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What Do Kids in Hospitals Need?


When a child is in the hospital, they need more than just medical care. They need the right resources that can provide comfort, play and emotional support to help them heal.  Here’s what kids in hospitals need and how you can help make a child’s hospitalization a little easier:

Comfortable & Familiar Items

Children can feel overwhelmed in the hospital’s unfamiliar setting. Bringing personal items from home can help children feel more secure and helps make the hospital feel more familiar. Consider packing:

  1. Their favorite blanket or stuffed animal 

  2. Cozy pajamas or slippers 

  3. A small pillow from home 

  4. Family photos or a familiar scent 

Play & Distraction

When kids feel stress or fear in the hospital, play provides a much-needed escape. Play is essential for a child’s well-being, development and growth in and out of the hospital. Items to bring to promote play: 

  1. Favorite toys or dolls 

  2. Coloring books, crayons, or activity books 

  3. Board games 

Emotional Support & Connection

Kids can feel isolated and lonely during long hospital stays. You can help boost their spirits by keeping kids connected to family and friends. Ways to provide emotional support: 

  1. Video calls with loved ones 

  2. Letters or handmade cards from friends 

  3. Journals for self-expression 

  4. Support from Child Life Specialists who can provide emotional guidance 

Healing Through Creativity 

You can give your child an outlet for their emotions and help them express themselves with creative activities. Ideas for creative expression: 

  1. Art supplies like markers, stickers, and paper 

  2. Music playlists with their favorite songs 

  3. DIY crafts  

Starlight’s mission is to deliver happiness to hospitalized kids, providing crucial programs kids need to help them endure and cope during their stay. Starlight also has its free Starlight Families Program to help families at home in-between care at the hospital. 

Does your child have a serious illness? Join our Starlight Families network to receive free tools and resources.
Join Now

Support Through Starlight Programs

Specially designed for the hospital, Starlight programs provide kids the comfort, distraction and emotional support that they need. Programs that make a difference: 

  • Starlight Gowns - Soft, colorful hospital gowns designed with familiar characters to give kids confidence and comfort in every stich. 

  • Starlight Gaming - Interactive Nintendo Switch gaming stations and handhelds to entertain, distract and provide a sense of familiarity. 

  • Starlight Hero Wagons - Designed with Radio Flyer, the wagon comes built with an IV pole that enables children to go for joy-rides and explore the environment outside of their room. 

  • Starlight Toy Deliveries - Toys, books, and games delivered to hospitals to brighten a child’s stay by giving kids a way to express their emotions and find a sense of relief. 

Donate to Bring Smiles to Kids in the Hospital

Hospital stays can be intimidating and difficult for children. Still, comfort and support through Starlight programs can make a world of a difference. While these gestures might be small, to kids in the hospital, they mean everything.  

Join us in delivering happiness and comfort when kids need it most.  

Give to Starlight today.  

Provide kids with the essentials they need for hospital stays
Donate Now
  1. Viktoria

    Viktoria de Jong

    Child Life Specialist & Mission Delivery Coordinator

    Viktoria de Jong, a Child Life Specialist, supports pediatric patients and families in managing pain and emotional well-being. As Mission Delivery Coordinator at Starlight Children’s Foundation, she ensures the successful execution of programs that bring joy and comfort to hospitalized children.

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