Core Wellness Programs
March is Music Therapy and Child Life Month.
March is Music Therapy and Child Life Month.
At Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon, these programs are part of the round-the-clock care that surrounds families staying with us. Music therapy creates space for expression, connection, and moments of calm. Child life programming, including medical play, helps children feel more prepared and less alone in their healthcare journey.
Together, they support the whole family, offering comfort, creativity, and reassurance during uncertain days. Because when a child is sick, families need more than a place to stay. They need care that helps them stay strong, together.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy is a powerful and joyful way to express emotions, reduce stress, and find connection through sound. From Taylor Swift singalongs and songwriting inspired by treatment experiences to learning a new instrument or simply making noise, this self-guided program provides meaningful therapeutic benefits for everyone in the family. Hosted in our purpose-built Music Room, complete with a stage, accessibility ramp, performance lighting, and state-of-the-art instruments, families can play, sing, record, and create at their own pace.
Medical Play
Medical Play helps children better understand and cope with medical experiences in a safe, supportive environment. Facilitated by Child Life Specialists, using specially designed medical toys to allow children to explore procedures, express emotions, and build confidence through play. Open to child patients, siblings, and caregivers, Medical Play creates space to ask questions, reduce fear, and gain a sense of control—helping families feel more prepared and supported throughout their healthcare journey.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy offers families a gentle, creative way to process emotions during an incredibly challenging time. Encouraging self-expression, emotional release, and positive connection through activities such as painting, collaging, journaling, and exploring a variety of creative materials. Offered as both family sessions and one-to-one support for patients, siblings, and caregivers, Art Therapy creates meaningful moments of connection and reflection, helping families cope, heal, and spend quality time together.
Education Program
Our Education Program supports children and youth in maintaining a sense of routine, confidence, and continuity in their learning while away from home. Offered weekly for early learners (ages 3–6) as well as students in Grades 1 through 12, this wellness program is designed to support the entire family—including patients receiving treatment, siblings, and caregivers. Created in response to the challenges families face when separated from their schools and communities, the program helps bridge learning gaps during extended absences through engaging, hands-on activities and personalized support.
Food Services Program
Our Food Services Program provides comfort, nourishment, and stability for families during their stay. Designed to ease the daily stress of hospital visits and demanding schedules, our food services ensures families have consistent access to nutritious, convenient meals and snacks throughout their stay. From grab-and-go options and pantry staples to shared kitchen spaces and home-cooked meals, our food programs help remove the burden of meal planning and food insecurity, allowing families to focus on what matters most.
Donate
Help families stay together in their child’s fight. Your gift fills each stay with comfort, care, and the warmth of home — because when a child is sick or injured, family stays.