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Music therapists at CHKD walking down the hallway with a patient strumming a guitar.
Kids Need More than Medicine to Get Well.

At CHKD, we understand that.

Integrative Care Team

Preparing Your Child for Surgery at CHKD

Close up of young girl in the lobby of CHKD with a text overlay that reads: pre-surgery tour with our blocks logo.

What to Expect on Surgery Day

This short video will give you and your child an idea of what to expect on surgery day by showing you around the hospital and introducing you to some of the people you might meet.

Healthy Bear Surgery Coloring Book Cover

Healthy Bear Has Surgery

Families can print our 16-page coloring book at home and learn more about their upcoming surgery while having fun, so break out the crayons!

Integrative Care at CHKD

Being sick or hospitalized is difficult for children. In addition to the physical discomfort of illness, they may feel frightened, confused, and overwhelmed. 

Our integrative care team works with patients and families to help children feel more comfortable and more in control of their hospital stay.

Integrative care team members like child life specialists along with recreation, music, and art therapists help patients and families successfully navigate the hospital experience by providing education, therapeutic and developmental play, creative therapies, and so much more. Through the use of age-appropriate interventions, they help children better understand their illnesses and medical procedures, provide distraction, and develop positive coping skills.

Our integrative care team encourages play and creative expression for patients as they learn about their world and how to cope with new experiences. Through these therapies, children can express their feelings and gain a sense of control.

Services We Provide

  • Family support to help adjust to the hospital.
  • Creative expression through art, music, and recreational activities.
  • Medical play to become more familiar with the medical equipment and procedures, and encourage expression of feelings.
  • Sibling visits to help brothers and sisters understand why their sibling is in the hospital.
  • Coordination of special celebrations such as birthdays and holidays.
  • Activities to help bridge the gap between home and the hospital.
  • Psychological preparation and tours to help patients and siblings understand and cope with healthcare experiences.
  • Emotional support and coping techniques, such as guided imagery, deep breathing, and diversion.
  • Activity room and bedside programming to promote normalization to the hospital experience, peer interaction, and independence.

Contact an Integrative Care Team Member

For general inquiries, please call (757) 668-7327.

View Our Staff Directory

Child Life Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between child life community groups, and volunteer services?

Volunteer services are individual volunteers that come on a weekly basis. Child life community group visits are groups affiliated with a business, club or organization.

What if I have gently used items that I want to donate?

Due to health and medical conditions, all donations must be brand new. If you wish to donate any used items, please contact a CHKD Thrift Store. All proceeds donated will still benefit the hospital.

Do you have a wish list of items needed for the patients?

Because patient's needs are constantly changing, we encourage monetary donations. All monetary donations to the child life department are utilized to purchase much needed items for the patients.

See our wish list.

Make a donation online. 

My organization wants to do something for the children. Do you have any suggestions?

Another way to help the children is to make pre-individually packaged arts and crafts items such as wood crafts for painting, suncatchers with suction cups, foam art items, other items to decorate such as canvas bags, pillow cases, ceramics, picture frames, etc. 

Where do we drop off our donations?

As long as your donations follow all of our guidelines, you may drop them off at the front information desk in the main hospital in downtown Norfolk.

View our donation guidelines.

Patient playing games in the Teen room at CHKD

Join Our Kids as Partners Advisory Council

CHKD's Kids as Partners Advisory Council (KAPAC) provides a vital link between CHKD and the community, offering a safe venue for patient’s and siblings to provide hospital feedback and input while continuing our commitment to provide family-centered care.

CHKD child life specialist high-fiving a patient in the 8th floor playroom.

Child Life Internship

CHKD's Child Life Services provides a quality training experience for future child life professionals by offering a 600-hour, 15-week internship program twice a year.