Kindergartners at Sylvan Avenue took part in an interactive safety program, the Teddy Bear Clinic, presented by the Pediatric Trauma Center of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
The workshop began with a conversation about everyday safety habits, including wearing seatbelts correctly, using booster or car seats and the importance of correctly wearing a helmet. With guidance from medical students, several kindergarteners helped act out scenes that showed the difference between safe and unsafe choices while riding in a car.
To highlight why helmets matter, volunteers participated in an egg-drop demonstration. One egg, secured with a makeshift “helmet” and parachute, reached the ground intact, while the unprotected egg cracked on impact.
Students then rotated to the Teddy Bear Clinic, where they put on doctor and nurse gear and practiced caring for their stuffed animals. Using bandages, splints and gauze, the young learners explored how medical professionals help patients.
The day’s activities emphasized a key lesson: accidents can occur, but many injuries are preventable with the right safety practices.
