Child Life - Patient and Family Resources
It is important that children and youth understand what is happening to them while they are in the hospital. Below are some preparation materials to help your child or youth prepare for different procedures.
Blood work is a very common procedure for children coming to the hospital. The resources may alleviate the potential stress of coming for blood work:
For children:
- Getting a blood test preparation book (for children) (PDF)
- Create your own blood draw plan (for children) (PDF)
For teens:
- Getting a blood test preparation book (for teens) (PDF)
- Create your own blood draw plan (for teens) (PDF)
For caregivers:
- Helping a child cope with blood work (PDF)
- Helping a nervous child with their blood work (PDF)
- Helping an infant with blood work (PDF)
- Coping with blood work: child life brochure (PDF)
Comfort positions for blood work or immunizations
We understand that a blood test can make children anxious. It can be difficult to remain still when feeling anxious. To ensure that your child has a successful, positive experience, we are sharing some comfort positions (PDF) that can be used during a blood test or immunization.
Contact us
If you feel your child would benefit from extra support with getting blood work, please contact labchildlife@cw.bc.ca to book a Child Life specialist to work with your child at BC Children's Hospital.
The Child Life team offers opportunities for children and youth to prepare for different medical imaging tests.
To book an MRI simulation, please email MRIsimulator@cw.bc.ca for more information.
- CT scan preparation book (PDF)
- Sedated MRI preparation book (PDF)
- Non-sedated MRI preparation book (PDF)
- Voiding cystourethrogram pamphlet (PDF)
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Surgery is a very common procedure for children coming into the hospital. These resources can help alleviate the potential stress of coming for surgery:
- Surgery preparation book (PDF)
- Tips to help your infant (0-12 Months) cope with surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help your toddler (1-2 Years Old) cope with surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help pre-school children (3-5 years Old) cope with surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help children (6-12 Years Old) cope with surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help teenagers (13- 18 Years Old) cope with surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help siblings cope with their sibling's upcoming surgery (PDF)
- Tips to help Your child with autism prepare for and cope with surgery* (PDF)
*Every person with autism is unique. Patients with autism who come for surgery will fill out an assessment tool with the pre-anesthetic nursing staff. This will help the medical team better understand your child's needs.
Contact us
If your child would benefit from extra support for their upcoming surgery, please email acuchildlife@cw.bc.ca.
- Tips for caregivers: how to help your child cope during a medical procedure (PDF)
- Supporting your child after a visit to the Emergency Department (PDF) - for families with children ages 2-7
- Paw-sitions for comfort (PDF) - positions designed to ensure that your child can have a successful IV start, without forceful restraint
- Helping your child take medicine (PDF) - swallowing liquids and pills
If you have children who need care during their sibling's appointment, please contact the Sibling Support Centre.
Support is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You need to book. Please call 604-875-3594 or book online.