Activities for Kids Who Want to Be a Doctor

Fingerplay

• Younger children, approximately 2 to 5 years old, who want to be doctors when they grow up can recite a verse or song with an accompanying fingerplay (hand gestures added to verses and songs). One traditional song is "Miss Molly," with lyrics found on websites like National Institutes of Health and TeacherVision. The song is about Miss Molly with a sick dolly. Children pretend to rock a baby and when the lyrics say to call the doctor, children create gestures for dialing. When singing the song, children can take turns being the parent and the doctor.

Craft

• Construct a doctor's bag from an old shoe box for children ages 3 to 7. Help children cut out handles from cardboard or poster board. Cut out two rectangle shapes and remove the centers to create two rectangular handles approximately 2 inches thick on all sides. Turn the shoe box on one of its long sides with the top facing the side. Staple the handles at the top center with one handle at the box bottom and the other is on the lid. Decorate the doctor's bag with black tempura paint.

Hospital

• Visit a local hospital to see doctors in action. Some hospitals, such as Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, offer special programs for older children, ages 10 to 16, interested in a medical profession. Cedars Sinai hosts a day where students can learn hands-on about brain surgery using models, and viewing surgical rooms. Students also meet patients undergoing rehabilitation from a brain injury. Contact your child's school to organize a field trip to a hospital or sign up your child for volunteering.

Games

• Play a doctor game for children, ages 4 to 10. Instruct all the children to hold hands, forming a human chain for a doctor party game. One player is the doctor, while one player weaves the hands over and under legs and arms to create knots. When the knotting player finishes, the group yells out "Doctor, Doctor!" and the doctor must unravel the knots without breaking the human chain. Children take turns being different parts of the game.