Going to the Doctor's? No Worries!

by Shelley White

Last Tuesday it was my birthday. I got some books and games and sweets but my favourite present was a toy doctor's bag. Mum's been telling me what some of the things inside it are called. There's a stethoscope - that's what the doctor uses to listen to your breathing and your heart beating. And there's a syringe - that's for giving injections, some bandages and lots of other things, but I can't remember what all their names are yet. I've been pretending my Teddy's poorly and I'm the doctor making him better.

Today Mum's taking me to the doctor's because I've got a pain in my tummy. I'm taking Teddy as well because he's got a tummy ache too. Teddy told me he didn't want to go to the doctor's - I think he was a bit scared of what the doctor might do to him - but I said there's nothing to worry about. I've been before when I had a sore throat and the doctor didn't hurt me at all. She told me to open my mouth and say 'ah' and then she looked inside with a little light. She gave Mum a special piece of paper to take to the pharmacy - that's the shop where you get your medicine from. When we got home, Mum measured it out carefully and put it on my favourite Donald Duck spoon. She tried some first, so I knew it didn't taste too bad - it was pink and tasted of strawberries. My throat felt lots better after that.

Anyway, when Mum said it was time to go to the doctor's, Teddy didn't look so scared anymore. While we were waiting to see the doctor, we had such fun! Well, you see, there's a play area with a little house you can sit inside and some stuffed toys and books. Other children were there too waiting to see the doctor or the nurse and some of them had brought their toys to play with as well.

Teddy was a little sad when my name was called to go through to see the doctor because he wanted to stay and play. I think he was worried but the doctor was a nice friendly lady - 'Hello, young sir, I've not seen you for a while. Oh and you've brought Teddy to see me too!' Her room had lots of pictures on the walls that she said had been drawn by her own children at school. There was a desk with a computer, some chairs, a high sort of bed with a paper cover on it and a wash basin.

First of all, the doctor asked Teddy 'Can I have a look at your tummy, Teddy? Just pop on the bed.' Then she felt Teddy's tummy and said 'Your tummy's fine, Teddy. You won't need any medicine today.'

Then it was my turn. I wanted to show Mum that I was as brave as Teddy. I told the doctor that I'd just started school and that I had made some friends. Then she asked me how I was feeling and if I had a pain anywhere and what it felt like. I also had to lie on the bed like Teddy. She pressed my tummy - but ever so gently. It tickled a bit but it didn't hurt at all. She also took my temperature with a thermometer that made a little click in my ear - that didn't hurt either. She said I didn't need any medicine today - just like Teddy! 'I'm pleased to say your tummy has got better all by itself!'

When we left the doctor's room, Teddy needed to go to the toilet but I told him not to panic because there was one in the waiting area and that I was going there too. After that we washed our hands - and paws - in the wash basin.

Teddy wanted to go back to the play area after that but Mum said to hurry up as she had to do some shopping. Once we got in with the shopping, Teddy asked me if we could play with the toy doctor's bag again. I think I would like to be a doctor or a nurse when I grow up.