Bringing Smiles to Every Little Hero

Supported by local Freemasons, TLC Durham simply turns tears into smiles at one of the most stressful moments in a young child’s life.

Should a child needing treatment at a Hospital Accident and Emergency Department or Urgent Care Unit arrive in a distressed state, they are given a simple gift.

A small coloured teddy!

The medical profession calls them distraction teddies. That unexpected gift can quickly change the experience for a frightened child. Tears can turn into smiles as they are given something of their own to hold, cuddle and focus on.

A hospital can be an unfamiliar and frightening place for a young child, with strange surroundings, unfamiliar faces and procedures they may not understand. A teddy provides something friendly and reassuring to focus on.

For parents, it can bring a moment of relief. For healthcare professionals, calming and distracting a distressed child can help create a better environment in which to assess them and deliver the treatment they need.

The teddy can also help healthcare professionals build trust and communicate with a child, making an unfamiliar situation feel a little less frightening.

And for the child, the teddy is theirs to keep and take home.

It is a remarkably simple idea, but one that can make a very real difference.

TLC Durham is helping make hospital visits a little brighter and less frightening for children and families across our region, one small teddy at a time.