Newly refreshed Child Life Zone opens at Riley Hospital for Children

The newly refreshed Child Life Zone at Riley Hospital for Children is serving patients and families with a state-of-the-art play space to learn, laugh, and relax. Thanks to donor support, including Teammates for Kids Foundation, the Zone has been thoughtfully redesigned with new features, including a sensory gym, virtual reality area, gaming wall, craft kitchen and more.

We believe every child deserves kid-friendly support. This month is Child Life Month, and Child Life Specialists Jenna Yarnell and Meg Sanders shared what this updated space means to the Child Life team and the children who play in it.

Play is at the heart and core of what we do as Child Life specialists, but everything we do is ‘Play with A Purpose.’ We’re really excited because the Zone is unique. There’s only one Zone at the hospital, and kids can come down here and have more intentional moments with Child Life specialists, where we can really provide them with specialized care that they need and deserve. To be a child that is treated here at Riley, they’re going to be a kid first and patient second.

Everything we have in here is to help kids meet a therapeutic goal, help them get closer to discharge or come down and play with their Child Life specialist, so their Child Life specialist can get to know them and learn about the things they like to do while building that connection with them.

We’re so thankful for Teammates for Kids, who brought the Zone here. They have created this amazing network of Child Life Zones across the country, and we’re lucky to be part of it. But we couldn’t do it without our local Indiana donors who believe in the mission of Riley and the mission of the Child Life team. We’re super excited to continue to engage with our donors, invite them into the space, and see the impact they’re making on Indiana children and families.”