W&H Headquarters - EN
Discovery corner brings variety to hospital life for children
Work on discovery corner – a popular research laboratory for children – began in earnest at the start of 2015 in the Department for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Kardinal Schwarzenberg’schen Krankenhaus hospital in Schwarzach, Austria. While the concept is primarily used in nurseries across Salzburg, the hospital in Pongau has been able to successfully integrate it into its programme of care for its younger patients.
In the picture (from left): Dr Konrad Steiner (science teacher at a vocational school), Daniela Malata (member of the W&H Executive Board), Daniela Huber (Social Pedagogue at Schwarzach Hospital) and University Professor Josef Riedler (Head of the Department for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Schwarzach Hospital). *
On 29 August 2016, the children were allowed to see and enjoy the many new scientific experiments for the first time, following their delivery by the main sponsor of discovery corner – W&H Dentalwerk Bürmoos GmbH.
“The research and experimentation is clearly enjoyable for the children and it is a great way of keeping them entertained. Discovery corner helps us to make the children’s stay with us as pleasant as possible and allows us to respond to their needs more comprehensively,” says University Professor Josef Riedler, Head of the Department for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
There are now many new and exciting challenges for the little discoverers to solve at the Schwarzach Hospital. How high is a tree? How far away is that person standing? These questions are ones that the children can answer, for example, with the new “Altimeter” or “Miracle of space” experiments, which are detailed step-by-step in the current version of the discovery corner handbook alongside a great many other scientific experiments.
Meaningful activities for children
Making the world of science come alive for even the smallest of children is at the forefront of medical technology company W&H’s thinking. “The earlier we inspire their interest in technology, the easier it will be for them in today’s high-tech world.
The work at the Schwarzach Hospital makes an impressive statement, showing that discovery corner is an appropriate way to offer children meaningful activities during their time in hospital, while strengthening their skills and interests at the same time,” says Daniela Malata, a member of the W&H Executive Board.
Every year, the Department for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Schwarzach Hospital deals with more than 4500 inpatients and has contact with around 7900 outpatients. “Experimenting together in a group also supports the children’s social development and encourages their cooperation skills. Plus, we are able to learn a lot about the needs and resources of our patients at the same time,” explains University Professor Josef Riedler.
Social Pedagogue Daniela Huber works together with the children in discovery corner once a week. As well as being popular with children of nursery age, the concept is also used intensively by older children and adolescents – sometimes even to help with things they have to learn for school.
“Our young researchers particularly like being able to attempt experiments completely independently,” says the social pedagogue.
“Children want to discover the world”
Discovery corner is the ideal way of using play to teach science to children. Among other things, the research laboratory features a wide range of research equipment from the fields of biology, chemistry and physics, a handbook with instructions for numerous experiments and high-quality children’s furniture.
Systematic further development of discovery corner is now of special interest to its founders, Bernadette Unger, Dr Konrad Steiner and Dr Gunther Seidl, as well as its sponsor W&H.
“Children want to discover the world. Using simple experiments, carried out with the children under expert supervision, discovery corner is able to engage all the senses and make learning fun. Our goal is to continue to expand the research laboratory by adding exciting new challenges,” says Dr Konrad Steiner, a science teacher at a vocational school.
* Photos: Schwarzach Hospital
comments