Children often experience pain, fear, boredom, frustration, and a loss of control during their time in the hospital. To answer this need CoachArt’s volunteers provide art workshops and lessons to pediatric patients and their visiting siblings at local pediatric hospitals. In partnership with trained Child Life specialists, CoachArt hosts a 1 to 2-hour activity on a different medical floor each week throughout the year. The workshops rotate between playrooms and clinics throughout the hospital to reach various pediatric populations. Due to treatments and other health related issues, some children are confined to their rooms. In order to reach these children, hospital staff assists CoachArt volunteers in bringing the activity to the patient’s bedside so that they too can enjoy the creative activity.
These workshops offer a unique diversion for hospitalized children as they endure ongoing medical treatments by providing fun, creative activities to brighten their day. CoachArt volunteers help patients and their siblings create one-of-a-kind arts projects that they can bring back to their hospital rooms to enjoy and admire. For admitted patients as well as their visiting siblings, these workshops provide a stimulating experience and exposure to a new activity. Children participating in the creative workshops can find solace in their projects through the encouragement and direction of our CoachArt volunteers. Pediatric patients discharged from CHLA, and the siblings of hospitalized patients, have the option to continue taking free lessons by enrolling in the Outpatient Coaching Program.
