In June and July children are often sick so here is a story to tell them.

It was a cold rainy day but when the rain stopped Wendy asked,

'Mummy can I go out to play now?'

'Yes, if you put on your jacket and beanie.' But Wendy didn't listen. She ran outside without her jacket and beanie and she saw a big muddy puddle.

'I'll play Peppa Pig,' she said and she jumped right into the puddle. Soon Wendy's clothes were wet and muddy and she was shivering, but she stayed outside until Mummy called her for her dinner.

‘Oh no,' said Mummy when she saw Wendy's wet clothes. 'You are very cold. I do hope you won't get sick. 'I'll run a hot bath for you, then put on your pyjamas.’

Next morning Wendy did have a cold. Her nose was runny, and her throat and ears hurt too. She didn’t want her breakfast. Mummy felt her forehead.

‘You have a temperature. We’ll go to the doctor.’

‘No!’ said Wendy and she began to cry.

Her mummy cuddled her and explained. ‘The doctor is a friend and he will help you to get better.’ But Wendy still cried.

‘Hullo, Wendy,’ said Dr Jones. ‘You have a nasty cold. Let me look in your throat and ears.’

‘No!’ said Wendy and she began to cry again.

‘Dear, dear,’ said Dr Jones. ‘Look at my bear. He has sore ears too, just like you. Please hold this little torch for me so that I can look in his ears. Will you do that?’ Wendy nodded. She knew how to turn on the torch. Dr Jones looked in bear’s ears.

‘Now you can hold bear while I look in your ears, okay? Wendy nodded. Dr Jones looked in Wendy’s mouth to see her throat too. ‘You and bear both need some medicine,’ said the doctor. He put little bear in a special chair on his desk and showed Wendy bear’s medicine bottle and a special glass. Wendy pretended to give bear some medicine.

‘I’ll write a script. Wear warm clothes and take the medicine and you’ll soon be better, Wendy,’ said the doctor. ‘Goodbye.’

‘Thank you Dr Jones,’ said Mummy.

On the way home Mummy and Wendy took the script to the chemist shop for the medicine and a special little glass to measure it in.

At home Mummy measured the medicine and Wendy drank it. ‘It tastes good,’ said Wendy. Mummy put the medicine high up on a shelf.

Next morning Wendy’s cold was much better and her ears didn’t hurt any more. ‘Can I play outside?’ she asked.

‘Yes, if you wear your jumper and beanie,’ said her mummy. Wendy put them on.

Games or follow-up activities

• set up doctor play in the doll corner
• talk about keeping medicine safely.
• encourage children to tell you about when they were sick
• encourage children to take turns in using a torch. Supervise so they don't shine the torch in eyes.