Teddy Bear Hospital
The Teddy Bear Hospital is an international charity project initiated by the International Federation of Medical Student's Associations (IFMSA). The aim of the project is to playfully relieve children of their fear of hospitals, medical staff and examinations.
history
After the first teddy bear hospitals were introduced in Scandinavia in the 1990s, the project quickly spread across Europe. In 1997 the first teddy bear hospital was held in Austria and in 2000 in Germany.
Today the project is being discussed internationally in hospitals. It is carried out by voluntary medical students who are mostly part of umbrella organizations (National Member Organizations), which in turn belong to the IFMSA. In some countries, such as Australia or Austria, however, trainees from other medical fields such as health and nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy and radiology technology are involved in the organization and implementation of teddy bear hospitals. This is done on a voluntary basis and free of charge, with the project being financed entirely by sponsors and supporters. The form of the event is aimed specifically at toddlers between 3 and 6 years of age, in some countries even 8 years of age.
procedure
Before visiting the teddy bear hospital, the participating children should ideally have already dealt with the topics of “health and illness”. This is usually done during a stay in kindergarten or by the respective supervisory private persons. Then the children think about an illness or an injury for their cuddly toy , which should then be "cured" in the teddy bear hospital. The structure and location of the teddy bear hospital itself varies, depending on human and financial resources, from country to country. For example, project days are held in shopping centers, in event halls, but also in hospitals. The structure should be similar to that of a real hospital. The only difference is the fact that it is not the children but their cuddly toys that are accepted as patients - the children play the role of caregiver.
The various stations can be found in teddy bear hospitals around the world. From patient registration, through the waiting room, to an emergency room, to surgery , radiology , dental practice and pharmacy, there are numerous ways to make the "sick" cuddly toys healthy again. The children are accompanied by so-called teddy doctors, volunteer students from medical professions.
backgrounds
The children’s fear of hospitals, medical staff and examinations should be relieved by visiting the teddy bear hospital. In order to reach the children at an early age, the 3 to 6 year olds were defined as the target group . Originally the focus was on getting to know everyday processes in a hospital through play, but over time the role of the cuddly toy has become more and more important. As a symbol of childhood, it not only represents a companion, neutral conversation partner and special friend, but also serves as an opportunity to address and process various life events of the children, such as a serious illness or abuse.
literature
- Dominik Klug: Fighting Fears with Teddybears , eBook, Amazon 2018 - Infobuch about the concept of Teddybärkrankenhaus, step by step instructions
- Judy Moody, MD: The Doctor Is In! by Megan McDonald - Children's book to reduce fear of doctors
Individual evidence
- ↑ AMSA - information page about teddy bear hospitals ; accessed on July 18, 2018.
- ↑ Teddy Clinic, international presence on the topic of Teddy Bear Hospital ; accessed on July 18, 2018.
- ↑ Teddy Bear Hospital Innsbruck turns 20 years old ; accessed on July 18, 2018.
- ↑ sample page of the Düsseldorf Teddy Bear Hospital ; accessed on July 18, 2018.