Child life services

A hospital can be a scary place for a child. That’s why TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital is proud to offer Child Life Services. Our Child Life Specialist is a child development expert who works to help comfort children and their families during hospitalization.

When your child needs medical or surgical care, we're here for you. A child life specialist will guide your child through the process of being in the hospital and help them understand what is happening and why.

Child Life Specialists provide coverage in the Pediatric Medical/Surgical Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and also before, during, and after surgery and other procedures.

TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital is proud to offer autism and sensory friendly services in the Emergency Department. Our sensory friendly rooms have adaptable lights and nurses can control the sound levels on monitors to minimize noise. There are also sensory friendly toys and storyboards with visual cues to ease communication between the child, parents and care teams. All of our ER physicians, nurses and staff have been trained in Autism Spectrum Disorder and are sensitive to environmental and communication concerns. When you arrive at the ER, please notify the receptionists that you would like to fill out a questionnaire that will help us identify ways we can best care for your family.

Autism and sensory friendly services are also available in our surgical areas to help ease anxiety before, during and after surgeries and procedures.

At TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital, we want kids and their parents to feel prepared for any surgeries and procedures that may be planned. Our Child Life Specialists offer pre-surgery tours if a child is feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. The following resources are available prior to surgery:

• Social Story Preparation Book
• Preparation Video
• Pre-Surgery or sedation tour
• Coping plan assessment for parents to complete prior to appointment.

Our team will also be there on the day of surgery to help communicate to your child on their level and also provide distraction techniques. They will walk you through the process and provide a coping kit with communication boards, visual schedules and distraction toys.

For any questions or to schedule a pre-surgery tour, please contact a member of our Child Life team.

Kelsey Bryant, CCLS, PRN
(615) 342-3296

Sydnie Epstein, MS, CCLS, full-time
(615) 342-3296

If you have any questions about a donation or are looking to set up a time to donate please contact our certified child life specialist, Sydnie.

Examples of accepted donation items (all items must be new and unused):

• Play-doh Paint brushes Crayons
• Colored Pencils Markers
• Paint Canvases Coloring Books Toiletries
• Stuffed Animals Fidget Toys Slime Kits
• Dolls Action Figures
• Legos small and large Bubbles
• Toy Dinosaurs Toy Animals
• Baby/Toddler Toys
• Magnet Tiles Blocks
• Play Food Large Ink Pads
• Pajamas for all age's and genders Crafts/ Craft Supply
• Stencils Dolls Legos
• STEM Activities Science Kits Activity Kits
• Sticker/Paint by Number
• Playing Cards and Card Games (waterproof preferred for sanitation reasons)
• Uno Board Games
• Stickers Stress Balls
• Beads and string or kits for bracelet, necklace, and keychain making

We are grateful for all the donations we receive. However, to ensure patient safety not all donations can be used in the hospital. Due to this, we have guidelines set in place to ensure that great patient care and safety remain the number one priority. As a result we have a list below of donated items we cannot accept.

Used Items

Due to our strict infection control policy, we are unable to accept donations of used items. This policy is in place to keep both our patients and staff safe and the spread of germs to a minimum.

Weapons

No weapons of any kind (real or play) will be accepted. We want to promote safety for our patients and staff and one way to do that is by not encourage the use real or play of weapons.

Bikes and scooters

Although bikes and scooters provide endless fun we are not able to accept them. With all that endless fun comes the potential risk of injury so, in the best interest of our patients safety we do not accept them.

Religious items

We want to respect all of our patients many different faiths and beliefs. To help ensure this we do not accept any religious items. If you are looking to donate any faith related items please reach out to our team of chaplains and they will be able to better assist you.

Outdoor sports activities

Our patients may love to participate in sports and outdoor activities when they are not in the hospital but to ensure their safety while admitted these items are not permitted within the hospital.

Food

Many patients have restricted diets and food allergies, so we are unable to accept food. If you are looking to donate food or a meal for staff please reach out to our child life department and they can help you with more details.

Glass items

Putting patient safety as our main priority we do not accept any glass, porcelain, or fragile items. We do not want the risk of an item breaking or shattering and accidentally injuring a patient.