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I want to be a doctor when I grow up! I want to be a firefighter! I want to be a garbage truck driver! Insert whatever career it is that you’ve heard kids tell you that they want to be when they grow up. It’s always so cute and absolutely melts even the stoniest of hearts. Now imagine a whole fair dedicated to sharing different careers with children in the local community, allowing them to expand on what they might want to do. Have you reached cuteness overload yet?

On April 30th, our Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes got to attend an event just like that: Loma Linda University’s Health & Career Day. The kids were treated to an unforgettable experience, exploring a huge array of different booths designed to educate, ignite curiosity, and spark dreams for the future. 

From the moment they arrived, there was something to capture their attention. Between the impressive sight of a real-life fire truck, police car, and ambulance, a mobile dental unit and other interactive booths, the kids were in hands-on, experiential learning heaven. The mobile dental unit was one of the big hits, offering a unique learning opportunity where our students donned gowns, and got to check the teeth of specially designed dolls, even getting to pull teeth and take “x-rays.” The police booth, complete with a police car and a canine unit, also drew a lot of attention. Who wouldn’t pass up getting to explore a cop car and interact with a police dog?

The learning and fun didn’t stop there. With booths representing occupational therapy, physical therapy, radiology, and internal medicine, students got to experience age-appropriate glimpses into these important healthcare fields. One particularly interesting display came from the anti-venom researchers, who brought along a bunch of safely contained “friends” aka venomous reptiles, including a rattlesnake and a Gila monster - a truly fascinating experience for our young scientists.

However, one parent reported that the absolute highlight of the field trip for many was the heartwarming “Stuffy Check-Up Station,” where each student got to give a medical check-up to a stuffed animal or toy that they brought along just for the occasion. The station began when the students were given tiny gowns, provided by a thoughtful organization, for their stuffed animals. Once the fuzzy patients had donned their gowns, they went through a line where volunteers conducted “weight checks,” “blood pressure readings,” and even administered “shots” as a way for students to experience a medical check-up without the anxiety that sometimes comes with it (how many of us have heard a very emphatic “no shots pleassseee!!”). 

The hands-on, interactive fun continued with a volunteer teaching the students how to make a finger cast on their own finger, and an internal medicine specialist offered a simple and engaging way to learn about our bodies’ amazing organs. 

Adding to the excitement and the awww factor, our students had a blast dressing up for various roles around the fair - as doctors in lab coats with stethoscopes, brave firefighters as they sprayed water at a fire target, and more! Seeing their children dressed as doctors sparked a touching moment of imagining future possibilities in some parents. "It was cool in that moment to see what they could be and dream what their future might be like," the parent shared. “Can you imagine if my child became a doctor and I have a picture of them dressed as a doctor from when they were little? So cute! Bring tissues.” 

And all that’s not even mentioning the petting zoo (sans our venomous snake friends from earlier). Kids picked their favorite chicken, duck, sheep or other animal and gave them plenty of love and attention. You have to have a break here and there to spend time with some furry and feathered friends!

Beyond the fun of learning, the day also helped provide our kindergarten and first-graders with early exposure to a bunch of different careers, planting seeds of possibility and helping them understand all the diverse roles that exist even within our immediate community. As one parent observed, these kinds of events allow students to see beyond the most commonly known professions and discover more specific career paths. Our parents were even able to learn things, with the fair offering insights into the diverse resources available within our community. It was a chance for all involved to be present, get connected, and appreciate all the different support systems around us. 

At the end of the day, Loma Linda University’s Health & Career Day Fair was a success for all who attended. It went beyond just a fun outing, offering engaging and age-appropriate introductions to a variety of important roles and careers. It fostered awareness, provided early career education, and offered practical, hands-on experiences - all while being cute to boot! It was a day of expanded horizons and budding dreams, leaving a lasting positive memory for our youngest learners. Can anyone say, “I want to be an Otolaryngologist when I grow up?”
 

by Matea Brooks (high school student)

This year, our kindergarten and first grade students had an exciting and enriching experience at Loma Linda University’s Health Fair. This special event is designed to help children feel comfortable in a hospital setting by giving them fun, hands-on experiences with medical tools and professionals. This year’s fair was extra special, as it marked the 40th anniversary of the event. The children spent the day on the lawn of Loma Linda University Church, learning about the different fields of medicine that Loma Linda has to offer.

One of the most loved activities was the Teddy Bear Clinic. Each student brought a stuffed animal from home, which were then dressed in tiny hospital gowns. The children performed checkups by examining ears and eyes of the stuffies, applied small finger casts on each other, both of which gave them a chance to step into the role of a doctor.

Another highlight was learning about dental care by brushing special stuffed animals’ teeth. Students also took part in a pretend X-ray activity, where an image of the teeth popped out, making them feel like real doctors and dentists. There was also a fire truck to explore, policemen to visit with, and a petting zoo with friendly animals to pet.

Overall, the trip was full of fun, learning, and unforgettable moments for both students and teachers.