Markham Stouffville Hospital’s child life specialist is an integral member of our healthcare team. Through play, learning, self expression and social interaction, our child life specialist will help make your child’s hospital stay a normal and positive experience.

About our Child Life Program

Our Child Life Program offers services to meet the psychological needs of children and youth in the hospital. We strive to:

• Promote optimum development of children and teenagers
• Maintain normal living patterns
• Help alleviate the stress and anxiety that children and their families may encounter as a result of the hospitalization or medical experience 

Child life specialists can provide your child with opportunities for therapeutic and diversional play. They can help prepare your child for medical tests and procedures through education and rehearsal. They can help develop your child’s coping skills. And they can support your family during hospitalization or challenging events. 

For more information on the child life profession and services, please contact the Child Life Council. 

School tours 

Each Thursday morning of the school year, Grade 1 children from the local community come with their class to visit MSH. Designed to introduce young children to the hospital environment in an enjoyable and non-threatening way, the students are divided into small tour groups so they can be comfortable asking questions and expressing their feelings about the hospital. Grade 1 teachers are welcome to call in June to book a tour for the next school year. To maintain patient privacy, pictures cannot be taken while on the tour.