Perhaps you come from a long line of physicians in your family. Chances are you’d love to continue the tradition and pass the torch down to your offspring. While it’s important to make sure every child explores what they’re gifted at and can really find fulfillment in, there are ways to see if medicine might be that perfect fit.

1. Introduce medical programming to children.
Many children love to pick up the iPad and play games. Other children enjoy watching hours of cartoons. While it’s normal for a child to enjoy cartoons and mindless television at times, educational programming is highly beneficial. Now, it may be difficult to find at first, but try to look for children’s programming that teaches more about medicine and safety precautions. Visit the local public library and see if there are any resources that inform children on what doctors, nurses and other medical professionals do on a regular basis.

2. Purchase medical accessories and attire.
There are tons of toy companies that produce kid-friendly versions of medical equipment. Stethoscopes, tongue depressors and blood pressure monitors are just a few of the medical tools that are available in toy versions. You can even purchase the attire. Kids lab coats and scrubs are fun to change into for a pretend emergency.

3. Create the environment.
Many people strongly believe that by beholding, we become changed. If a child can easily visualize what life would be like in a specific environment, it’s more likely to become a reality. In this case, save a certain section in your house and turn it into the child’s medical practice. They can set-up all their tools in one place. Decorate the walls with kid-friendly medical posters of the human body, x-rays and other visuals you might see in a medical office. Another nice touch would be to have a pretend medical degree printed and hung on the wall. If your child seems to gravitate to this type of play and really enjoys it, you’re headed in the right direction.

Make sure the child can get a great balance of different toys to play with and activities to enjoy. Balance is important. However, it is okay to help a child decide if medicine is a career they might like. Don’t be afraid to let them tag along when you make a quick trip to your own medical office. They may just follow in the footsteps of mommy and daddy down the line!