Coping & Distraction
The hospital can be a scary and overwhelming place for children and youth.
Child Life specialists are professionals that can help minimize the stress and anxiety caused by illness, medical procedures, and being in the hospital.
Please ask your nurse if a child life specialist is available during your visit.
Here are some additional resources and ideas that might be helpful for your child while in the Emergency Department.
Calming Music
Music can help calm anxiety, promote relaxation, and provide distraction. You can explore a variety of music and find something that works for you.
Click here to connect to YouTube and find some music that feels just right.
Games
Playing games can be a good way to pass the time and distract from discomfort.
Click here to play an ED Waiting Room BINGO game while you wait.
Click here to check out health games and videos.
Meditation
A trip to the ED can be very stressful. Relaxation meditation — which often involves finding calm by using focusing on an object, such as your breath or a visualization — can be one effective tool to help manage and ease stress. Meditation can also be taught to kids to help them understand how to calm their minds and settle into their bodies.
Headspace has many videos on YouTube to try and also an app for mobile devices.
Relaxation for Kids
Help your child practice deep breathing and other relaxation techniques by clicking here.
Click here for Headspace for Kids meditations.
Click here to watch a video on Thought Bubbles - a short belly-breathing activity for kids.
Click here for guided imagery for kids.
Mindful Breathing
Click here and check out this video (for kids and adults) to learn Five-Finger Breathing. This type of mindful breathing helps to focus on our breath in the present moment. This is a simple exercise, where all you need is your hands!
Or click here to try Balloon Breathing.
Online Reading
Do you have an Edmonton Public Library card? Click here for some child-friendly books/videos to watch.
Don't have a card but are from Edmonton or Enoch? Click here to get one.
Click here to listen to podcasts for kids while you wait.
Click here for a YouTube Video of the book, "The Hospital Dog."
Click here for a YouTube video of the book, "Franklin goes to the Hospital."
Got a curious kid? Click here to learn about the human body with Chloe & Nurb!