Teddies here, Teddies every where!

On the 2nd and 3rd of September, the TBH crew once again ventured to a little kindergarten to help salvage little sick teddies. Well, using "little" here might be misinforming. The kindergarten was huge and the teddies were aplenty and we should not underestimate their size as well. We saw a total of 40 children those 2 days, the first day consisting of 3 and 6 year old while the second day we met with 4 and 5 year old.

Like every session from before or even future expeditions, we started out with questionnaires before starting our activities. Next, we proceeded to our main event- the Teddy Bear Clinic. With 2 volunteers measuring our patients weight and height, 5 other volunteers waited for our prospective patients to enter. Well now, as you might expect, the kids were very excited and inpatient to bring their sick teddies to see us.

However, let me back track a little before I show you pictures on the day of the event. Our very own Teddy has come to see the doctors! Or rather, she is here for Quality Control!

What's this you got here? I see, my very own patient card!? Very good, you may proceed to see the kids.

Hmm, can anyone guess what Teddy has? A fever/cold? A broken arm? A cut? A tummy ache? Seems like a bad tummy to me!

And without further ado, let's get right back to the action:

Giving an introduction to TBH and telling the children what to expect on that day.

Seen here, two volunteers guiding the children with the questionnaires and the patient card.

Everyone listen to me! Please write your Teddy name and age here!

If you <3 doctors, please circle on one on the smiley faces! The happier the face, the more you <3 doctors

 Yes, I am the first one to finish the questions. Now hand my patient card over!

Once done with the paper work, it'd down to business. Before meeting the doctors, we have to first get your height and weight for normal childhood development! (In this case, Teddy's growth, stagnant as it may be)

Now that's a TALL bear. You have one healthy teddy good sir!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is how you weight a heavy Panda Bear

But this, my fellow friends, is how you weigh a tiny Koala Bear. Any difference? Maybe not.

Once that is done, we now take another step towards the dreaded thing. To go face to face with that person in the white coat who might just stick a needle in your buttocks and give you bitter medications! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Ahoy there, seems like your Teddy had a bad fall and broken his arms. We will need to bandage him for a while so that he can rest his arms.

Seems like there is a trend of naughtiness among Teddies now, so many broken arms! Must have been playing very dangerously! Naughty Teddy!

Hi Ma'am, can you tell me what's wrong with your Teddy?

Come and listen to panda's tummy yourself! Can you hear the growl! (Grrrrr grrrr grrr)

Let me check your eyes for cranial.. I mean, let me check your eyes to see if there's any problems! (Remember, although they may be the parents to the teddies, they are still kids. So avoid any medical jargons!)

Hmm, I guess the people in the white coats are not as scary as I thought. I quite enjoyed them, don't you say? Maybe I won't make such as fuss next time I go to the hospital for a check up! 

Once done, we proceed to split the children into 2 groups. One to the anatomy station while the other proceed to the healthy eating station.

Everyone, Teddy is here today to teach you a little about yourselves and your body! 

What is this? Your lungs! What do they do? Help you breathe!

Where is your heart and how big is it? It is on your top left chest and the size of your fist!

See this teddy? Do you know why this teddy is so adorable and cute? It is because she has been eating healthy food! We will build a healthy food plate for teddy today!

What are the food groups you ask? Protein, grains, vegetables, fruits and dairy! Very clever, you got them all right!

Now that we know our food groups, let's sing the food group song!

Emergency station is next. Oh my, what will happen here? Sounds dangerous!

We gathered the kids and asked them if they have been naughty, playing with dangerous materials.

"Mummy mummy, what's that?" Asked Teddy. "Iron" "Mummy, can I play with it?!" "No, it's hot!"

But Teddy decides to play with it and got herself burnt. Luckily she got the emergency contact card and was able to call mummy for help. 

Look! I have a pair of scissors! Look there is this socket that has 3 holes in it. Should I play with scissors? Should I play with electricity?


Teddy's sister, Kitty (who apparently was revealed as a human) found Teddy unconscious. Who should she call if she is unable to reach their parents? 999!

