There are many professions that deal with growing children – pediatricians, medical doctors, nurses, teachers as well as special children tutors. All of these children have parents who desires the good for their offspring.

Medical and educational facilities should typically have waiting rooms where children can safely explore the environment. Such room should be equipped with waiting room toys to provide both diversionary activities for them, as well as sensory stimulation for maximum growth potential.

For instance, a pediatrician\’s office should have a large space for children and parents to wait and interact. In here they can exchange parenting styles and ideas, as well as other helpful information in helping children reach their full potential. While doing so, children ranging from infants to preschool children will be present and as expected from these children, they have limitless energy that can be utilized to help their brain grow well. Clinic waiting rooms should have enough toys to facilitate this growth.

In choosing waiting room toys, it is important to consider the developmental task of the children that comes for consultation and well-baby check-ups. According to Patient Teaching, Loose Leaf Library (1990), an infant needs maximum comfort with minimal security to trust himself/herself, others and the environment. To attain this, a safe environment is the first and foremost concern for parents. Edges of furnitures should be padded or the room should be designed in such a way that pointed ends will not pose as hazards when these infants are playing side by side with bigger children.

On the other hand, toddlers needs something to do with their hands because they need to master physical environment while maintaining self-esteem. Toys that provide safe exploration or safe big removal parts should be included in the waiting room. It is also vital to provide toys that is gender sensitive – meaning children who belongs to the preschool age can begin to initiate, not imitate activities of other children and to develop their sexual identity. Sharing of toys is usually the conflict of preschool children and someone should also be present to watch them if ever two or more children struggle to have the toy for himself/herself.

There would be instances that school-age children will also be present for consultation. Though these children are usually nervous when it comes to pediatric visits, their anxiety can be redirected to a much more beneficial activity that will be provided in the waiting room. Anxiety can be forgotten, and tantrums can be minimized. At this age, these children are usually capable of handling smaller objects and the waiting room can be provided with tasks that calls for such refined skills, like coloring, drawing, reading or writing.

Any pediatrician\’s waiting room is not only a means for children and parents to interact but it is also a good way of marketing your services. By choosing toys that help children develop their skills to put inside your clinic\’s waiting room, you are subtly saying that you know what the children needs and you know what to do in order to help them reach their maximum growth potential.

Author Bio: Melody N. Andes enjoys writing for Sensoryedge.com which sells waiting room toys and kids sleeping bags as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: kids,child development,sensory stimulation,child care