Pediatric Art: A Seek and Find Adventure

We have all sat in a doctor’s office waiting area or exam room bored out of our mind right? As adults, we typically entertain ourselves with activities like reading, people watching (which depending on where you are, can be very entertaining) or scrolling aimlessly through social media. But for children, sitting still can be a real challenge. Their minds race a mile a minute and the anticipation of waiting in a medical setting can make the experience even more unnerving. As art consultants how do we help the younger demographic, children who depend a lot on others to keep them entertained, navigate through the monotonous waiting that inevitably comes with a doctor’s visit? Seek-and-find art!

What are the benefits of seek and find art and how do you effectively design / source this type of art? Let’s start with the benefits. Graphics that include a variety of elements keep the viewer engaged for longer periods of time making the waiting period feel shorter. This is probably the number one selling point with regards to seek and find art; imagery with a variety of elements provides an opportunity for the patient to find something new each visit. This keeps the art fresh and new each visit.

There are also learning opportunities involved with “seek-and-find” art. For example, the pieces below are regional concepts showing animals native to their specific continents. Children can use the key to search and learn about a cool new animal!

See what you can find! Interacting with the art can also be as simple as colors, shapes and counting. “What color is the bunny rabbit?” “How many leaves can you count?” “What shapes do you see?”. Any interaction is a positive to keep children entertained, calm and happy.

To create a successful “seek and find” graphic there needs to be an element that draws the viewer to the piece. Bright colors, fun shapes or an interesting composition are all components that create interest within a piece. It could also be an image where the “seek-and-find” catches you by surprise. For example, artist Lisa Holley creates pieces where the primary subject, like the animal, reveals itself to be a collage of everything it eats. These details add an extra layer of interest and engagement.

Curating an art collection that is inviting, interactive and engaging for all ages in a pediatric space is important to foster a positive healthcare experience. As a parent, I can attest that waiting for a doctor with a restless two-year-old can be quite challenging. Seeing the joy on my child’s face as they eagerly point out animals and learn new things from “seek-and-find” art is incredibly rewarding. From personal experience waiting for a doctor with a 2-year-old with no distractions is not fun. I get so much joy bringing home concepts and seeing Charlie light up with excitement to point out all the animals he can find. “Mommy look! A bird! An elephant! Mommy, what’s that? A lemur? He cuuuuute”. Seek and find art can turn a potentially stressful situation into a memorable and enriching one for both children and their families. It is a win-win for everyone involved.