Buildup STEAM: Enabling hospitalized kids to cope and create

President & CEO, Larry Burns, recently visited CHM to learn more about the BuildUp STEAM with patients and BuildUp STEAM Coordinator, Christina.

For kids who are in the hospital, any positive interactions go a long way. When their life is consumed by tests, tubes, and healing, any chance to experience a normal childhood is essential to their positive mental state. That’s exactly what Buildup STEAM is set out to do: enable hospitalized kids to be kids.

Buildup STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) is a bedside robotics program designed for children’s hospitals. The program’s goal is to get children’s minds off their current situations by providing a creative and educational outlet.

In March, with $40,000 in grant support from The Children’s Foundation, Buildup STEAM expanded its services to reach children staying at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. By the end of June, there were 111 patient encounters, with nearly 70% saying the experience helped them feel energetic and more confident. The program averages about 40 patient encounters per month.

From flowers to frogs, Buildup STEAM allows kids to build a robot using Lego robotics systems as a tool to encourage creativity and play while re-enforcing the STEAM principals. With the help of their instructor and an iPad to control their robot, kids can watch their creations come to life!

“Buildup STEAM has all around been a wonderful addition for our kids,” said Maureen Stys, manager, Child Life & Volunteer Services, Children’s Hospital of Michigan. “It’s something different, taking Legos to the next level. Through developmental play, kids are distracted from discomfort and their hospital experience is improved. They can’t wait until it’s their turn to build another robot.”

This program not only showing kids how to build robots but provides an outlet where they can express themselves. Buildup STEAM is bringing joy in times of darkness while also helping them to learn.