Would your kids like this?

[sunshinedays2]

Hi-

If anyone has kids, would you mind giving this a read and answering honestly please? I thought this might be the best place given how many parents are on probably on here!😀

I’m going to try and stay really anonymous but i’ll try to explain as best as I can. Ive just graduated as a healthcare professional and have just started my new job. I have appointments and a list of patients booked in to see me. It’s not in a hospital, in a more typical high street setting eg a hearing test, or an eye test, or a physiotherapist appointment or a podiatrist appointment etc, that type of appointment. I’m really enjoying it but I’m still finding my feet with it all😄

something I’ve noticed that’s particularly tough is when parents come in with their kids to the appointment. I absolutely understand why they bring them and I’m not blaming them, it’s purely a problem with me as I’m just finding my feet and getting used to it all and still learning and it’s hard enough nevermind when there’s a young child getting understandably frustrated, or having a tantrum, or jumping around and trying to touch equipment etc. the parent gets stressed and has to try to manage their child, but then it makes it even harder for me to actually get me job done. And I feel so bad for the parent who ends up stressed and flustered. Difficult all round!

we don’t have a waiting room with a table etc, it’s just a few small rows of chairs. There are no magazines or games. I have a big enough room that I work in so I was considering buying some small toys that might be a good distraction for bored and fed up kids- that way they won’t be getting agitated, parents won’t be getting stressed and my job will be easier to do lol. I was thinking colouring book pad and some pencils or jigsaws, but I wasn’t sure, would that be lame or would kids even like that? I just thought it might be a nice personal touch and I’m trying to make it easier for parents but I wasn’t sure if it was a bit lame and kids wouldn’t really be interested. I’d be buying it out of my own pocket so I can’t afford anything crazy, I just thought some small toys or games might be good? Or colouring? Or jigsaws? The other thing I’m concerned about is if something happened, say a child accidentally scratched themself with a pencil, would I be liable? Or would the parent since they gave them permission to play with the toys/colour in etc?

I asked some people at work what they thought and they rolled their eyes and said it’s unnecessary but I’m just trying to make it easier all round for everyone and thought it might be a nice idea but wasn’t sure if it was one of those things that in theory would be good but in practice wouldnt because kids would find it boring etc?

TYSM In Advance. Xx

I think it's a lovely idea. Good luck in your new role OP.

It's a nice idea but what about covid guidelines. Sturdy plastic you can sanitise

Sounds like a nice idea. Is there a particular age of child that is problematic? Am guessing older than 7/8 they can amuse themselves.

make sure you get something that is easy to clean and that doesn’t matter if it gets broken or pieces go missing. Maybe a brio train set …? Or some duplo? You need a decent amount of both of these things to make them fun to play with

or how about a kids version of what you’re doing - like if you’re a physio, a kids’ version of your uniform and some mini resistance bands and some dolls to practice on?

My kid loves those activity cube things you get with beads you can push around wires. Often have them in waiting rooms!

Anything with lots of parts like jigsaw will get lost within 3.5 minutes

Chalk board maybe if it’s not too messy
the bead cubes are good coz the parts can’t be lost

Sounds like a good idea.

Whenever we go to parents evening at primary, the teacher has a table and chair set up in the corner with scrap paper and colouring pens and just immediately says to the kids, take a seat and do some colouring while I talk to mum and dad. Works like a charm, and as long as the appt isn't too long I think something simple like that would work fine.

Since Covid all of this type of thing seems to have been removed from our doctors, dentists, opticians etc. are there any NHS guidelines you could look at or any infection control type rules?

I'd say
Duplo is a good shout. Or an abacus or those toys where you move the beads around the wires. It needs to be suitable for under 3's so no small parts. Easily wipeable and no small pieces to get lost. I'd go to the charity shop. A colouring book and crayons is good for older ones. I wouldn't let littlies wander around with crayons

Hygienist here . All toys , even the washable sturdy plastic types were removed from surgeries and waiting room long before Covid . A decision made by CQC I think .

My doctor has a box of toys in her office. Loads in the waiting room too.
God knows how often they're cleaned, but I think people are a bit more relaxed about COVID now, are they not?

Clearly not everyone has complied...

A box of squishies (you can wipe them clean), fidget type toys, you can get the sensory worms and snake type connectable ones. If you want pre toddler toys, then a rain stick and shakers, but have stickers to give out for putting the toys back. Other toys in the doctors have been a play house, shopping trolley with food and the box with keys/doors. Stick with crayons or chalk, the parent won't thank you for pen on clothes.

Sorry but infection control will not like any of these ideas.

Are we still doing "Covid guidelines"? 🤔

No.

Didn't think so.

It's a lovely idea. My younger dc have been given sensory toys while at dental appointments for the older one so it seems to depend on the venue (they assured me they were sterilised before and after, I guess with all their equipment). When my toddler went for a private jab (for her own appointment) the nurse just played Cocomelon on YouTube on her computer. But that's probably tightly controlled in NHS settings.
Agree you need them to be safe for under-3s, and without lots of pieces. I think pens would go missing and lids left off. Pencils may be better, but then they need sharpening and the lead breaks. I wouldn't give pens or crayons to under-3s in that situation, more because they'll scribble everywhere rather than safety, and the parent won't be able to supervise while getting treatment.

Tbh I'm surprised that your company allow parents to being older kids in for appointments. I have brought my younger one in for brief appointments as I have no childcare but if they are old enough for nursery hours or school then I've always made appointments to fit in with that. But I'd always arrange childcare for longer appointments like eye checks as I wouldn't be able to supervise them properly.

Lovely idea. Our local A&E has the big bead cube thing back now, even my 10 year old played with it for quite a while when we were waiting recently. Look in charity shops or ask on a local Facebook free group. I agree nothing messy or with small parts.

Infection control still exists in hospitals

Lovely idea but you’ll need to think carefully about things that aren’t a choking hazard and don’t have parts that can go missing. If yours after cheap and cheerful a chalk board could work. If you’re feeling more creative you could make a fiddle board. Magnadoodles also good. Also search “spinning top suction cup toy” on Amazon - toddlers love these!

Great ormond st has toys and interactive boards and even a play consultant who goes round the waiting rooms so I don’t buy the covid argument anymore elsewhere

So do paediatric wards have no toys then due to covid/infection control?

My DD has various things that have needed checking out and in the last few months we have been to UCHL; Moorfields (Richard Desmond) and Guys and St Thomas'. All of them had activities for children- think play cookers, screens, dolls house type things.

Have you thought about a play kitchen? IKEA have a great one or you could try and get one second hand from Facebook.