Hospitalization for children with terminal illnesses disrupts their development, causing stress and limiting opportunities for play, which is essential for healthy development. Play helps children process their emotions and maintain cognitive skills, supporting their overall well-being and recovery. Donating to our Amazon Wishlist provides these children with items they need to feel comforted, supported, and engaged.
Every item on our Amazon Wishlist is chosen by a Childlife Specialist based on the impact they have on a child at each stage of development. Below you’ll see a breakdown of common items we’re looking for and what they can do for these children.
Wubbanubs
Help children learn how to self-soothe
Teethers
Developmental need
Rattles
Sensory stimulation, motor skills, cognitive development, parental bonding, visual tracking, distraction during procedures
Stack Circles
Fine motor, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, color and shape recognition, sensory exploration
Crib Soother Aquarium
Helps develop a calming routine before bed when there is usually so much medical equipment beeping, distraction from pain and discomfort, comfort, visual tracking
Sound Machine
Promotes healthy sleep, auditory development, calming
Sensory Books
Sensory stimulation, fine motor skills, cognitive development, language development, visual tracking, emotional comfort, social interaction
Board Books
Cognitive development, language development, visual tracking, emotional comfort, social interaction
Play-Doh
Used for teaching about different diagnoses, helps children continue milestones, normalization
Baby Dolls
Transform with medical supplies for teaching, helps children process what they are going through
Duplo Blocks
Utilized during play therapy, supports normal development
Board Games
Normalization
Legos
Used in play therapy, growth and development, normalizing a scary environment, allowing opportunity for distraction and escape from pain or fear
Slime Kits
Sensory play helps children to calm their nervous system
Barbies, LOL Surprise Dolls
Dolls can be made into teaching tools and ways to normalize any new medical equipment, or body changes a child has due to hospitalization/illness/injury
Action Figures
Action figures can be made into teaching tools and ways to normalize any new medical equipment, or body changes a child has due to hospitalization/illness/injury
Games
Therapeutic, counseling, normalization, and peer interaction
Pop Its/Fidget Toys
Enhance focus, stress relief, improved fine motor skills, sensory stimulation, self-regulation, social interaction
Coloring Books
Emotional expression, distraction and relaxation, fine motor skill development, routine and normalcy, cognitive development
Ispy Books
Most often used by a Childlife Specialist during procedures to help kids cope with fear and pain
Fidgets/Pop Its
Enhance focus, stress relief, improved fine motor skills, sensory stimulation, self-regulation, social interaction
Jewelry Making Kits
Help cope with separation from family members at home or loss of a loved one, fine motor development, normalization, etc
Small Makeup Kits
Help children cope with feeling like themselves during hospitalization possibly due to body changes, enhances creativity, encourage individualism
Puzzles
Distraction, fine motor development, social development
Fuzzy Socks
Comfort during very uncomfortable situations
Nail Polish
Individualism, feeling pretty when you don’t feel like yourself, creativity, self-expression
Journals, Gel Pens
Therapeutic outlet to express emotions during difficult treatments or life-altering injuries
Pop Sockets
Individualism, self-expression
Earbuds
Gives the opportunity to honor that teenagers want separation from their parents
Blue Tooth Portable Speakers
Many benefits of music to help cope with difficult situations
