Children's Services and Community Engagement

Every single child is unique. And, when facing a medical experience, every child and their family will have different needs. Our Child Life Program is dedicated to helping each child have the best healthcare experience possible through education, play and personalized support.

The child life internship program at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is a concentrated, full-time placement where students gain practical, hands-on experience under the direction of a certified child life specialist.

It can be tough to be a teen or young adult in a pediatric hospital. Your Child Life team has created a variety of opportunities to engage, connect and lead at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.  Click the links below to learn more!

Practicing some form of creative arts is an inspiring and motivating part of many children’s lives. It can be even more impactful and beneficial in times of illness and stress, such as during a hospitalization.

Music is a universal language that can offer healing effects. In fact, music therapy is a research-based profession that benefits the emotional, social, psychological and physical needs of hospitalized patients. Music can help kids manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory and improve communication while promoting general wellness and healing.

Spending time in the hospital can be an emotionally challenging experience for children. And extended or unplanned time away from school can create added stress. To help reduce that burden, we offer academic support through a certified teacher, who can provide assistance when a child or teen will miss school for more than three weeks. 

Surgery and hospitalization can be a very frightening experience for a child of any age. At Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, we have found that offering just the right amount of careful, honest preparation before admission can help your child cope more positively with these experiences.

It’s our goal that every child has a positive experience at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Our Child Life Program utilizes a variety of items — from craft supplies and toys to snacks and gift cards — to make that happen. To have a supply of these materials at hand, we welcome donations from the community. Please see our Wish List below for needed items.