Strategy
A Visit to the Doctor
Ease anxiety of visiting the doctor by role-playing at school and home.
This activity has been revised and was originally created by Charlotte Cushman and published in the Perkins Activity and Resource Guide (1st edition, 1992). The second edition is available for purchase.
As part of the student’s social development, it’s helpful to identify different people in their community who they may meet. This activity helps to broaden students’ community awareness by identifying the role of a doctor, which in turn can help to desensitize any fears they may have around a doctor visit. It also allows the students to engage in dramatic play. Lessons include Social Skills, English Language Arts and Concept Development.
Gather together real objects which a student is likely to encounter during a visit to the doctor, such as a stethoscope, tongue depressor, thermometer, blood pressure cuff (or arm weight as simulation), tape measure and rubber mallet. Ask at your local doctor’s office for help with any of these, or pick up a toy doctor kit.
- Role-play a typical visit to the doctor’s office. Help the student identify all of the equipment, and discuss the function of each object. Let the student practice listening to his chest. Measure his height, tap his knees with the rubber mallet, etc.
- Discuss what a doctor can do to help us. Talk about when you need to visit the doctor. Discuss past visits to the doctor, and ways to contact the doctor in case of an emergency.
- Arrange a field trip to the school nurse’s office.
- Invite a doctor to visit the classroom to meet the students, discuss his work and demonstrate his equipment.
- If possible, accompany the student on a visit to a real doctor’s office.
Hint: Be sure that the above equipment is used with supervision. Use simulated objects, such as a plastic thermometer, if necessary. Clean the equipment after use.
