Prep
Essex Heights Primary School
Monash Teddy Bear Hospital
Monash University Medical Students’ Society (MUMUS) Teddy Bear Hospital is a non-profit organisation run by Monash University student volunteers within the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences faculties. Their mission is to educate children about healthy living and alleviate the ‘white coat anxiety’ children may feel when visiting health professionals. School incursions are designed to provide children with a unique and interactive way to experience the atmosphere at a hospital or general practice without being patients themselves.
Prep students were invited to bring their own teddy bears (patients) and the Teddy Bear Hospital volunteers acted as their doctors. The TBH student volunteers guided the children and their teddy bear friends through various educational stations including role-play scenarios that simulate experiences such as calling an ambulance, visiting a GP and learning about asthma devices. Also reinforced is EHPS’s health education curriculum by encouraging good hygiene, healthy eating habits and physical activity.
The Preps had a wonderful time during their incursion with the Teddy Bear Hospital on Monday 4 May. They explored nine different stations with their teddy patients, all focused on health and wellbeing. Activities included learning about asthma, X-rays and surgery, healthy eating, handwashing and germs, calling 000 in an emergency, and identifying feelings. Also, our favourite activity was making plaster cast of their fingers!
It was a fun and engaging experience that supported the children build confidence and learn important ways to care for themselves and others.
