The doctor is in permanently at Creative Discovery Museum
Corner Clinic is the museum’s newest permanent exhibit, where children can learn about all the fascinating things they can find in a doctor’s office. Children can look at x-rays, use a stethoscope, bandage ‘patients,’ look at slides under a microscope and even examine a skeleton! The resident skeleton is the newest and thinnest member of the museum family.
“The more familiar a child is with the doctor’s office, the more comfortable they will be. That is the philosophy behind the Corner Clinic,” said Dr. Jayne Griffin, Education Director for Creative Discovery Museum. “The doctor’s office can be a scary place for children. By allowing children to play and explore in a fun and inviting clinic environment, we hope to make the experience of a real doctor’s visit less mysterious and intimidating.”
Corner Clinic was made possible by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society Alliance, which helped design the exhibit and provided major financial support.
“This exhibit fits perfectly with our mission, which is to improve the overall health of the community,” said former Alliance president Jayne Brzezienski. “Helping children feel more comfortable at the doctor’s office should help take the tension out of going to the doctor and help families keep their children healthy.”
Corner Clinic offers many roles to choose from — doctor, lab technician, nurse, receptionist, patient, parent of patient. “The role playing is what demystifies and takes away the scariness. It’s important for parents to let their children choose which role they want to play and then follow their lead,” Jayne Griffin added.
Jayne Griffin suggested some activities for families at the Corner Clinic:
‘ Children could act out their last visit or their next visit to the doctor.
‘ Parents could examine the models with children and have them point to where they would find various organs in their own bodies.
‘ Either parents or children could be the patient, telling the “doctor” how they are feeling so the doctor can “fix” the problem.
Clifford Continues ‘ the museum’s newest temporary exhibit Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog! continues through Sept. 28. Inspired by Scholastic Entertainment’s top-rated TV show on PBS Kids, this exhibit offers numerous immersive ‘paws-on’ adventures that reinforce ‘Clifford’s Big Ideas’ten simple tangible life lessons designed to help young children navigate their world: Share, play fair, have respect, work together, be responsible, be truthful, be kind, believe in yourself, be a good friend and help others. Board the Birdwell Island Ferry and journey to the World of Clifford’.
These are the Museum’s regular summer hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: noon – 5 p.m.
Special extended summer hours begin June 21. Beginning Saturday, June 21 the museum will be open every day (Monday through Sunday) from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular hours will resume on Monday, August 11.
Tickets are $8.95 for children and adults. Creative Discovery Museum is located at 321 Chestnut Street in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, call (423) 756-2738, or visit www.cdmfun.org.