Reimagined children’s gallery opens in Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

1 day ago

Cook Children’s wants kids to feel at ease in a hospital before they ever have to be in one. A new exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is how they plan to do it.

The museum debuted the reimagined TCU Children’s Gallery last weekend in collaboration with Trinity Metro and Cook Children’s, unveiling an interactive space redesigned into a miniature world modeled after the people, places and culture of Fort Worth. Originally opened in 2009, the redesigned space now offers a chance for kids to shop at a farmers market, run a kitchen, perform on the William Edrington Scott Theatre stage or explore what it is to be a patient or doctor.

The goal Cook Children’s hospital staff said is simple: familiarity breeds calm.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to be around hospital things, and learn about it, before they ever have to use it,” said Katie Campbell, Cook Children’s director of Family Support Services.

“It helps in how they cope and feel about medical things and health care in general.”

Dr. Daniel Guzman, pediatric emergency medicine physician, said he encounters children’s fear in the ER every day. The exhibit, he said, can help chip away at that.

“Every patient I walk into, they’re usually kind of like ‘get away from me,’” Guzman said. “This is a great way to get them just more comfortable with the surroundings.”

At the grand opening Deana McLelland, who spent 30 years flying critically ill children to safety, watched toddlers climb into a miniature-sized MRI machine, giggle and ask questions about the machine and her job.

“It makes me very proud that they recognize Cook Children’s,” said McLelland, a flight nurse with Cook Children’s Transport Services, which she estimates completes around 4,000 transport calls a year.

“If you’re a child that is sick in Fort Worth, Texas, you’re likely going to come through Cook Children’s, and this is a good way for children to become familiar with who we are and what we do and not be as afraid.”

Specialists at the hospital helped shape the space from the beginning, imagining what elements would make it fun for kids.

“We were able to visit the museum at the beginning and just look and see what was currently here representing hospital play,” Campbell said. “Then as a group we were able to creatively imagine what the space could become.”

Guzman spent part of the opening walking children through the X-ray display and explaining growth plates to curious parents. He hopes the experience plants something deeper.

“Maybe it sparks something in them that one day they’re taking care of us,” Guzman said. “Possibly here in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, making amazing discoveries that are helping all of us.”

For families already in the door the new gallery landed well.

Morgan Leverenz, a museum member visiting with her 3-year-old daughter Miriam, called it “much more open ended,” than the previous children’s gallery.

Ryan Danielsen, a member who brings his kids at least once a week, appreciates the screen-free learning the museum offers.

“They get to learn a bunch of stuff and not get absorbed via TV or a tablet,” Danielsen said.

Campbell said she hopes the exhibit becomes part of how families grow up alongside the hospital, whether or not they’ve ever needed it.

“I hope that this would just be another example of Cook Children’s being part of their story and growing up in Fort Worth.”

Nicole Williams Quezada is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at [email protected].

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