The Child Life Department is available to assist your family throughout your child's stay in the hospital. The goal of the Child Life Program is to reduce stress and anxiety for hospitalized children through age-appropriate educational and therapeutic play activities. We offer a variety of services to meet this goal with a staff whose training and certifications include child life, therapeutic recreation and music therapy.
A Child Life Specialist is a professional who is specially trained to help children and their families understand and manage stressful healthcare experiences. Our Child Life Staff are skilled in providing developmental, educational, and therapeutic interventions for children and their families under stress; and supporting growth and development while recognizing family strenghts and individuality, and respecting defferent methods of coping.
The playroom is considered a safe haven for the children on the 8th floor. This is a place where they are free to make choices and where no medical procedures occur. Staff and volunteers can assist your child in finding age-appropriate activities, which help to alleviate much of the stress and fear that children often feel when they are in the hospital.
If your child is not able to come to the playroom, a Child Life Specialist or volunteer can bring activites to his or her bedside. Participation in play and recreation is therapeutic and beneficial to your child's well being. We have a large supply of games, crafts and toys that can be brought to your child's room.
There is a collection of audio and videtapes available in the playroom for use in your bedside entertainment centers. The staff in the playroom can assist you in finding videos and books for your child.
