Provide psychosocial, developmental and educational support to children and families regarding illness and hospitalization at Alberta Children's Hospital.
This service supports children and families by:
- teaching children and families about what to expect with medical procedures, surgeries, illness and hospitalization
- helping children build coping strategies for stressful procedures such as IV starts, bloodwork and MRI through education and medical play
- providing therapeutic interventions such as distraction, relaxation breathing, positions of comfort as part of child's coping plan
- coordinating safe play spaces such as unit playrooms, art studio, outdoor sports field
- providing developmental and therapeutic play interventions
- facilitating group programs and special events
- providing recreation and leisure education through recreational therapy programs
- offering therapeutic/expressive arts interventions through music therapy and art therapy