Instructions to Make a Play Stethoscope

Many children love to fantasize and pretend to be a doctor. By letting your child play doctor at a young age, you can encourage her creativity and plant the desire to become a health professional when she gets older. There are innumerable different types of play stethoscopes you can purchase at a toy store. However, these stethoscopes usually come in a doctor play set, which can be expensive. Luckily, you can make your own working play stethoscope using a few materials you can purchase at a pet store or aquarium supply store.

Things You'll Need

• 2 feet plastic tubing
• 2 small funnels
• 1deflated party balloon
• 1 large rubber band
• Pot

Instructions

1. Boil a pot of water and transfer it to a heat-resistant bowl or container. Submerge the tips of the plastic tubing into the hot water for about one minute. This will loosen the plastic so it can fit smoothly over the funnels.

2. Remove the tubing from the water and connect one end of the tubing with the tip of the funnel. Do the same for the other end of the tubing. As the ends of the tubing cools, it will tighten around the tips of the funnels.

3. Blow a large party balloon to its maximum size, pinch the bottom and wait for about a minute, then deflate it completely. This will make the balloon bigger so it can stretch nicely over the small funnel.

4. Stretch the deflated balloon over the large opening of one of the funnels. Hold it in place with a large rubber band.

5. Instruct the child to cover her ear with the funnel. Have her place the rubber balloon covered funnel in the middle of her chest or someone else's chest and listen for a heartbeat while resting or after playing actively. Do this in a quiet location so she can hear the heartbeat clearly.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase funnels and transparent plastic tubing at any pet store or aquarium supplies store. They can also cut the tubing there for you.

References

• Teacher Vision: Make a Stethoscope