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Social stories · Health and body · ages 5–9 · 2-minute read

Going to the doctor: a social story

What usually happens at a doctor check-up, step by step. Read it together in the days before the appointment.

Read the story

By the Cala Luna team · Reviewed 24 October 2026 · The research behind it

The story

Read it aloud together, one card at a time. Point to the pictures and let your child read the last card.

  1. Sometimes I go to the doctor for a check-up. Doctors help keep my body healthy.

  2. First we wait in the waiting room. It can be busy. I can look at a book or hold my toy.

  3. Someone calls my name. My grown-up comes with me into a small room.

  4. A nurse might measure how tall I am and how much I weigh.

  5. The doctor says hello and asks some questions. I can answer, or my grown-up can help.

  6. The doctor listens to my heart with a stethoscope. It can feel cold on my skin.

  7. A small light looks in my ears and mouth. I can keep still by counting to five.

  8. I can hold my grown-up's hand, or ask for a short break.

  9. When the doctor is finished, the check-up is over. I helped look after my body.

My calm plan

Pick one or two before the day, and practise them at home.

  • 🧸 Hold my toy
  • 🔢 Count to five
  • 🤝 Hold a hand
  • ✋ Ask for a break

Free printable social story from calalunakids.com/social-stories/going-to-the-doctor/

Personalised social cartoon

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Cala Luna created personalised social cartoons: the social-story method, as a cartoon starring your child. Two minutes, their name, a hero who looks like them, and this exact moment, one small step at a time.

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Teo, a small lynx in a big yellow sun hat

How to use this story (for grown-ups)

  • Play doctors at home with a toy kit: listen to a teddy's heart, look in its ears, then swap. Practise keeping still for a count of five.
  • Book a quieter time of day and tell the receptionist about any sensory needs (touch, bright light, noise). Many surgeries can offer a quieter room or a wait outside.
  • Read only the parts of the story that fit this visit, and keep explanations short and in order.
  • Bring a comfort item and a snack, and plan something nice for afterwards, without turning it into a bargain ("if you're good...").

Why these steps: what 30 years of research says about social stories.

Words that help

  • Try saying: "The doctor will listen to your heart. It might feel cold."Instead of: "It won't hurt at all."
  • Try saying: "It is OK to feel worried. I will be right here."Instead of: "There is nothing to be scared of."

Questions parents ask

Should I tell my child if they need an injection?

Yes, honestly and close to the time, in simple words: what they will feel and how long it lasts. Avoid promising "no injections" or "it won't hurt"; a broken promise makes the next visit harder.

My child refuses to be examined. What helps?

Practise each step at home with a toy kit first. Ask the doctor to show each step on a teddy or on your hand before touching your child, and to keep the examination short.

Can we bring the printed story to the appointment?

Yes. Many children like to point to the card for "what happens next", and many doctors are happy to follow the same order.

More social stories

Health and body

Trying new food

Look, touch, smell, tiny taste. "No thank you" is OK.

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Health and body

Bath time and hair washing

Warm water, wet, shampoo, rinse, towel. I know what comes next.

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Health and body

A wobbly tooth

Baby teeth wiggle, come out when ready, and a new tooth grows.

Read the story →

All 28 social stories

We read the best free examples and guidance we could find, then wrote a shorter, simpler version in our own words: Rady Children's Health: well-child visit social story (PDF); East London NHS Foundation Trust: everyday situations, medical appointments (PDF). Not medical advice; if you are worried about your child, talk to their school or doctor.