But, when it comes to general practitioners, physicians and surgeons, I have to confess I possess practically zilch knowledge. Therefore, I do find it an invaluable experience and would like to make the most of it when there are opportunities for the little ones to learn more about occupations in a hospital or even try being doctor for a day!
Today, I'm sharing with you about our experience at Health Detective Day and Doctor for a Day kindly organised by Parkway East Hospital.
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When I first received the invite to Health Detective Day, I was immediately intrigued as the event not only catered to the kids, it also had something planned for the grandparents as well! I thought it would be awesome if we could attend this 3-generation discovery experience and so I went around asking both my parents and in-laws to join in the fun.
get checked by the professionals. You know, my mum-in-law felt like a superstar that day because everywhere she went, there would be videographers and photographers at her heels, capturing her every move. Not to mention that we also obliged to participate in a live interview after the event. Well, you can also guess from this point that there were not many grandparents (actually, no one else) who participated in this event at our session.
General Practitioner - The kids were taught and put into practice the eight steps of proper handwashing.
Dietitian - They were tasked to choose food items for lunch and had the nutritional value of these items explained briefly to them.
Radiologist - Simple terms regarding the MRI (or magnetic resonance imaging) were introduced.
Since this was an event targeted at children aged 5-10, I thought some parts of it might be too hard for Angel to comprehend, for instance when it came to calories and magnetism. Still, it was a good introduction for her and most importantly, she was having fun while learning at the same time!
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Previously, Angel also had the chance to take part in the Doctor for a Day event which had received overwhelming responses when it was held at both Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Parkway East Hospital. It was an event we we were very much looking forward to after hearing all the favourable and positive feedback.
General Practitioner - Stethoscopes and thermometers were handed out to the kids who learnt how to make use of these tools.
Accident & Emergency - Fake blood was used and kids were taught how to properly bandage cuts and sprains on themselves.
Nursing Room - This was Angel's favorite. The kids learnt to recognize the crying of a baby and were taught how to change diapers too. I even saw Angel rocking the baby to sleep (a fake one, of course)!
Operating Room - The kids were told that a man was injured due to drunk driving and had to perform bone surgery on his elbow. Even though it was a mannequin, some kids were afraid and I was amazed that Angel was bold enough to take a step forward to screw on the nails.
X-Ray Room - Basically, this was where the kids lined up to take a group photo.
We might have received free media passes to the events but you know what, we bought a teddy bear on each of our visit just to show our support too. If you are interested in the Doctor for a Day event, you'll be thrilled to know that there will be one coming in December at Mount Elizabeth Novena! Do keep a lookout on their Facebook page and remember, you gotta be quick to secure a slot!
Thank you, Parkway East Hospital, for hosting us for these two awesome events and for letting my girl learn so much more about her dream occupation (at least, one of it)!
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Now, some of you might be keen to also know that the Doctor for a Day app can now be downloaded for free from iTune or Google Play Store here. Suitable for kids aged 4-8 years old, this is the first of its kind edutainment application where your child can earn points, unlock achievement and exchange for doctors’ toys with absolutely no in-app purchases or pop-up advertisements.
My Little Doctor - Get the chance to be creative and have fun by dressing up a doctor.
Operating Theatre - Practise easy motor skills and learn more about operating theater procedures using techniques like incise, inject and suture.
Anatomy Memory - Stimulate young minds, practice visual memory and learn more about the different parts of the body.
I'm not one for advocating electronic devices (no, we still don't own an iPad) and my kids play with my smartphone sparingly. Still, why not make the most of it and if they do end up playing on the phone or tablet, I would much prefer an educational one that engages, teaches and stimulates their minds. Have fun trying out the app too!
Disclosure: We received media invites to Health Detective Day and Doctor for a Day organised by Parkway East Hospital. All opinions are our own.