10 Easy Ways to Help Your Kids Become Doctors

Like most moms, I wanted my extraordinary son to grow up and become a doctor. We were headed in the right direction until one day something went terribly wrong; derailing my son's M.D. aspirations.

I will share proven steps, to encourage medical school for your young hopeful, and then the one thing to avoid. Unfortunately this one incident changed all my well-intended plans of a medical career for my son, but can be avoided.

1. Keep all regularly scheduled doctor appointments, for check ups and immunizations, with your child's pediatrician, and then treat his doctors and nurses like extended family.

2. Build good relationships with emergency room staff, at your local hospital (absolutely essential for special-needs children).

3. Create ongoing relationships with medical specialists. As my son was prone to seizure disorder, doctors and staff would delight in bringing him toys or treats, and even presented him with a real stethoscope, so he could monitor his own progress!

4. Buy a doctor's costume consisting of a lab coat and a clip board, to match the real stethoscope given by ER doctor above.

5. Support your youngster while acting out his last medical visit, as he pretends to be any of his attending doctors or specialists caring for his stuffed animals.

6. Go to the library for children's books about doctor visits and hospital stays, or books explaining your child's specific disorder or health problem, and then read them together.

7. Request age-appropriate medical-friendly educational books, toys, and games for Christmas, and birthdays.

8. Enroll your child in first aid and CPR courses offered by the Red Cross through community programs, and have them actively participate along with the other children.

9. Search online websites like WebMD.com together for information on your child's illnesses, as necessary, teaching him how to research specific symptoms.

10. Help your child learn and understand how nutrition, exercise, and rest contribute to optimum health and well-being.

I know these tips work, as my son was on his way to becoming a doctor, when the unthinkable happened. I had a kitchen accident (nearly severing my thumb) which I refused to look at; but wrapped my entire hand, and promptly drove to our emergency hospital.

As I drove my son and I to the emergency room, I explained how this could become a "teachable moment", watching the doctor stitch my thumb back into place. Unfortunately my son was afraid to look.

After that incident my son, then 7 years old, no longer wanted to become a medical professional. However I am already planning to steer him back toward pre-med biology and more science courses, which he excels in, the closer he gets to high school.