Doctor visit social story for kids
A doctor visit social story is a short picture book that walks a child through a checkup in plain, first-person sentences: the waiting room, the measuring, the stethoscope and the proud ending. Seeing the order of events first can make a visit feel more predictable. Ready Story adds your child's name and look to every page.
Make this story with your child's name and look$3.99 per book. Preview every page first. No account.What happens at a doctor visit
- Getting there and waitingA grown-up comes along. The office has a waiting room, and a nurse will call your child's name.
- Getting measuredIn a small room, a nurse may check height and weight.
- A band on the armThe band squeezes tight, then lets go. The nurse may check temperature too.
- Listening to the heartYour child sits on a table with crinkly paper. The stethoscope may feel cold.
- Ears and mouthThe doctor may look in the ears with a little light, and in the mouth. Your child can open wide and say "Ahh."
- Talking about shotsSome visits have a shot, a quick pinch. A grown-up will say if there is one.
- Deep breaths and feeling proudBreaths, a held hand or a squeezed teddy can help. Then the visit is over.
Before, during and after
Before
- Read the story at home before the appointment, and keep the pages in the same order.
- Play doctor with a toy stethoscope so the tools feel familiar.
- Ask the office what will happen at this visit, so the story can match it.
- Choose comfortable clothes that are easy to move aside.
During
- Tell your child what comes next, using the story's words.
- Let your child watch the nurse use a tool before it touches them.
- Offer deep breaths, a held hand or a teddy.
After
- Look at the last page and talk about feeling proud.
- Note which parts were hard so you can add them to your plan next time.
- Keep the book handy for the next checkup.
A look inside the book
Three real pages from the doctor visit book. In your copy, your child's name and look replace the bracketed words and the child in the picture.
Page 1 of 12: Saying hello My name is [your child's name]. Soon I will visit the doctor.
Page 7 of 12: Listening to my heart We may wait there for the doctor. I sit on a table with paper on it. The paper may crinkle. The doctor listens to my heart with a stethoscope. It might feel cold.
Page 12 of 12: Feeling proud When the visit is over, I can feel proud. I did it! Then [grown-up] and I go home.
Questions parents ask
What is a doctor visit social story?
It is a short picture book in simple first-person words that shows what will happen at a checkup, in order, so a child knows what to expect.
Does the story include shots?
It has one page that talks about shots in a calm way: a quick pinch that may hurt a little, then it stops. Ready Story also has a separate book just about getting a shot.
Can I change what the pages say?
Yes. You can edit the words on each page so they match your child's doctor, clinic and routine.
How much does it cost?
$3.99 per book. You preview every page first, and you do not need an account.
Can this tell us what will happen at our appointment?
No. Visits differ. Ask the office what to expect, and talk to your child's care team about specific needs.
More social stories
Looking for a daily routine? Try the free bedtime routine chart. Or go back to the Ready Story home page.