![[Handmade] A roundup of tool ideas you can use for playing doctor](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/Pi7360JKEc4/maxresdefault.webp)
[Handmade] A roundup of tool ideas you can use for playing doctor
Make-believe play where you take on a role and pretend to be someone else.
It’s often incorporated into early childhood settings and is also played as an activity to develop communication and creativity.
In this article, we’ve gathered handmade items themed around playing doctor.
We’ll mainly introduce syringes, stethoscopes, and other items that let kids enjoy interactions between patients who come for a checkup and doctors or nurses.
Be sure to check out these play-doctor tools that parents and children, or friends, can enjoy together.
[Handmade] A roundup of tool ideas for playing doctor (1–10)
thermometer
When you’re not feeling well, the first thing you do is take your temperature with a thermometer, right? Even when kids play doctor, they’ll remember going to the hospital and want to say, “Let’s take your temperature,” and use a thermometer! Here’s an idea for making a thermometer out of origami.
Use a sheet of origami paper cut in half to make the body, then insert a strip with numbers to represent the thermometer scale.
Basically, you fold along the creases, but there’s a step where you open and squash-fold partway through.
That part is a bit tricky, so if a child is making it, an adult should lend a hand.
Mask
Here’s a handmade mask idea using a towel.
The example uses a slightly long rectangular towel.
You can make it the same way with a square towel by folding it into a long, narrow shape.
Thread elastic through both sides of the towel, fold the ends inward, and stitch them in place.
That’s all it takes to make the mask! Hook the elastic over your ears to wear it.
If children are making it, fabric double-sided tape works well too.
Try using it for pretend play as a doctor.
medicine capsule
When kids play doctor, some might want to prescribe medicine to their patients.
In that case, I recommend origami medicine capsules! First, fold the origami paper in half to make a crease, then open it.
Fold the top outward and the bottom inward so they meet at the center line.
Next, fold it up again to make a small rectangle.
Finally, fold all four corners inward to create the rounded capsule shape.
Make them in different colors and sizes, put them in a medicine bag, and let the kids “prescribe” them!
medicine pouch
Would you like to try making a medicine pouch using felt? Cut a piece of felt into a rectangle, fold it in half, then slide the top layer down slightly and glue it.
The part left unglued will become the flap, so attach hook-and-loop fasteners to keep it closed.
Add a cross mark to the center of the front of the pouch, and you’re done.
This idea uses white felt, but if you’re making it for pretend doctor play, colorful felt works great too.
Try making them in various sizes.
bandage
Kids love bandages, don’t they? They’re also an essential item for playing doctor.
So, here’s an idea for making your own original bandages! Prepare some plain bandages and remove the outer wrapper.
Cut your favorite patterned design paper slightly larger than the bandage, and stick it pattern-side down onto the adhesive side of OPP tape.
Then place double-sided tape on top of that, attach it onto the bandage, and trim off any excess.
Your original bandage is complete! You can even make the outer wrapper by hand, so give it a try.
Stethoscope marker
Let’s make a stethoscope marker that makes your stethoscope look cute! This idea uses resin.
There are many designs for resin molds, but this time we’ll use an animal paw shape.
First, pour colored resin into the paw pad sections, then pour resin of a different color on top and cure it.
After that, attach a finding so it can be fixed to the stethoscope, securing it with liquid resin, and you’re done! Resin items are also sold at 100-yen shops, so if you want to make it on a low budget, try looking there.
syringe
When it comes to popular items for playing doctor, isn’t the syringe at the top of the list? Many kids don’t like getting shots, but love pretending to be the doctor and giving them! So, let’s make a syringe using toilet paper rolls.
Prepare two toilet paper cores.
After decorating the outside, cut a window where the “liquid medicine” would be visible and slide one core inside the other.
The outer core will be the barrel of the syringe and the inner core will act as the plunger.
Then, make the plunger handle out of cardboard, and create the needle using a straw and a cotton ball.
Glue the parts together and you’re done!
doctor’s bag
https://www.tiktok.com/@yokocreates/video/7049335533863963910Why not try making a doctor’s bag like the ones doctors carry? You can put various items inside and use it for pretend play.
Fold a sheet of paper into a square twice, draw the corners of the bag and the inside of the handle, then cut them out.
When you unfold the paper, it will be in the shape of a bag—fold it in half, glue the sides, and finish by attaching a red cross made from red paper.
Thin paper tears easily, so choose slightly sturdier paper.
Adjust the size to fit the items you want to put inside.
nurse cap
Does your child want to pretend to be a nurse? If so, why not make a nurse’s cap? You can easily make one with origami, so give it a try.
First, fold the origami paper into a square, then fold it the same way again to make a crease, and open it.
Fold the top and bottom corners to the crease, then open up the pocketed sections and flatten them.
After that, just keep folding and shaping it into a hat.
When putting it on the head, use hairpins to secure the cap to the hair.
medical kit
Here’s an idea for a medical kit made with origami.
For children, calling it a first-aid kit might be easier to understand.
Using two sheets of origami paper, you’ll make the box and the lid separately.
Once they’re made, insert the lid section into the box to secure it, decorate with red origami paper, and finally add a cross mark to complete it.
The folding methods for the box and the lid are different, but as long as you make firm creases, the folding itself isn’t difficult.
Try making a larger box and use it to store medicine or masks.