These are important skills to learn at any age. This is a great topic for support groups. Children learn from our actions, so perfecting these skills for ourselves is the best help we can give our children. The truth is that children learn by what we model more than what we say. This is not good modeling.
Most parents make doctor's appointments for their children.
Especially if they are ill, you are going to want to be the one to call the doctor. But for a routine checkup, any 16 year-old can call and set up an appointment. In fact, they can probably handle a routine checkup totally on their own. Remember, though, that going to the doctor's for youngsters who are not feeling well and will be poked, prodded, and jabbed is scary. In fact, going to the doctor's is scary for many adults, too.