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Waiting Room Boredom Remedies
by Deborah Shelton
Going to the doctor is no fun--not for adults and especially not for
kids. Not only is the impending meeting with the doctor a little scary,
but also the time spent in the waiting room can be excruciating for
young children. Here are a few fun and super simple ways to beat the
waiting room boredom blues.
Waiting rooms are filled with magazines. Use this time to help children
practice their reading skills. Have your child read the headlines and
text aloud to you (not too loud!).
Play a simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe! Have a tournament: the best 3 out of
5 games wins.or depending on how long you're waiting for the doctor, it
could be the best 5 out of 7, or more.
Bring along a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie and a few dry-erase or washable
markers. Slip a sheet of blank paper or an entire magazine into the
baggie. If you use a magazine, don't tear out pages (even though most
doctor offices receive free magazine subscriptions, it's just not polite
to tear them). Trace the magazine cover through the plastic. Wipe the
baggie clean with a tissue and start over with a new picture.
Try to stump each other with word scrambles. Use a pencil and piece of
paper to rearrange the letters of a word, and then decipher them.
Play Find-A-Feeling: Ask your child to look through a magazine and find
a happy person. Discuss why they think the person is happy, sad, upset,
etc., (ask them for examples such as facial expressions and body
language). This will help your child recognize and acknowledge the
feelings of others.
About the author
Deborah Shelton is the author of
The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little
Ones. Visit The Five Minute Parent for fun rainy-day activities,
family links, and a free email newsletter filled with craft ideas, guest
articles, contests and so much more!
http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
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