I’m a child psychologist and these are my tips for stress-free check-ups for kids

Professor Wass, child development expert at the University of East London, stated children are often nervous during these new scenarios because young brains are wired to be cautious of the unfamiliar.

Following a survey of 1,000 parents of 3–5-year-olds, which found dentist appointments, eye tests, and vaccinations were among the appointments children are most apprehensive of, one of Sam’s tips suggests giving youngsters a special 'job' to focus on during their visit.

Whether that’s counting pictures on the wall or spotting colours around the room, having a task redirects attention away from their worries and towards a goal, reducing the mental energy spent focusing on what is making them anxious.

The Professor also recommends letting children become the ‘expert’ before an appointment by encouraging them to explain what they think will happen or by role-playing as the doctor, dentist or optician at home.

According to Sam, helping kids understand and predict an experience can make it feel far less scary, as uncertainty is often one of the biggest drivers of anxiety in young children.

Sam’s insight comes during National Eye Health Week and he has partnered with Specsavers, which has created an online sight prompt. This was inspired by friendly ‘Optomonsters’ to help put kids at ease and highlight there’s ‘No Scaries in Sight’, which parents can take with them at home.

Another tactic Sam recommends, which is particularly useful ahead of eye tests, is turning observation into a game by challenging children to spot letters, colours, shapes or objects. This helps familiarise children with some of the visual tasks they'll be asked to complete during an eye examination, making it feel more predictable and boosting their confidence.

The professor added: “It's completely normal for children to feel nervous about healthcare appointments, especially when they're doing something for the first time. But these check-ups play a crucial role in supporting healthy development.

"Correcting vision early can improve learning outcomes and have a real impact on education, confidence and wellbeing.”

The research also revealed anxiety is a barrier to children getting their eyes tested, as seven per cent of parents have delayed booking because they were concerned their child would find it frightening.

But 49 per cent of parents report symptoms that could indicate eyesight-related issues, including sitting very close to screens (20 per cent) and rubbing their eyes frequently (20 per cent).

Among those whose children who have been tested, 45 per cent of the children were afraid beforehand. Concerns included fears it might hurt (42 per cent), uncertainty about what would happen during the appointment (34 per cent), and nervousness about meeting the optician (28 per cent).

Jill Campbell, head of clinical performance at Specsavers, said: "We know that anxiety around health appointments is a real concern for many parents, and eye tests are often viewed as daunting.

“But they are vital – they can help identify issues that might otherwise go unnoticed and impact a child's learning and development. Our campaign aims to remove the fear factor and show families there really is 'No Scaries in Sight'."

Sam Wass’ top tips for keeping kids calm

1. Rehearse it before you go - let them be the expert: Young brains predict what’s next, then update when reality differs. With no prior experience, everything is a surprise – and the surprise is treated as threat. Playing optician at home gives kids a rough script to run so by the time they arrive, the room has stopped being unknown.
2. Tell them what it will feel like, not just what will happen: Most parents describe the sequence of events and stop there. But what children really want to know is strikingly consistent: will it hurt, will I feel scared, and how do I stay calm. Sensory information - the chin rest is cool, the room goes dim - prevents any unexpected sensations that turn manageable moments into frightening ones.
3. Give them real choice: One key driver of anxiety is not feeling in control. Letting a child make choices - which chair, which order, whether you hold their hand – can shift an experience from something being done to them to something they are doing. Keep the choices real and narrow – a choice you'll overrule is worse than none.
4. Give them a job: Distraction is a powerful tool - but it works best with a goal attached. "Count how many animals you can spot" occupies attention more reliably than "don't think about it" - because attention needs somewhere to go. Give the job before the anxiety starts and make it specific enough to have an answer.
5. Reassurance can backfire: This is the most counterintuitive finding - and the most useful. When parents repeat "it's okay, don't worry," children rate their parents as more frightened than when parents distract them. Heavy reassurance can signal that there is something worth being reassured about. Say less and say it lightly.
6. Think about sensory load in the waiting room: Waiting areas can be the hardest part: bright lighting, echo, screens, strangers, no clear sense of timing. You can't redesign the waiting room, but arrive close to the appointment time, sit somewhere quieter, make sure the child knows what time it is, and how long you will have to wait.
7. Time the preparation to the child: More warning is not always better. Tell a three-year-old a week ahead and they’ll probably forget. For preschoolers, the day before or the morning of is usually right; older children can do better with more notice. Match the detail to how much they are actually asking for.