USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital brings Halloween fun to patients
Halloween is more of a national holiday at the hospital, with events organized throughout the day by the Mapp Child and Family Life staff.
By Casandra Andrews
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The halls of USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital were buzzing with excitement on Friday, Oct. 31, as staff members dressed as superheroes, fairy tale princesses, and everything in between to hand out treats during a day of festive celebrations for pediatric patients and their families.
Halloween is more of a national holiday at the hospital, with events organized throughout the day by the Mapp Child and Family Life staff that offer hospitalized children a chance to experience the fun of the season despite being away from home.
Besides trick-or-treating, other events included a decorated pumpkin display, an indoor carnival with games and prizes, a costume contest, and musical skits held in the courtyard where dozens of staff members dressed up and performed to the delight of patients.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, patients and their siblings also had the opportunity to pick out free costumes courtesy of Spirit Halloween stores. Many wore their new outfits for trick-or-treating. Employees from the stores also brought art supplies and pumpkins for patients to paint in the hospital classroom.
Activities like dressing up in costume and trick-or-treating help make the hospital experience feel more normal and less stressful for children, research shows. When hospitals incorporate play and familiar celebrations into a child’s care, patients and their families often report lower anxiety and better overall outcomes.
Patients who were unable to leave their rooms received bedside deliveries of goodie bags packed with candy and other treats.
