First Class pupils from Duleek Boys National School recently swapped the classroom for a special hospital visit, bringing their favourite teddy bears along for the journey.
Thirty students visited Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) to take part in an interactive Teddy Bear Hospital experience designed to help children feel more comfortable about hospitals and healthcare settings.
The young visitors stepped into caring roles, helping nurses, midwives, early years educators and scientists examine and treat their teddy bears. From broken bones and sore tummies to worries and anxieties, no teddy problem was too big or too small for the DkIT team.
Organised by DkIT’s School of Health and Science, the event gave pupils a hands on introduction to healthcare in a safe, fun and engaging environment.
As part of the experience, the children also explored the world of science. Wearing real lab coats, they carried out simple “blood tests” and learned about infections while visiting DkIT’s state of the art laboratories.
During the visit, the students rotated through a series of themed stations, including Teddy Triage, the Hospital Ward, the Science Lab and the Discharge Garden.
At each stop, the teddy bears received a range of check ups including X-rays, temperature checks and pulse monitoring before being treated with bandages, slings and personalised care plans.
The Teddy Bear Hospital initiative aims to make healthcare environments less intimidating for children while introducing them to the important work carried out by healthcare and science professionals.
Dr Áine McHugh, Lecturer & Programme Director of the BSc (hons) in Mental Health Nursing at DkIT said:“It was fantastic to welcome the students from Duleek Boys National School and their cuddly toys to DkIT. The Teddy Bear’s Hospital is a wonderful opportunity to show young children various aspects of a hospital environment, aiming to demystify the hospital experience but also spark early curiosity about careers in healthcare, science and early childhood education- all in a fun and supportive setting.
Dr Orla Sherlock, Outreach Coordinator at DkIT added:
“It’s wonderful to see young children engaging with STEM in such a fun and supportive way, helping to build confidence and curiosity from an early age. Experiences like this show that science and healthcare can be friendly, accessible, and something they can imagine themselves being part of. We hope to welcome some of these young students back to DkIT in the future as they continue their learning journey.”
Learn more about Outreach activities at DkIT: https://www.dkit.ie/for-schools/activities
