Calling all superheroes, ghosts, ballerinas and pirates. You’re 
invited to the 12th annual Children’s Health Day at Baptist Children’s Hospital, Sunday, October 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s the weekend before Halloween, so we’re asking kids to come to the interactive health fair in costume. The event is free and takes place outside Baptist Medical Arts Building, 8950 North Kendall Drive (on the Baptist Hospital campus).
(Image: Leila Ezzeddine, age 4, dressed as Princess Jasmine, took her “injured” bear to the Well Doll Clinic at last year’s Children’s Health Day.)
“Our annual fair is a lot of fun for the kids, and they don’t even realize that they are learning about their own health,” said Randy Lee, administrator of Baptist Children’s Hospital. “They will have fun participating in exciting learning activities, displays and
health screenings that teach them about health and safety.” Research has shown that children who are already familiar with hospital settings are less frightened and more comfortable if they become patients.
Some of the activities at Children’s Health Day will include free dental and asthma screenings provided by Main Street Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics and the Florida Center for Allergy and Asthma. One of the most popular events of the day will be the Doll Clinic, where children can bring their “sick” stuffed animals and dolls for a check-up and treatment. Kids will be able to climb aboard a fire truck and learn how to diaper a pretend baby. Fingerprinting will also be available. Other participants include Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Miami Children’s Museum, Miami-Dade Fire Department, Miami Art Museum, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Because of the increase in Type II diabetes in children, another display will have information on eating right and exercising to prevent diabetes. “Today, so many more children are obese that Type II diabetes, which used to be considered an adult disease, is now prevalent in children,” said Lois Exelbert, administrator of the Diabetes Care Center.
The health fair will also have plenty of entertainment, including Madafo the Storyteller, the Beary Fun Bus, face-painting, a petting zoo, and mascots Burnie from the Miami Heat, Sebastian the Ibis from the University of Miami, Obie from the Orange Bowl Committee, and Mini-Stanley from the Florida Panthers Hockey Club.
Free parking is available in the Baptist Medical Arts Building parking garage. For more information, call 786-596-3812.