expERIEnce Children’s Museum is partnering with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hamot to host its first-ever Teddy Bear Clinic on July 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is designed to help children become more comfortable with doctor visits by turning a potentially intimidating experience into a fun, hands-on learning opportunity. Through role-playing activities, real medical equipment, and guidance from UPMC doctors and nurses, children will learn about healthcare in an engaging and age-appropriate way.
Instead of being the patient themselves, children can bring a medium-sized stuffed animal to serve as their “patient,” allowing them to explore what happens during a medical visit, ask questions, and practice empathy and caregiving skills.
Participants will travel through a variety of interactive stations, including:
General First Aid & Casting
Suturing Tutorial
Respiratory Station
Vitals Station
Hospital Visit Station
Get Well Cards & Make Your Own First Aid Kit
Educational Ambulance Tour
The clinic takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete, with each station lasting around 10 minutes. Families can visit stations in any order and move through the experience at their own pace.
The Teddy Bear Clinic is free with museum admission. While drop-ins are welcome, museum officials strongly encourage families to pre-register online here to help with planning and supplies.
Registration information is available at on the expERIEnce Children’s Museum website.