Personalised book about waiting at doctors surgery

What happens in your child's Busy Waiting Room

1. Your child arrives and finds a seat with a grown-up.
2. They spot the chairs, books, noticeboard and door.
3. Your child chooses small activities while they wait.
4. Other names are called, and your child asks about turns.
5. Your child hears their name and walks in with their grown-up.

How the first page could read

Your child held a grown-up’s hand as the surgery door clicked shut behind them. The waiting room had chairs, a noticeboard and a little table with books. “How long until our turn?” asked your child. The grown-up smiled. “Let’s find things to do while we wait.”

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

Waiting can feel longer than the appointment for young children, especially when other people are called first. This story gives your child a clear, child-sized sequence: arrive, spot familiar objects, choose a quiet activity, notice whose turn is next, then hear their own name. It makes room for questions such as “Is it our turn yet?” without explaining medical care or predicting how an appointment will go. Re-reading lets families practise the language of waiting at home, while the personalised child on each spread offers a recognisable focus. Short, observable moments suit ages 2–5, whose attention may move from chairs to books to the door.

Reading it together

• Before the visit, pause on each spread and ask your child what they can spot in the waiting room.
• Let your child practise saying, “Is it our turn yet?”, then point to where the story shows what happens next.
• Bring the book along and revisit the pages about choosing something small to do while waiting.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour keeps the room’s everyday details gentle and easy to look at. A sidekick idea: a small toy rabbit to spot things with. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.