We’re half way through our Bear Breaks trip here in Colorado and I’m having an amazing experience so far. When I applied for Bear Breaks in the fall, I really wanted to go on this specific trip because I plan on working in the medical field when I’m older, and I really enjoy working with children. We’ve volunteered three days at Colorado Children’s Hospital, and I’ve really felt the impact the experience has had on me. We’ve been hosting “art/craft” parties in the hospital lobby, as well as working with siblings of hospitalized patients in the creative play area. What’s amazed me the most about this experience is how willing children are to open up to people they feel comfortable around. Yesterday, when I was playing with a nine-year-old girl, she initially came across as shy and kind of quiet. When I was little, I tended to be shy around people I didn’t know, so I could relate to her on this level, but I really wanted to uncover her personality. We played with dolls and played restaurant, and went outside on the playground, and before I knew it, she was the most outgoing little girl in the room. She told me she was really nervous about the day since they flew all the way from Connecticut for her brother to have surgery that day. She also told me that after playing, she wasn’t so nervous. This, for me, was a first hand experience of how children are able to communicate, as well as feel some sense of relief in their lives, through play.
Today, I felt at ease with the service we provided at the craft table in the hospital lobby. On Monday, I was kind of nervous to approach patients and ask if they wanted to draw with us. Today, I saw how badly some children did want to join us and express themselves through art, and all they needed was an invitation. There were so many positive comments from the children as well as their parents about the service we provided, so it was really rewarding to be able to provide such a simple service that had so much positive feedback. Just getting to sit down and converse with children and families about something other than their current situation in the hospital provides a healthy outlet for any emotions they may be feeling, such as being bored, nervous, anxious, etc.
I’ve really developed my ways of communicating with children by listening to other members in my Bear Breaks group. I’ve learned to focus on each child, and give children the power to make as many decisions as they can. A child’s voice doesn’t always come out of their mouth, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a voice or that we shouldn’t listen to them in the other ways they try to communicate with us.
Other than the great experiences I’m gaining from Colorado Children’s, I really feel like I’m immersing myself in this Bear Breaks experience. My first time in Colorado has been filled with sight seeing, reflection, and bonding with others. I’d like to give a shout out to all the members of this Bear Breaks group, especially our leaders and our advisors, for thinking of everyone and making this experience such a positive one. I’m not sure I’ve laughed this much in a day in a long time, and I have all of these amazing new friends to thank for that.
-Olivia Nicholls