NewYork-Presbyterian's Teddy Bear Clinic Makes Visting The Doctor Fun

NEW YORK CITY — The Seaport and NewYork-Presbyterian doctors hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic on March 1 in an effort to help ease kids’ anxieties about doctors' office and hospital visits.

As part of the educational event, young children got the chance to simulate a typical check-up on their very own patient – a cute and cuddly teddy bear – guided by experts from the Children's Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian, officials told Patch.

At the event, there was a station to create unique band-aid art and children were able to take teddy bears home in hopes it’ll give them a boost of confidence heading into their next check-up.

"The smiles on their faces at the end of each activity is a reward for all of us. Our goal here is that they will be more comfortable when they come to their doctor's appointments," Dr. Vince Uy, a pediatric emergency medicine physician with the Children's Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian, told Patch.

The children even had the opportunity to tour an ambulance, learn from EMS staff, and enjoyed creative activities to help make medical checkups feel less scary and more fun.

"I just love how children are very resilient, how strong they are, and how brave they are," Uy added.