Child Life Services

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