Children ease hospital fears by treating their teddy bears

Children brought their favourite stuffed animals to a teddy bear hospital at the Austrian Health Insurance Fund’s health centre in Favoriten on Friday, learning about medical appointments through play, ORF reported.

Health staff examined and treated the toys, following the steps of a real check-up. The children took them from station to station to be weighed and measured, then received an improvised X-ray made with a photocopier.

In the doctor’s office, children were invited to help with the examinations. Staff bandaged broken arms and legs and covered small wounds with plasters. The children also visited a dentist, where they learned how to brush teeth and how teeth are examined. Clinic clowns joined the event.