How to Spread Holiday Cheer to Children at Your Hospital

The holiday season is a magical time of year, but it can be challenging for children who are staying in the hospital due to health needs. Children especially look forward to gift-giving and the joyful mood of Christmas, but it can be difficult to balance both needs and fun in a healthcare setting. However, it’s possible to delight young ones this time of year while they get care! Whether you are a hospital director, doctor, nurse, parent, or a resident looking to do some good this Christmas, here’s how to spread holiday cheer to children at your hospital this year.

Wear Cheerful Scrubs

If you’re part of hospital staff, what you wear can make a difference. While scrubs come in many patterns and colors, donning cheerful scrub uniforms that are embroidered with festive holiday images can add a delightful touch. Use a custom logo that can be applied to your sets of holiday scrubs so that everyone can take part in the fun. It does not take much to select a colorful holiday image that will delight children as a festive part of the season. You can make one yourself or find images online that you like. If you can find scrubs that have attractive holiday prints like Santa hats and candy canes on them as well, these are also excellent items to rotate as part of your holiday scrub repertoire.

Dress Up Like Santa!

As it gets closer to Christmas, children naturally want to take part in all the traditions that come with the season. However, treasured events like going to the mall and seeing Santa can’t happen for the kids who need to stay under constant care. To give them this amazing experience, bring Santa to them by having a staff member — or yourself — dress up as Santa! Take care to do the costume with details that children will notice, like selecting a good-quality red and white snowsuit and convincing beard and hat set. Also, an embroidered business bag that is customized with words like “Santa’s Gifts” or “From the North Pole” add an extra touch of Christmas cheer.

Give Gifts

The holidays are a great time to give, so bring the kids the gifts they asked Santa for. You can find organizations that help hospital children with gifts by searching online or asking your local hospital. If you do not have time to buy gifts, consider donating money to charitable organizations that provide them to children during the holidays. Many places in your community, such as the grocery store, offer drop-off places for toys that are given to children in need during the holiday season.

Volunteer Your Time

Ask your hospital if there are opportunities to volunteer to keep children company during the holidays. You can be connected with groups that help kids take their minds off their ongoing treatment with games and fun programs. Through volunteering, you can give the powerful gift of your time to chat, play games, or watch movies together. Loneliness can be a factor for a child staying in a hospital, especially if the treatment is ongoing. By making the time pass in a fun way, you will certainly spread some holiday cheer. When choosing games or movies, pick titles that are popular among kids. Make it about what they want to do and appeal to their interests.

Put on a Show

If you have a talent such as playing music or acting, look into putting on a live show for the kids. If you know other talented people, ask them to join you. When kids can’t go outside to see Christmas shows, having the festivities brought to them means a lot. If you are in a local choir, bring your group together one evening to sing Christmas carols, either going from room to room or perhaps putting on a main show in the hospital lobby. Christmas plays, living nativities, and other traditional spectacles are always a welcome way to bring seasonal cheer into the hospital. Add a professional, polished touch to your show by wearing matching embroidered business professional clothing like embroidered holiday vests, matching polos, or outerwear. People will see the care you put into your performance by how you have prepared for the event.

There are many things you can do to bring a smile on the faces of children in the hospital this holiday season. Which ones do you want to try this year?