During quarantine, with all of the extra time at home, we have all been watching more TV and movies. Families with children have probably been watching Netflix, Disney+, and tons of kid-friendly films to keep little ones entertained and parents sane. Kids love to watch and rewatch shows that feature friendly faces because they are comfortable and familiar. Incorporating these characters into your office will help young patients feel more comfortable at your practice too. SmileMakers is here to help you with ideas on how to surprise your little patients with the familiar faces they know and love.

If you have already reopened your practice, or your patient load is increasing each day, you’ve likely emerged from the outbreak in a better position than many other local businesses. “Phase 3” or “close contact” businesses such as hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, gyms, movie theaters, and tattoos shops may not be allowed to open yet, or may be encountering consumer reluctance to visit, putting even more strain on these business owners financially, emotionally, and physically.

In a world that seems to be shifting and changing rapidly, it is important to establish a sense of consistency for your patients. As a healthcare provider, you have the rewarding opportunity of creating a safe place where your patients can relax and feel at ease. Healthcare spaces can be intimidating for children, especially with increased sanitation protocol, patient screening, and more PPE. SmileMakers is here to lend a hand by providing a guide on how to create more smiles and keep the patient experience more normal in a time when things just aren't.

Re-opening your practice is a cause for celebration, though it may be difficult to find a safe way to actually celebrate while following social distancing guidelines. A socially-distant “Welcome Back Party” for patients and team members alike will provide some much-needed, light-hearted fun while letting patients know you are ready to help them get their health back on track. SmileMakers is here to offer some ideas and suggestions that will accommodate social distancing regulations and safety precautions while rallying everyone together.

Explaining to children how germs, bacteria and viruses work can be one of the trickier conversations to have. Whenever we have to explain an “invisible illness” it can be a hard concept to grasp. SmileMakers has created a Germ Squad Coloring Book (the value pack even has crayons included!) to help us navigate this conceptually hard lesson. And they’ve actually made it fun!

Stress balls. We know ‘em. We love ‘em. We use ‘em. They’re a great introductory item to use to build rapport. (Quick game of catch anyone?) They’re effective and visual when teaching coping skills. They’re an item that you can use when you don’t know the situation you’re walking into. A simple stress ball can be so much more! All it takes is a sharpie, and a stress ball can be whatever I want it to be.