Our Child Life and Family Education Program was created to provide this caring, compassionate support for our patients and families to ease stress and help them understand illnesses and treatments and feel more comfortable during their hospital stay.
Child Life Specialists use a unique doll called a Shadow Buddy to help children and their families better understand and cope with their condition. Whether for diagnostic procedures, surgeries, or treatment, Shadow Buddies are both "The friend like me" and a teaching tool. They are designed to replicate the experience the patient will undergo and help the child relate to the experience. They are available in boy and girl models, with three different skin tones and four different hair colors.
Shadow Buddies may be used as a psychological bridge to span the gap between treatment and awareness and are crucial to relieving fears, reduce stress, and distract patients during painful procedures. For more information see www.shadowbuddies.org |
