For several years research has proven  hospitalization to have a direct effect on a child's development process.  Because the Children's Hospital of Illinois cares about the total well being of your child, a team of Child Life Specialists works primarily with your family to enhance your child's ability to cope with the health care experience.

The following is a list of tips and activities to help make your stay at the Children's Hospital of Illinois a more positive experience.

• Provide constant interaction with familiar and consistent care givers.
• Provide familiar and secure items from home; favorite blanket, stuffed animal, etc.
• Bring infants favorite music to play.
• Holding and rocking
• Talking and singing
• Toys - black and white pictures, rattles, mobiles, music boxes, teethers

• Provide familiar items from home; blanket, stuffed animal, etc.
• Provide constant interaction with familiar and consistent care givers.
• Provide a familiar routine. Familiar routines and activities create a sense of security for children and will increase their mastery in new settings.
• Continue skills such as walking, feeding, and potty training that promote independence.
• Provide opportunities for general play; group and independent play allow children to gain a sense of control and mastery.

• Bring favorite toy from home, provide bedside interactive activities
• Continue to practice ABC's, colors and counting
• Give children a job.  Children love to feel involved in their care; provide them with appropriate choices.
• Medical play (allows children to interact with medical instruments).
• Provide opportunities for general play.

• Encourage continuation of school work.  Accomplishment of homework promotes positive self-esteem.
• Address fears and concerns regarding reasons for hospitalization.
• Restore control to child whenever possible.  Control will increase sense of independence.
• Medical play (allows children to interact with medical instruments).
• Provide opportunities for general play.

• Allow for achievement of identity.  Identity is the chief task of adolescence.
• Promote privacy and try to avoid invading their space.
• Promote opportunity for peer interactions and normal socialization. Peers promote self confidence in teens.
• Provide popular teen music and other diversions to normalize the hospital environment.
• Listen and be honest.