Child Life
Shriners Hospitals for Children® Child Life Therapy is available to reduce the stresses associated with staying in the hospital, and to teach your child coping skills through offering opportunities to play, learn and interact with others in an emotionally and socially safe environment. Play experiences help children express fears and misconceptions of hospitalization and medical procedures. Through medical play, the child life therapist aims to reduce any anxieties your child may have about hospitalization.
Some of the services provided by our Child Life Therapists include:
- Procedural support
- Pain management techniques
- Pre-op teaching prior to surgery
- Group activities
- Education about upcoming procedures/hospital visits
Recreation Therapy
Recreation therapy is designed to help your child acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for independent leisure/social involvement, adjustment in the community, decision making and appropriate use of free time to promote a more positive leisure lifestyle. The recreation therapist provides leisure education that is age and/or developmentally appropriate, and works with children in both individual and group settings to build these new skills.
Some of the Services provided by the Recreation Therapist:
- Introduction and exploration of all types of leisure activities
- Wheelchair sports
- Community reintegration
- Patient/parent instruction on various adapted equipment use
- Assessments and referrals
- Provide recreational resources
- Cooking/baking groups
- Horticulture therapy
- Arts and crafts
- Animal assisted therapy
- Sports and Conditioning Camp for spinal cord Injury patients
- Leisure education and making healthy choices during free time
- Adapted adventure programs such as rock climbing, cycling, and downhill ski trips