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A stay in the hospital can be unsettling, no matter how old you are. But for children, medical procedures, unfamiliar surroundings, and new faces can be particularly stressful. Child Life specialists at St. Luke's Children's Hospital work to ease this stress by providing emotional and developmental support to patients, their siblings, and their families. We strive to create a warm, nonthreatening, calm, supportive environment to help your child cope with the stress associated with the hospital experience.

Child Life specialists are here for kids at St. Luke’s Children’s, during hospital stays, before surgery in the pediatric pre-op area, in the emergency department, and in the cancer center.

To contact a Child Life specialist, please call (208) 381-4758.

Visitor Process/Application

If you or your organization is planning a service project or volunteer visit to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, the first step is to read through our guidelines. To be considered for a visit, individuals and organizations must complete and submit an application. Your application must be received at least four weeks prior to the intended visit. All requests are subject to the approval of the Child Life Department, Volunteer Services, and/or St. Luke’s Health Foundation.

Pre-Surgery Tour

Surgery can be scary for anyone, but especially for children who don't know what to expect. To help ease this uncertainty, St. Luke's Children's Hospital offers pre-surgery tours for children and their families. To schedule your in-person tour, call St. Luke's Child Life at (208) 381-6137.

Kid's Walking Tour of St. Luke's 

Need an activity to keep the kids occupied? This fun and interesting walking tour for kids and families will help you have fun while getting to know our downtown Boise campus! 

See the Walking Tour Map

Donate Items

Our Child Life specialists take great care in making sure your gifts are put to their best use. Your donation may go to an individual child as a way to welcome him or her to the hospital, as a prize for getting through a procedure, as a birthday or Christmas gift, or as a gift during one of our Child Life events. Your donation may also be used in one of our playrooms or with individual patients at the bedside.

Read the St. Luke's Children's Donation Guidelines

Support the Kids and Families at St. Luke’s Children’s

Support the Kids and Families at St. Luke’s Children’s

You Can Make a Difference

You can make a real difference to kids and families facing medical challenges. We hope you’ll help us provide the exceptional healthcare these kids deserve. We encourage you to get involved by making a financial gift, sponsoring or attending events, or volunteering your time.

It's Time for Santa's Toy Box

Its Time for Santas Toy Box

Accepting Toy Donations for Our Youngest Patients

When a child is admitted to the hospital, parents and families deal with enormous stress and strain. If an admission happens during the holiday season, the stress can be even greater. St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital created Santa’s Toy Box to partner with families in an effort to reduce holiday strain and to create a wonderful holiday experience during this otherwise stressful time.