Season Five - Episode Seven - The Child Life Zone

YXE Underground

You can’t help but be in awe when you walk into Child Life Zone at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital.

First of all, it’s really big. There’s plenty of space for kids to simply play which is a concept Dominique Rust touches on several times in our conversation. There are large windows that encompass the room and allow plenty of sunlight in, the ceiling is high and the space has one of the coolest music rooms I’ve ever seen. There’s even a beautiful kitchen and dining space for families to use.

The Child Life Zone is part of a North American organization called Teammates for Kids. There are Child Life Zones in various cities across the United States but Saskatoon is the only city in Canada that has a Child Life Zone.

What is the purpose of the Child Life Zone? It offers support and education for young patients and families to help reduce stress and anxiety that go along with hospital stays, tests and procedures. It also offers kids a break from the hospital setting, which I think is something we can all empathize with. In this space are certified child life specialists, like Dominique Rust, along with recreation therapists and a music therapist.

The Child Life Zone would not exist without a host of community partnerships and sponsors, which Kristina Konchak facilitates in her role with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

It was a real pleasure receiving a tour of the Child Life Zone from Dominique and Kristina. Dominique is the Manager of the Child Life Zone and she manages a team of recreation and child life therapists, as well as a music therapist.

Kristina is the Hospital and Community Engagement Director for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

What I love about our conversation is that as Dominique and Kristina are describing the many amenities in the space, they share the impact they have on children and their families. I hope you enjoy the tour!
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Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis