My 5 1/2 year old daughter has been fascinated with all-things medical for about the last 18 months. She swears she wants to be a surgeon and, with her continued interest and knowledge of the subject, I doubt this is a passing fancy.
She's already plowed through the first aid books I have and, enjoys looking at the pics in my copy of Gray's Anatomy. I had the companion workbook, too, but she took that over and actually identified and colored the stuff on the pages.
This part used to bug me some, but the pediatrician said it was okay so long as it didn't scare her--which obviously it does not. My daughter adores the Discovery Health channel, especially anything related to surgery. Between the books and TV, she's learned an awful lot more than the average kid about medical stuff and surgery and wants to know more.
Thing is, for once I'm stumped. She's got a play doctor kit and all that, but what else can we get to help her learn even more?
2006-07-29 19:36:22 · 13 answers · asked by WhyAskWhy 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Just as an example, my daughter took a ziplock bag, put some water in it, poked a hole through the top of it and hung it on a hanger. She took a long piece of yarn, taped one end to the bag and another to the arm of her cabbage patch doll. She said the doll was dehydrated and needed fluids!
2006-07-29 19:38:06 · update #1
In every other respect my daughter is a normal kid. She doesn't do things to herself and no, she doesn't play doctor on other kids.
2006-07-29 19:45:22 · update #2
I friend of mine was the same way. She actually had to go to the hospital when one of her brother was hurt and a doctor was so kind to her and talked with her while that other doctors worked on her brother. That was when she knew she wanted to become a doctor.
I suggest making an appointment with a true surgeon or doctor. I do not mean to have her examined i mean a consultation. Kind of like a mentor for your daughter even though it is early in her life it might be helpful to you both. Explain why you are there and take your daughter and let them talk. The Doctor of course will be able to talk to her in terms that we as none medical people can't talk to her about. Once the consultation is over he and or she might be able to offer suggestions on other different things she can learn from.
2006-07-29 19:47:48 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs. Mac 4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is really neat that you have such a bright little girl! How many 5 years olds do you know that want to be a surgeon? A dr, yes, a surgeon, no. That is incredible that she has been at this for the last 18 months. It could still be a phase, just a long one, but a smart one. Wow!
You could get her more coloring books, take her on a tour of the hospital (which can be arranged by calling the hospital) and let her actually meet a surgeon. You could also take her to the library, as previously suggested.
If she grows up to be a surgeon, she is the kind of surgeon I would want to have--learning about it since she was 4.
2006-07-29 19:46:40 · answer #2 · answered by mountain_laurel1183 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, take her to the library. Every week she can borrow a few non-fiction books and then change them next week. I am hesitant to suggest that you let a five-year-old dissect dead animals, though, even though it would be a great educational thing for her to do.
Take her to visit hospitals. Ask doctors and nurses to make appointments in their schedules when she can talk with them and ask any questions she might have.
Take her to tour local universities. She may enjoy feeling the strong academic atmosphere first hand, and explain that she will need many years of study here to achieve her goal.
Let her do the rounds of hospitals and even speak with patients if she likes. Just don't make her do anything she doesn't want to do. If she changes her mind later, it's important that she feels she still has your support.
2006-07-29 19:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cool kid. Sounds like you got lots of great advice already. Let your daughter be the guide as long as you remember that you are the grown up and have to set limits on the amount of time spent on any one interest and any activity that you think is dangerous or unhealthy. (Surely you know, for example that a 5 year old can't go on hospital surgical rounds???) Maybe she won't grow out of it and will be as terrific a surgeon as she is a little girl!
2006-08-04 15:06:22 · answer #4 · answered by Robin R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a smart one. I was fascinated with space so my dad bought me all sorts of books, took me to planetariums and bought me a telescope. When I got in high school though my interests changed to accounting instead, but my dad was still so keen on me being an astronomer it was hard to tell him that it wasn't MY plan anymore.
My point is - she is still young, entertain her interest for now but give her room to change too. Don't force her to do at 18 yrs what she wanted to do when she was 5. Introduce all sorts of new things, at that age life should be about discovery not making big life time plans.
good luck
2006-07-29 20:08:44 · answer #5 · answered by pebble 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like my daughter. She was doing these kinds of things most of her childhood and is now studying to be a nurse. She had planned medical school but got married and ....on and on.
Take her to the library and let her get some books. Let her pick them out so she will enjoy them. But be sure this is coming from her. Support it but don't push her toward it. It's very easy to be so proud of kids this brilliant that we tend to start pushing.
2006-07-29 21:02:45 · answer #6 · answered by chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well she sounds like a good doctor, i would take her to the library, and childrens museums. It sounds like your daughter is very intrested in this kind of thing. You could also help her look this sort of thing up online. I would also start saving for collage because it seems as though you are going to have a child in surgeon school.
2006-07-29 20:02:44 · answer #7 · answered by Monkeygirlwi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just wait. At her age my daughter wanted to be a paleontologist. A year later she wanted to be a pilot. Kids get interested in a lot of things before they actually start thinking of a career when they are older. What do you do? You give her all the information you can and encourage the learning process in whatever she decides to do.
2006-08-03 11:39:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to get her mind off the medical subject quickly. She's going to regret not being a little girl and doing other things that little girls do. There is plenty of time for her to realize what she wants to do with her life. Hopefully she's not so obsessed with wanting to poke or cut something open that she starts trying things on herself. I hope she doesn't start asking for 37 band aids per day. She needs to play with other girls and kids and take her mind off of anything medical right now.
2006-07-29 19:42:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is amazing i was the same way!!! and still will be going in to the medical feild!!! just keep on letting her do it!!! that is great.. the only other thing i can think of is to get her a doll that has *booboos* i'm not sure the name but i no there out there... it is a doll that comes with needles.. and the doll already has holes in his arms and legs and also in her butt. and alot of other medical stuff. my mom got it for me when i was younger.. but i'm not sure what it was called... and i dont think i still have it... but if i find out i will email you..i will save this question.. hope i helped a lil bit
2006-07-29 19:43:45 · answer #10 · answered by sweetgurl79_2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