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Children’s Hospital

Empower children to explore and better understand healthcare settings and STEM careers

Welcome to CityWorks Children’s Hospital!

This exhibit is designed to help demystify the equipment and procedures used by medical professionals, making it the perfect place for children to learn about healthcare and STEM careers.

Through role-playing in the hospital exhibit, children can learn about the different areas of a hospital. Come explore our Ambulance, Research Lab, Child Life Department, Exam Room, Imaging Center, Rehabilitation Therapies, Pediatrics, and Dental Clinic. As kids play in these different areas, they see firsthand how medical professionals care for patients and help them heal.

Playing in the hospital exhibit can also help children process and understand medical experiences that they may have had or may encounter in the future. By becoming familiar with medical equipment and procedures, children can feel more confident and less fearful when they need to visit a medical professional. By learning about healthcare careers, children can also discover the many ways they can contribute to their communities and make a positive impact in the world.

CityWorks Children’s Hospital is supported by our generous sponsor, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Ways to Play

  1. Climb into the ambulance to make an emergency call!
  2. Can you complete all the exercises in the recreation therapy area?
  3. Do you know how much sugar is in your favorite drink?
  4. Try your hand at our Sugar Sort game to see if you can match the beverages to the correct amount of sugar.
  5. Child Life Specialists help patients in all the departments.
  6. Explore their tools and strategies to see how they help calm children undergoing medical procedures.

This exhibit initiates

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Shape the Future of Play!

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our 5-minute survey. Your feedback will help us keep the museum’s exhibits and programs fun, accessible, and meaningful for every child.

Give the gift of play!

Fuel their curiosity and create lasting memories—memberships, gift certificates, and unique toys from our gift shop will spark joy, learning, and endless play!

Closed August 26th-30th

The Iowa Children’s Museum will be closed Monday, August 26th, through Friday, August 30th, for routine cleaning and maintenance. Thank you for your patience while we work to make our exhibits even better for your next visit!

Due to Winter Weather

We will be closing at 5:00 pm on 2/12

Thank you for your understanding!