A 4-year-old in room 3 at 8:30 this morning called my activator the ‘tickle hammer’ and insisted his stuffed brontosaurus get three clicks before his own gentle cervical check. We obliged, Dino ‘adjusted’, kiddo relaxed, and mom and I tried not to laugh louder than the activator. What are your best adjusting-room one-liners from tiny humans?
Kid last week called it ‘the popcorn clicker’ and asked if I could ‘make my elbow less squeaky.’ Do any of you keep props for the sidekicks? I keep a foam block so they can fire one practice click, then a ceremonial click for their buddy before a gentle check, which gives them a sense of control and keeps things calm.
Love the 8:30 ‘tickle hammer’ — I keep a clinic stego that gets exactly three clicks first, then a little ‘Dino adjusted’ sticker for the kid. Only caveat: I keep the activator out of reach until they’re comfy or it turns into a click-a-thon, . @emartin05 do you let them press the foam block themselves, or is that asking for chaos?
After a kid dubbed it the ‘tickle hammer,’ I made a 2-minute bronto check card — three boxes to tick before the gentle cervical check — and let them ‘click’ their dino with a loud retractable pen. Keeps that 8:30 flow smooth; , sanitize the pen between patients or it gets gross fast. Anyone tried a tiny sand timer to pace the three clicks?
8:30 in room 3 is peak comedy hour — last week a 5-year-old dubbed the table ‘the nap roller coaster.’ I keep a small hand towel so the activator can ‘practice’ on a stuffed sidekick under it first, then it’s their turn; only catch is swapping towel/toy between kids because , snack hands. Anyone tried a tiny sand timer so they can ‘run the show’ for 30 seconds?
A kid once asked, “Is that the spine piano?” so I bring a mini xylophone and let them play three notes, then their stuffed buddy gets a turn before the gentle check. Do you let them pick the “song” first, or is a quick riff enough? I keep the instrument and activator on separate trays so nothing wanders into tiny hands mid-visit.
I keep a dry-erase ‘Tiny Assistant’ badge and let them write their name, then they whisper ‘green light’ before each gentle click — gets buy-in without ramping the room up. If they’re shy, a finger-puppet ‘inspector’ gives the OK instead; got a go-to word you cue them with?