Child Life

When children are hospitalized, they face new experiences in an unfamiliar environment. The child life department strives to meet the emotional and psychosocial needs of hospitalized children by providing therapeutic play activities to help ease the stresses of hospitalization.

Through play activities, children are encouraged to communicate their feelings of fear, frustration and anger in a nonthreatening playroom setting. Dayton Children's has play areas designed and equipped to provide opportunities for physical, emotional, social and intellectual skills development. Child life specialists have bachelor's degrees in child development.

Services We Offer

Therapeutic play activities
Support and diversion during medical procedures at the hospital
Special events and holiday celebrations for hospitalized children and their families
Laptops with wireless internet may be used in activity room or at bedside
Paw Prints (pet therapy program)
Children's Clown Crew (clown visitation program)

Meet Our Child Life Team

Manager: Karen Muller, BS, CCLS

Rita Falkenbach

Kristy Rowe

Visiting Groups

Child life collaborates with 200 community groups or individuals per year who are interested in bringing smiles to our patients faces. The groups and individuals positively impact patients by engaging them in activities or donating needed items from our wishlist. To request a group visit or more information please call the hospital at 641-3000 and ask to speak with child life.

Special events or group visits should be scheduled two weeks to one month in advance. Dates and times are limited and fill up fast.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines:

Preferred group size is 5 people or less
All participants must be age 15+
Groups must be accompanied by a child life specialist or hospital volunteer
No food, candy or latex balloons
All photos require parent consent
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for your group visit
Our patients range in age from newborn to 21 years of age

Donations

Child life only accepts donations of new toys and new stuffed animals. All items should be in their original packaging and stuffed animals should have their original tags. Please do not wrap gifts. Gift bags, tissue and wrapping paper can be donated.

Child life also accepts monetary donations to support the Child Life Fund, providing toys, books and games for all areas of the hospital. The fund also supports the purchase of craft supplies, birthday gifts and holiday activities.

Locations

Dayton Children's - Main Campus

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Upcoming Events

The Dayton Police Department and the Dayton Fire Department have teamed up with the Dayton Dragons to host �Battle of the Badges,� a charity softball game, on June 23, 2013 to benefit the CARE House. The Dragons host the Lansing Lugnuts at 4 PM that afternoon and the softball game between Dayton�s finest will follow.

Battle of the Badges

Child car safety checks by certified technicians

Child car seat safety check

Dayton Bar Association Young Lawyers Divison to hold 5K Race/Fitness Walk benefiting CARE House

5 for the Kids