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A clinic appointment, medical procedure, or hospital stay can be a stressful and traumatic experience for patients and families. Our team can help.
Certified Child Life Specialists are educated and clinically trained in trauma reduction, in addition to the developmental impact of illness and injury. Their role helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and overall experience. Certification is awarded through the international professional organization, the Association of Child Life Professionals, after reaching a Bachelors or Masters Level of education, and completing an extensive clinical internship.
Certified Child Life Specialists help infants, children, youth and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. They provide evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain.
The Beach
Group play programs are provided for all ages on The Beach, located off the 4C pedway. Play is powerful and the most important learning and communication tool for children. Check the door for updated hours and days of programs.
Teen Room
The Teen Room is a place to get away to play video games, log on to the Internet to e-mail or chat with friends, or just spend time reading, drawing, and hanging out. This space helps teens connect with friends and other patients going through similar situations. The Teen Room is located at 4E1.02 and is open Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is the therapeutic use of music to achieve a variety of goals that exist within physical, emotional, communicative, musical, social, spiritual and cognitive domains. Sessions can be done individually at the child’s bedside, in small groups in patient rooms or in a common area on the unit. There are also weekly group sessions on The Beach, the largest playroom at the Stollery. Speak with your child life specialist for more information or view our service listing: Music Therapy.
Pet Therapy
The goal of the program is to improve the emotional and physical well-being of pediatric patients. The dogs often tag along with kids to X-ray or testing procedures, and allow the child to brush or pet them, or can simply sit beside the child’s bed. Please speak with your child life specialist for more information or view our service listing: Pet Therapy.
Certified through the non-profit Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta, the dogs undergo special practicum training prior to working at the hospital.
The Stollery Children’s Hospital offers a 16 week, 600 hour clinical internship in the spring and fall of each calendar year. Admission is open to affiliated as well as unaffiliated students. Learn more.
We appreciate donations from our community and the many groups who want to support the children and families at the Stollery; however, we must adhere to guidelines for what we can accept.
Stollery Child Life Services Wish List
At Christmas time we post a specialized list and specific times and places that we can accept donations. Call 780-407-6818 if you have any questions.
For all monetary donations, contact the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
For referrals, visit Child Life Services, Alberta Referral Directory listing.
We welcome community members and events and follow guidelines for safety and infection control for all involved. Stollery Child Life Services Special Event Guidelines.
All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and we cannot accept large groups of students or groups. For more information regarding volunteer opportunities view our brochure: Volunteer Information
