Programs offered at Children’s Minnesota

Many of the programs listed below offer support and space to connect with other patient families. Learn about how you can get involved.

Sibling play area in Minneapolis

The Sibling Play Area is a creative space especially designed for the brothers and sisters of patients. We have a wide selection of toys, games, music, books and crafts for all ages. Learn more.

Child Life Zone in St. Paul

Kids come first at The Child Life Zone. Located at our Children’s Minnesota – St. Paul campus, The Zone is a unique space where patients and their families play, learn, laugh and relax. Learn more.

Healing Arts

At Children’s Minnesota, we integrate the arts with architecture, landscape, and programming to create inspirational and transformative healing journeys for our patients, families, visitors and staff. We believe the creative arts can assist in the healing process and enhance the overall health care experience. Our healing arts program is designed to provide positive distractions, relieve stress, and encourage our patients and families to be expressive of their talents, thoughts and feelings. Read more about Healing Arts.

Diabetes Connect

Diabetes Connect is a network for children with diabetes and their families to connect with others on the same journey. This group is especially helpful for children who are the only diabetics at their school or in their community. Child life specialists and music therapists offer children and teens the opportunity to learn, explore, and gain understanding about a variety of diabetes management topics. Siblings of children with Type 1 diabetes are also welcome to join a separate sibling group that meets at the same time. Learn about upcoming dates

SibShops

Sibshops is a free virtual program just for brothers and sisters of kids with special health care needs, facilitated by Children’s Minnesota Child Life and Music Therapy teams. This program is for siblings (7–12 years old) of children with special health care needs.

Living in Grief

Children’s Minnesota offers bereavement support services to children and teens and their families grieving the death of a loved one – including youth who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, cousin, friend, classmate, or any other special person in their life. Learn more about this program.

Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

YAC is a dedicated group of patients, ages 10 to 18, offering practical ideas on how to help Children’s Minnesota focus even more closely on the special needs of children and teens. We voice our ideas and perspectives — from choices of food on the hospital menu to how we want adults at Children’s Minnesota to relate to us. Read about their initiatives