MEDICAL
INFORMATION
FOR KIDS
INFORMATION
FOR KIDS
LATEST NEWS
01 Dec 2010 | Press Release
How do you teach kids about a sensitive and complex subject? In a way they will be able to understand? Well the people of Medikidz have taken something that children love - comics - and used this media to teach children about a range of illnesses and conditions in a fun but informative manner.
Dr Kim Chilman-Blair is the founder of the Medikidz Foundation and with her team writes graphic novels highlighting and discussing various illnesses and health conditions.
The Medikidz are five superheroes who live on Mediland which is a planet shaped like the human body. They are Pump, the blood expert, Chi who knows all there is to about lungs, Skinderella, the skin and bone specialist, Gastro, the authority on tummies, and Axon who is the brain specialist and has a pet robot, Abacus.
A recent publication, "What's up with Ben?" focuses on Autism. This magazine is targeted at 8-15 year olds and uses the different characters to explain how Autism affects different parts of the body and what it means for the person with the condition. Ben, who has the condition and his sister Brooke go on a tour round Mediland to discover how Autism affects the brain and what this means for Ben.
All the comics are written by doctors and give the correct information with many of the scientific terms the children may hear, but explain them in a way that is easy to understand.
"We do not just give children a cursory explanation of what is going on...we are explaining medical concepts as doctors to children. We don't want to water it down or sugar coat it. We just want to present it in an interesting and fun way but still keeping the messages very clear." Dr Kim Chilman-Blair, February 2010.
"What 's up with Ben?" is excellent for siblings of children with Autism, explaining what life is like for the child with Autism. Teachers and peers in schools may also find it valuable to help them understand the child in their class and what they can do to make the environment more accessible and daily life for the child easier.
"What's up with Ben?" and other Medikidz titles can be found on the Medikidz website www.medikidz.com/shop priced £6.99.