Child Life Services

• Camp Good Grief is a 3-day camp experience for children and teens 10 to 16 years old who have had a sibling or parent die. It provides the place and space for children and teens to come together in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
• https://lluch.org/patients-families/patients/support-services/camp-good-grief  

The Toyota Learning Center (TLC) is a unique collaboration between San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital that began in 2002. Providing K – 12 education resources and instruction to critically and chronically ill hospitalized children is the primary priority in this partnership

Our Partnership

The Toyota Learning Center (TLC) is a unique collaboration between San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital that began in 2002. Providing K – 12 education resources and instruction to critically and chronically ill hospitalized children is the primary priority in this partnership.

Academic Curriculum

The basic academic curriculum offered in the TLC is:

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology

Accessing the TLC

The TLC is located in room 1819 on the lobby level of our Children's Hospital - West tower. Patients who require assistance can be transported to the TLC by a teacher or educational assistant. Bedside instruction is also available for those students unable to a attend classroom sessions. Times are scheduled per hospital unit.

Hospitalization is a difficult time for the entire family. It is overwhelming to care for a child in the hospital and to know how to support the siblings at home. Child Life Specialists are available to provide education and support to the siblings of patients in the hospital. Child Life Specialists can facilitate visits for patients with challenging diagnoses or equipment in the room.

Tips and Advice for Supporting Siblings

Be Honest

•  Help the siblings understand the patient’s hospitalization in a way that is honest and developmentally appropriate. Often adults shy away from honesty as a way of protecting siblings however siblings cope best with appropriate information and learn they can trust the caregiver.
•  Answer their questions. Illness, injury and hospitalization can cause siblings to wonder many things. Allow siblings to ask questions and answer them honestly.
•  Allow siblings to feel the emotions they have. Hospitalization can cause siblings to feel overwhelmed, worried, anxious, angry, jealous, sad etc. Talk about the big emotions they may have and help teach safe ways to cope through those emotions.

Common Behavioral Responses

• Children respond to big emotions differently than adults. They typically will show emotion through behavior. Be patient with responses that may be observed and help them understand healthy coping strategies such as journaling, talking with a loved one, spending quality time with the sibling, etc.
• Notify the sibling’s teacher and school personnel about the hospitalization. Teachers are able to pay attention to behavior changes throughout their school days and have grace with school difficulties.
• In Younger Children
  • Regression
  • Clinginess
  • Changes in sleep patterns
• In Older Children
  • Wanting to be alone
  • Difficulty in school
  • Withdrawal from normal activities

Ways to Support

• Keep routines as normal as possible, including typical rules and boundaries.
• Keep conversations open to discuss their questions and talk about feelings related to their sibling being hospitalized.
• Keep siblings involved such as sending pictures, drawings, letters, stuffed animals to the patient’s room, FaceTiming, etc.
• Allow siblings to visit the hospitalized child per hospital guidelines.

Contact your unit Child Life Specialist for additional resources and support.

Sibling Support Class

• This class, created for kids ages 3-7, will help prepare older brothers and sisters for the arrival of a new baby. Taught by a Child Life Specialist, it includes fun activities, baby doll role-play, dress up and a tour of the birthing unit. Parents should attend class with their child(ren).
  For further information, contact Cathy Regan, Child Life Specialist – NICU Department at 909-558-8325 or [email protected]

• Is your child in need of a MRI? We now have a child life specialist leading MRI practice sessions with a mock MRI scanner to teach children about MRIs and help them complete the MRI awake, thus minimizing the need for anesthesia, including risks and the long waiting list.

For further information, contact Jamie Jones, Child Life Specialist – Radiology at 909-253-4516 or [email protected]