GREENWICH HOSPITAL’S TEDDY BEAR CLINIC EASES KIDS’ FEARS OF GOING TO THE DOCTOR |
When children come to Greenwich Hospital's eighth annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Sunday, September 17th, from Noon to 3 PM, they'll not only have fun playing with the favorite stuffed animal they bring along, more importantly, through the medium of pretend medical treatments for their toy, they'll learn what happens at hospitals, and the role of doctors and nurses, all of which will go a long way to ease their own fears should they ever need medical attention.
Greenwich Hospital's Teddy Bear Clinic, a free family event now in its eighth year, was designed to teach children through play about how medicine works. It is an especially welcome event for parents, who often grapple with their own fears when their children are sick, and for whom having a calmer child will mean a less anxious parent.
To bring children into the process, the Greenwich Hospital's Teddy Bear Clinic will provide hands-on experiences to teach children ages 3 to 12 about medical procedures.
On arriving, each child and his teddy bear receives a passport that is stamped as they visit each of the more than 25 stations, all representing a different clinic specialty. First stop is Admitting for an ID bracelet, and then it's on to the check-up table for weighing and measuring. Emergency personnel will be ready to take care of sprains, bumps and bruises, and the operating room team scrubbed for surgery.
In addition, the Teddy Bear Clinic will help children learn about diagnostic imaging, infection control, medical technology and many other health and wellness topics, giving them an especially dimensional look at how medicine happens. All of the event's medical stations will be set up under tents in the parking lot of the Greenwich Medical Building at 49 Lake Ave., right behind the hospital. Parking will be available in the hospital's staff parking lot next door.
"The Teddy Bear Clinic is more than just fun," says Sue Brown, RN, the hospital's director of pediatric programs. "Many young children work out their fears of the unknown through pretend situations."
The Clinic will take place on Sunday, September 17th, rain or shine and include appearances by event mascot Dr. Teddy Bear, as well as giveaways and healthy snacks.
Greenwich Hospital, an affiliate of the Yale New Haven Health System, is a 174-bed community hospital serving Fairfield and Westchester counties.
For more information about the Teddy Bear Clinic, call (203) 863-3627 or toll-free, (888) 357-2409.
