Alex Jamison, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, recently helped the pediatric population of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital celebrate Halloween 2020 in a safe and fun way. After carefully selecting a wide variety of brand-new costumes and accessories for patients of all ages, she set up a Halloween pop-up shop in the Child Life Zone. Patients and families safely “shopped” from their bedsides, by browsing through Alex’s photos of the costumes on an iPad. She also developed Halloween themed activity stations for a socially distanced gathering in The Child Life Zone so young patients could show off their costumes and celebrate the spirit of the holiday. In addition, Alex helped to organize reverse trick or treating and a mobile craft cart, giving hospital staff the opportunity to bring treats and activities to patients who were unable to leave their rooms.
“Just because a patient is in the hospital on a holiday doesn’t mean they should miss out on celebrating,” Alex says. “Hosting parties in the Child Life Zone for patients and families to recognize special days helps to normalize the hospital experience, and hopefully helps create fun memories! It was such fun to see patients, families and staff dressed up in costumes smiling, laughing and enjoying the festivities.”
According to Cheryl Strauss, CCLS, Child Life Specialist III, Alex brings clinical skill and enthusiasm to all of her interactions with pediatric patients and families in the Child Life Zone and on the inpatient units. “We are very fortunate to have her as a member of our Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team,” she says, “sharing her creativity and passion with patients, families, and hospital staff.”