Child Life and Integrative Care Services
While it's important to treat a patient's illness, it is also important to care for a patient's psychological and emotional state. Children especially enjoy exciting, stimulating activities to feed their growing minds. We offer creative services from clown care to animal-assisted therapy to support young patients as we help them to grow up stronger.
Children tend to gravitate to animals, which is why animal-assisted therapy is used to include animals in the goal of improving health and wellness.
Kids being treated at Children's National have a way to enjoy fresh air, the outdoors and inspiring views of the nation's capital at our Healing Garden.
Child Life Specialists at Children's National Hospital are trained and certified to help children, adolescents and families with psychological and emotional support during outpatient and inpatient visits.
The Clown Care team performs a parody of medical rounds for our patients, with laughter as the goal and humor as the chief treatment.
Creative and Therapeutic Arts Services help children transcend the hospital experience by bringing the cultural arts, arts education and animal visitation to patients at their bedside and in the Costco Wholesale Atrium.
Disney works with children’s hospitals and pediatric places of care around the world, creating distinctly Disney experiences that deliver moments of joy when they’re needed most. See how this initiative comes to life at Children's National Hospital.
The Family Resource Center at Children's National Hospital offers a range of support services for families and staff including providing books and magazines for children and adults, as well as computers for Internet access.
Children’s National offers a broadcast studio for children, donated by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
Volunteers at Children’s National Hospital serve in a variety of ways to assist patients and family members during their hospital visit. Learn more.