Halloween is a fun and magical time where children can exercise their creativity and imagination. A chance for children to live out their dreams and for one day be somebody else - a superhero, a monster, a princess, a cowboy or even their favourite doctor or nurse.
For children at the hospital who are dealing with an illness, this can be even more important. Each year, The Child Life department at SickKids hosts a Halloween Celebration Parade for patients and their siblings. The parade path consists of Halloween booths/stations throughout the hospital where kids enjoy “trick-or-treating” for toys, crafts, key chains, stickers and more. It is one of the highlights of the year, where kids, parents, staff and donors get involved to put a little “ghoulish fun” into spending Halloween at SickKids.
It is this type of care and compassion that makes SickKids such a special place and brings smiles to the faces of sick children during an otherwise difficult time.
Special thanks to Wal-Mart Canada, TD Bank, Disney Canada, Blockbuster Canada, Foresters, SpinMaster and Children’s Miracle Network for their generosity and supporting the Halloween Celebration Parade at SickKids.
For all the little ghosts and goblins who will be trick-or-treating this weekend, have a fangtastic Halloween and don’t forget to review these safety tips from Safe Kids Canada.
http://www.safekidscanada.ca/
This Thanksgiving as you watch the autumn leaves change, bake pumpkin pies and spend time with loved ones, remember to reflect and give thanks for your health and to remember those who aren’t so lucky.
At SickKids, Thanksgiving is also a time when patients and their families are thankful that a world-leader in children’s health care is right here in their own backyard. They are also thankful that their child is receiving the best possible care and they are extremely grateful for the support from the community that makes SickKids such an extraordinary place.
It is donations that help save and change the lives of ill and injured children and will help ensure that next Thanksgiving more children are spending less time in the hospital and more time gobbling down their turkey dinner with family.
Believe in Thanks. Believe in SickKids. Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.