Child Life Programs and Services

Department

Offered in Department

Child Life Specialist(s) and Availability

PMDU 

  • Clinic Playrooms - Can be booked through a Child Life Specialist.
  • Support to all Outpatient Clinics, Lab Test Centre, Diagnostic Interventions, Treatments and Procedures.
  • Referrals are accepted but not limited to:
    • Developmental support
    • Diagnosis education
    • Preparation and procedural support
    • Stress and coping
    • Pill swallowing
    • Pain management
    • Compliance
    • Bereavement
    • Siblings.

Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Erika, Karen 

 

Inpatient

The following Play and Activity Rooms can be booked through a Child Life Specialist:

  • Craft Room
  • Ashley’s Backyard (Toddler, Preschool Playroom)
  • Teen Room
  • SMILE room (Siskinds MultiSensory Interactive Learning Environment)

Visitors are currently only accepted under special circumstances.

Find the Family handbook here 

Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Christine, Brandy and Michelle

Hem/Onc

Child Life Specialists that work with Hematology and Oncology patients and support them throughout their hospital experience, both inpatient and outpatient.

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Deborah, Melissa and Summer-Jane

Day Surgery

Preparation and support will be provided on the day of surgery.

Parental Presence at Induction (PPI):

A program that provides preparation and support to parents of children aged 12 months to 8 years old who would benefit from accompanying their child into the operating room until they are sedated for their surgery.

Link to more info on preparing your child for surgery (list of books that are recommended)

Watch the Youthful Lense on Day Surgery video on YouTube.

Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Parental Presence at Induction phone line: 519-685-8368

Sharon and Mimi 

MRI

MRI Preparation Tour provides a hands-on opportunity for patients and their caregivers to explore the MRI department and practice before having their scan. 

When: Wednesdays afternoons

Where: London Children’s Hospital PMDU Clinic Zone B1 200

Monday to Saturday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ami 

PCCU

Will assist by preparing for a sibling visit, explaining common equipment present as well as ways to support from afar. 

Monday to Friday: 8 am – 4 pm 

Karen

ED

  • Urgent/ emergent support for tests, procedures and hospitalization.
  • Promote coping strategies, provide emotional support and transition to other clinical areas.
  • LHSC Comfort Promise video.

12 p.m. – 10 p.m., 7 days a week

 

Andrea, Jordan, and Kaitlyn 

Help Me Thrive

  • Provides developmentally-appropriate play and support to infants and toddlers with long hospitalizations.
  • Educates and supports parents and caregivers on typical milestones; providing social and emotional support to the whole family.
  • Along with their multi-disciplinary team, develops a care plan with goals that take the child’s underlying diagnosis and/or prognosis into consideration. 

Monday, Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Alternating Tuesday and Fridays

Emma

Minor Procedure Room

  • Offer preparation and education about the upcoming procedure and the ways that each staff member will work with you to make the procedure a positive experience.
  • May accompany you into the procedure room for emotional support during anesthetic or possibly help to ensure a caregiver is present.  
  • Provide follow up after the procedure to ensure that all questions are answered and there is a feeling of comfort before leaving the hospital.

Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Melanie

Pain Pathway

  • Provides education, resources and support for patients and their families scheduled for surgery.
  • The pain team focuses on a holistic approach to coping and pain management, regardless of the surgery your child is scheduled for.
  • Referrals to the pain pathway team can be placed through your surgeon’s office. 

Monday to Friday

Jordan

Alternative Coverage 

  • Facilitates consistency of Child Life staffed areas, ensuring support is still available when staff are away. 
  • Promotes the Comfort Promise initiative that has been adopted by Children’s Hospital, LHSC.

Wednesday to Friday

Bailey 

Comfort Promise 

Children’s Hospital at LHSC has adopted the Comfort Promise for care provided to our pediatric patients. Care teams use a variety of strategies including numbing cream, comfort positioning and distraction to reduce the pain children feel at the doctor’s office or hospital.

Bravery Beads 

Children’s Hospital is proud to offer Bravery Beads Canada.