School children are learning about much more than just math and spelling these days. They’re being taught basic health principles and the value of caring for their body through a fun, creative art program. Gordon Hospital has teamed up with each school system to present the Healing Arts Program to local second graders.
Launched in 2005, the interactive program is a free service and includes a brief educational presentation on a particular health topic ranging from nutrition to handwashing and germs by a Gordon Hospital staff person. After the presentation, each student is asked to complete a piece of artwork related to the subject matter. Once the artwork is finished and collected, a hospital committee chooses several winners for display in the hospital’s Healing Arts Gallery, which is prominently positioned in the main hallway of the hospital.
“Because every child deserves recognition for their effort, we give everyone a blue ribbon of participation,” says Raina Sanford, Gordon Hospital director of radiology and Healing Arts Program committee member. “There are some very talented budding artists out there.”
Sanford adds that it’s never too early to start teaching children about important health issues, and encouraging them to draw what they’ve learned helps them retain the information.