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Teaching the importance of vaccines and hygiene in a fun way

May 27, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Today’s visit to Central Park was a unique one, as kids brought their favorite stuffed animals to the Teddy Bear Clinic.

The event marked the 18th anniversary for the Early Childhood Intervention Program today, May 27.

“The early years matter,” Colleen Sabraw, executive director of the program said. “If we can promote good health in terms of mental health for moms, good hygiene for kids, teeth cleaning and immunizations, then all of our children will be healthy.”

On site today were tents with nurses and dental hygienists to administer immunizations, vaccines and teeth cleaning to children in need of the service. As part of the education, children’s stuffed animals were also given a check-up so staff could help explain the necessity of immunizations and proper hygiene practices to kids.

Sabraw is very proud of how much this event has grown over the years and said that when it first started, the organization was just renting a room across from the Carousel Bingo hall downtown.

The theme for this year was ‘the right to play’ so many activities at the park geared towards getting kids active.

“We’ve asked agencies and community groups to take down their displays and engage the children in an activity. We have a duck pond, Play-Doh making and different games where they jump and crawl,” Sabraw said.

The event was free of charge. If kids didn’t bring their own teddy bear for a check-up, there were stuffed bears all around the park the kids could take home with them.

 

ghiggins@jpbg.ca

@realgreghiggins