Kids & Allergy Testing

Kids and allergy testing can cause anxiety for everyone, especially for children.

Before your visit, practicing this technique can help prepare your child for testing and reduce anxiety.

1. Place the child on your lap. Take a deep breath, bring the child close to you, and follow these steps.
2. Show the child how to take a deep breath (like Simon Says, do as I do). Try to take 4 or 5 breaths and have them do it with you.
3. Take deep breaths, and start blowing out breaths, doing it faster and laugh while you do it. Then have them blow out breaths, smile and laugh with you. This can quickly change a crying or anxious child’s mood.
4. Once they’ve calmed down, discuss what happened. Explain that testing is like looking for clues (as described in our coloring book, The Allergy Detective). Tell them how the doctor uses tests, and symptoms they’ve been experiencing (such as itchies on the skin, eyes, runny nose) to help them find the answers to help them feel better. Ask them for clues they’ve noticed to add to the list.

Ask our staff about tools we have to simplify the process, including our cheer cart, hand-held pinwheels, or our Allergy Detective book that walks patients through the process in ways that kids can better understand.