Child Life specialists bring comfort to hospital’s youngest patients

March is Child Life Month, a time to recognize the specialists who support our youngest patients—and children whose loved ones are receiving care—through some of their most difficult moments.

At Markham Stouffville Hospital, the Child Life Specialist plays a critical role in helping children understand and cope with illness, surgery, and emotional stress. Their work includes:

• Preparing paediatric patients for surgery in child‑friendly, age‑appropriate ways – offering a hospital and operating room tour ahead of their scheduled procedure through the Dr. Bear Program, explaining the procedure and process using visual aids such as pictures or medical-themed toys, and allowing the patient to explore tools and equipment in the operating room.
• Supporting young inpatients who are anxious, scared, or in need of emotional comfort – demonstrating procedures using props such as a teddy bear for IV insertion.
• Helping children navigate a family member’s serious illness, including palliative or end‑of‑life situations – explaining their loved one’s circumstance in an age-appropriate way, offering support and comfort to children to understand what will happen and how to process their thoughts and feelings, fostering an open communication channel between the children and their loved one in a sensitive and timely manner.

Thanks to generous community donations—everything from toys and books to comfort items—the Child Life team can bring play, distraction, and moments of joy to children who spend time in the hospital. These small gestures often make a big difference for both patients and caregivers.

Here is a reel where you can hear from Delaney, the Child Life Specialist, on her roles, responsibilities, and impact on the patient experience at our hospital: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EiJTugdVS/