Cheshire Medical Center’s Family & Community Care clinic will host a Teddy Bear Clinic on April 26 from 9 am to 1:30 pm.
The Teddy Bear Clinic allows children and their caregivers opportunities to familiarize themselves with the medical setting and take the fear out of medical interactions.
Kids play the role of doctor, nurse, radiology tech, and more as they assess and “treat” the ailments of their favorite toy or provided teddy bear. Playing alongside real-life medical experts from Cheshire Medical Center, staff will guide children and their families through several healthcare experiences.
Teddy Bear Clinics are proven to empower children by normalizing medical equipment and experiences, reducing anxiety of future doctor visits and increasing their knowledge of their bodies. For caregivers, these events give them an opportunity to address a child’s health questions and concerns.
The Teddy Bear Clinic is most beneficial for children ages 2 to 12 and provides parents with a powerful tool to decrease fear and anxiety for their children during healthcare visits.
To improve the health and safety of children attending the Teddy Bear Clinic, each adult will also have the opportunity to learn about the safe storage of medication and guns. Additionally, children who are registered for the Teddy Bear Clinic will be provided with the opportunity to receive a bike helmet that will be fitted by trained staff.
New this year, the Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team and other local emergency vehicles will be available for a free Emergency-Vehicle-Touch-a-Truck event in the parking lot. Registration is not required for this portion of the event.
While the Teddy Bear Clinic is free, registration is required to attend. Starting April 1, register by emailing teddybearclinic@cheshire-med.com with the full name and age of each child that you are registering, as well as the full name of each adult accompanying them. Registration is limited to the first 74 children.