ things!

– clipboards, paper and pencils to make patient notes. This is a way to include mark making and early writing in their play – it encourages them to try out ‘writing’ and including labels / notices gets them familiar with written letters and words.

– a ward of beds for the in-patients

– a magnetic scribble pad, which is being used as an x-ray machine and is getting some great pictures of broken bones.

– a toy syringe – we have been role-playing both having injections and being the nurse giving them to the dolls so my daughter knows what to expect on Monday. I’ve told her the nurse is going to give her some medicine in her arm to stop her getting poorly and that all children have it before they start school. She’s excited about starting school, so this is a positive motivation for her. I’ve explained that it might hurt a bit – but she’s going to have a lollipop in her mouth when she has the injection (top treat!) so she can suck on that to take her mind off the needle. I think it’s really important to let children know what is planned for them – it allows them to prepare for new experiences and builds their trust in you.

Wish us luck for Monday!

Happily shared with weareTHATfamily’s Works For Me Wednesday