What is the Ronald McDonald Playroom?
It is a drop-in space for children where Holland Bloorview outpatients, day patients, and siblings can come before, after, or in between appointments. It is supervised by staff and volunteers who specialize in working with children with a variety of diagnoses and support needs.
It gives children a chance to relax and unwind, and allows caregivers a chance to attend meetings with members of their child’s clinical care team, complete paperwork, volunteer as part of our Family Leadership Program, or enjoy 30 minutes of down time before or after their child’s appointment.
Who can use the playroom?
The playroom is open to outpatients, day patients and siblings if they:
- Are over 30 months old and have a caregiver on hospital property at all times OR
- Are under 30 months and are accompanied in the playroom by a caregiver over the age of 18 at all times AND
- Are here for an appointment with a member of their care team OR
- Are here while their parent or caregiver volunteers as a part of the Family Leadership Program
Questions?
Please contact Ronald McDonald Playroom staff at 416-425-6220 ext. 3438.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Ronald McDonald House Charities in making our playroom a reality for the clients and families at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Playroom policies and rules
Families will be required to come in and answer some questions about whether their child/youth has any physical, behavioural and/or medical support needs. We recommend families come 10 minutes early for their first visit to complete this process.
- All children must be in good health while in the playroom. This means a minimum of 48-hours free of any flu-like symptoms before accessing the room. Staff are required to turn away children who are presenting with symptoms.
- Youth cannot leave the playroom for any reason, unless accompanied by a caregiver.
- For children under 30 months of age, accompanying caregivers are responsible for all supervision and support. Playroom staff are unable to provide support, intervention or redirection.
- Caregivers must remain on hospital property while their child/youth is in the playroom.
- When leaving the playroom, caregivers will be given a playroom cell phone and must keep it where they can see and hear it, at all times. They will only be contacted if they are urgently needed and are required to return to the playroom immediately if the phone goes off.
- Because the playroom is not equipped with washrooms, caregivers are responsible for their child’s washroom breaks. Children will be asked to use the washroom before entering the playroom.
- For health and safety reasons, caregivers are responsible for their child’s food breaks. Children are not allowed to eat or drink while in the playroom.
- In an effort to keep children in the playroom safe, caregivers must notify playroom staff of their child’s emergency medical conditions (e.g. allergies, asthma, seizures) and leave emergency medication (e.g. EpiPen or inhaler) in the playroom with their child.
- Children who require suctioning must have a caregiver in the room. Playroom staff are unable to provide respiratory support.
- The playroom staff are unable to provide continuous/ongoing 1-on-1 shadow support for any of the children in the room, and families will be asked to return if that level of support is deemed necessary.
- Due to the drop-in nature of our service, the maximum capacity of the room will change, based on the combined needs of the children in the room at any given time.
- If the playroom reaches maximum capacity, families wanting to access the room will be put on a wait list and contacted if space becomes available.
- Once the maximum capacity of the playroom has been reached and there are families waiting to access the space, a 90 minute cap will be applied to the children in the room.
- Regardless of capacity, caregivers will be asked to check in with the playroom every 90 minutes.
Hours of Operation
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
