Play is a powerful and beautiful thing. Laughter, stimulation and distraction all play a therapeutic role in the healing process for children. Whether a patient is here for a short treatment or longer-term hospital stay, we’ve included rooms on each floor of the hospital where kids from toddlers to teens can be kids. From playrooms to our teen-only Forever Young Zone, these areas provide an opportunity for patients to socialize with others who may be experiencing a similar health concern while also providing siblings with activities during their brother’s or sister’s hospital stay.

• The Story Corner is where kids can read or enjoy storytelling time with a volunteer or our librarian.
• The Interactive California Coast Wellness Eco Zone invites children to use their body movements to change images on the screen as they learn about different ecosystems. From steep cliffs along the shoreline to the mesmerizing deep sea, this customized experience lets children interact with lively elements and animals that can be found along California’s coast.
• The Incrediball Machine is a larger-than-life installation in the main lobby that our employees like to refer to as a Stanford-style “Mousetrap” (a beloved board game). Here, balls travel through a model of the Stanford campus and interact with various landmarks, eventually ending their journey at the new Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
• Calling all future TV presenters, vloggers and video hosts! Our Broadcast Studio — called Sophie’s Place — provides equipment for children to create, record and edit new video content that can also be shared via the in-room entertainment system with patients who are not able to leave their rooms.
• PackardVision — our in-room SmartTV system — serves as an important educational resource and entertainment outlet for patients and their family members (including feeds from our in-house broadcast studio, where kids can create and publish video content, and access the STEAM gaming system).