Patients of Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children celebrated all last week for Child Life Week.
Given the theme, Preparation Celebration, the week's activities began with a Fourth of July parade, followed by five days of special activities for the pediatric patients, their families and hospital staff.
Events included a "doctor for a day" playroom, where the children were able to turn the stethoscopes around on the doctors and perform check-ups on medical staff. They also experienced a pet therapy extravaganza, where dogs from the hospital's pet therapy program visited the patients in the fifth floor atrium, performing tricks and agility acts.
The last day patients were able to head outdoors to the fifth floor atrium/children's garden to partake in the carnival. Activities included bowling, a ring toss, bean bag toss, musical chairs, bubbles and grab bags full of goodies.
The celebration week was held to create a better understanding among patients and families about Child Life Services. These services focus on the psychosocial, developmental and educational needs of pediatric patients.
The program is designed to help ease the anxiety and stress that is sometimes associated with being hospitalized, as well as promote normal growth and development among the young patients.
"While the activities are all fun and games for the kids," said Beth Visioli, spokesperson for Inova Fairfax Hospital, "what is really important is the work that Child Life Services does. They do education and counseling and while they have the fun activities to showcase their program, what they do day to day is really much more than that, and that's what's important."