Today I was invited to speak to my son's preschool class about being a doctor. It was "community helpers week," and the lesson today was about what a doctor does. Although I have spoken at national and international surgical conferences to audiences of professors, surgeons, and prize-winners, today's talk was the sweetest one I have ever given!
The kids-- a group of twenty-five 3-year-olds-- were adorable and inquisitive. It really brought me back to the basics. What does a doctor do? A doctor helps people who are sick or injured. Why does someone want to be a doctor? To help people!
Preschoolers listening and learning.
We talked about the special clothes doctors wear (scrubs, white coats, and clogs), the special places where doctors work (hospitals and offices), and the special tools doctors use (stethoscopes, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, measuring tapes, and flashlights). We passed around lots of doctor tools and experimented with tongue depressors and band-aids.
Then there was the practical stuff: covering your mouth when you cough, washing your hands, and calling 911 in an emergency. What do you say to a friend who is sick or hurt? "Are you ok? How can I help?" The kids were cute and the experience distilled all my favorite things about my job. Looking forward to doing it again!
