Our Child Life Department helps make your family's experience at the hospital a positive one. Child Life specialists are members of your child's health-care team. They work directly with you and your child to help you relieve tension, express concerns and fears, and feel more in control about your hospital experience.
Child Life Specialists Can:
- Explain a diagnosis or treatment in words your child or teen can understand
- Create a coping plan your child can use during a medical test or procedure
- Offer support during and after a medical test or procedure
- Use play to help your child understand medical procedures and express feelings
- Work with medical staff to assess your child's unique needs
- Give you information about child development and the effects of health care
- Teach techniques to help your child cope and relax
- Offer support to help families cope with death or loss in partnership with the Journey Program
Therapeutic Play programs promote healing and help children express feelings and cope with pain. Our art and music therapists work with patients at the bedside, as well as in small groups. Our Pet Partners visit most of our hospital units.
Our Therapeutic Play Programs Include:
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Animal-assisted activities with Pet Partners
Services We Offer
Inpatient Playroom
Our Inpatient Playroom is a place for fun, safe, supportive play and social interaction. Children enjoy activities and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of books, toys and crafts. Patients and their brothers and sisters, accompanied by an adult family member, are welcome in the playroom. Trained volunteers are available to help with activities in the playroom or in patient rooms. Check our schedule of events and activities, posted each week in the playroom, on all inpatient units and in the Family Resource Center.
- On the 2nd floor of Seattle Children’s, by the Train elevators
- Open:
- Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Teen Zone
Teens and their brothers and sisters age 12 and older are welcome to visit the Teen Zone. It has video games, computers, a foosball table, board games, and arts and crafts. We also offer special evening activities and events. Check our schedule of teen events and activities, available each week in the Teen Zone, on all inpatient units and in the Family Resource Center.
- On the 2nd floor of Seattle Children’s, in the Train zone
- Open:
- Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
Sibling Playroom
The Sibling Playroom is a place where brothers and sisters can play while patients and caregivers go to a clinic appointment. The Sibling Playroom welcomes children ages 3 to 11 years old on a first-come, first-served basis for a maximum of two hours at a time. Children must be toilet-trained. No food is allowed in the playroom. Patients and younger children are welcome in the Sibling Playroom when accompanied by an adult family member.
- On the 4th floor of the Whale zone, in the Reception Center waiting area
- Open:
- Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.