Hello, this is ambulance uncle here. Teddy is not responsive!? We will come now!

TBH with its one of a kind ambulance.

Resuscitation! 1,2,3,4,5...30! Teddy is awake! Teddy, "I'm so sorry, I won't be naughty again!"

Therein ends another memorable sessions. We are utmost grateful to the teachers who helped us put during that day as well as the principle and owner of the kindergarten, who participated in it as well and gave us some helpful tips.

Here we are, with all the wonderful children and teachers. Don't forget our faithful and absolutely wonderful (cough cough) volunteers!

For more photos on that day, please visit https://www.facebook.com/tbh.pu/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream

There's a First in Everything.

The first time we took our very first step, the first time we said our first word, the first day of school; there is a milestone for everything in our lives and then some. On the 29th of August, the first Teddy Bear Hospital organized by medical students in Malaysia had its very first session in a kindergarten. There was a total number of 18 children of ages 5 and 6.

We started out with our Teddy Bear Clinic. Our volunteer medical students, being the doctors, listening to the complaints of teddy bears' problems. Do you have a temperature and maybe a flue? Is your stomach growling and in pain? Did you cut yourself with a fall? Or perhaps broken an arm? No worries, the doctors are here to help!

 What's wrong with your teddy? Let me have a check.

The children listening tentatively to our advice. No more naughtiness!

Yes, I shall write you your doctor's order. Rest more, eat more healthy food!

You need a bandage? No worries, I will cut you one to a size that fits!

Yes dear, how may I be of assistance?

Next, we have the anatomy station. We started off first with the basics like head, hands, legs, fingers and toes. We then educate then about the heart, lungs, stomach, intestine, liver etc.

Who can tell me a part of our body, raise your hands!

 Teddy wearing an apron. Oh dear, what could Teddy be doing? Teaching of course!

Can anyone tell me these two things are?

Lame joke: Why do we need two lungs? Because one is not enough! Hehe...

Volunteer laughing at her own joke, the children do not seem to understand.

Yes, you place the lungs here. Right at this sweet spot, not else where.

Healthy Eating Station is next. Here, everyone got to know about what consists of fruits, protein, dairy, vegetables and grains. We then sang the food group song! And to top it off, we played a game educating the children about healthy and unhealthy food.

Everyone has their own food to form the food plate! Categories include protein, vegetables, grains, fruits and dairy products!

Children have to correctly identify where to place the food the were assigned

A flurry of activities. Everyone was so eager to participate

Please place your food at the right category!

Volunteer helping to guide the children.

That's not your food picture. It is your patient's card!

What is this everyone? Please tell me!

Next is the food group song! Do you know the food group names, the food group names, the food group names? Do you know the food group names, please tell me what is......

Sing along!

Please tell me what is blue??! Dairy!

Next we have the games to build a healthy food plate. We have a burping gorilla who loves to eat unhealthy food. What happens when gorilla is given an unhealthy food? He burps! And what should we say? Excuse me!  

Finally, there is the Emergency Station. We should always avoid playing with potential dangerous materials like scissors, hot iron and electricity. But when accidents happen, we need to seek help and the first person to call is the parents. If one is unable to reach the parents, one should call the police or ambulance next!

Volunteer explaining the narrating the situation to the children.

Teddy asking mommy what the hot iron is.

After hurting herself, Teddy approaches the phone and tries to call someone.

Who should Teddy contact first? Make a smart guess!

Mom of course!

Children listening and watching in amazement.

Teddy watching mom using the scissors. Knowing Teddy, guess what she will do next?

At the end of the day, everyone gathered for a photo shoot. Did every one enjoy Teddy Bear Hospital?! Apparently it was a resounding YES! Thank you everyone for the support, as well as the principle of the kindergarten for allowing us to have this opportunity to have this session with the children!

When all's said and done, it was definitely a challenging session. We learned better on how to interact with children of a very tender age and it was really an eye opener for each and everyone of us. Though tiring, we were all satisfied with the experience bestowed upon us. We look forward towards more activities in the future. Stay tuned!