Teddy Bear’s Check-Up: The University Of Limerick Has A Great Way Of Teaching Children About Hospital

Are you ready for a ridiculously cute story? Last week, hundreds of primary school children brought their teddy bears to the University of Limerick. Why? Well last Wednesday marked the University’s very first Teddy Bear Hospital event.

The event was organised by five Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) students at the university and was designed to help alleviate childhood anxiety about hospitals, medical procedures and doctors and nurses.

For the event, 10 medical stations were set up in the University’s arena. There was a triage section, a stethoscipe section, an x-ray section and lots more. 75 medical students gave their time to the event and looked after any ‘sick’ teddy bears that were in attendance.

Image via the University of Limerick

“The UL GEMS Teddy Bear Hospital is designed to be an interactive initiative that allows children to eperience the atmosphere of a healthcare encounter without being a patient themselves,” said Kira Gullane, a UL GEMS student.

“Primary school students bring their teddy bear which then plays the role of the patient for the day. This visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital provides the children with an opportunity to interact with and assist in a range of simulated healthcare settings, while also providing them with an opportunity to ask any questions with respect to healthcare that may concern them in a friendly and fun environment,” she added.

We think this is a fantastic idea and a great way to teach children about hospitals! Oh and just in case you were wondering, all the ‘sick’ teddy bears were discharged from the hospital and went home in full health at the end of the day.