Hospitals can be scary. Not just for the patients, but for their families. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona is opening a new Sibling Center in hopes to provide distractions for the siblings of those going through the unimaginable. 

The Sibling Center will be open for operation on Dec. 11, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 10. The Sibling Center is part of Diamond Children’s expanded 7,200-square-foot Play Zone. 

“The Play Zone is a huge space, with 11 different rooms in it for respite and creative play,” said Scott Matlick, the president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona. 

The Play Zone caters to both young children and teens, with activities ranging from arts and crafts to video games and movies. 

“There’s also a really cool space for something they call medical play. Imagine yourself as a 4-year-old kid in the hospital, and you’re probably comfortable in your room, so rather than me as the Child Life services team or the medical team coming into your room and talking to you about this invasive surgery you’re about to have, we’re going to bring you down to this medical playroom where there’s going to be dolls and toy stethoscopes and things like that, where, in an age appropriate way, they can talk to you about this really scary thing,” Matlick said. “Then when you’re done with that, you can go back to your safe room.”

The expansion at the Play Zone, which  is open to pediatric patients, gives families a chance to have some fun and relaxation time. 

“The Sibling Center is primarily for the siblings of pediatric patients who will be referred by the Child Life Services team,” said Matlick. “It’s open to siblings ages 3 to 12.”

The Child Life Services team is trained to assist young children through difficult times, offering them counseling and support through their medical journey. Now, these services are available to siblings in hopes to minimize trauma. 

The expansion also benefits parents. 

“The parents will be able to focus on the patients for a couple hours at a time,” Matlick said. “They’ll be able to have a private meeting with their doctors to be able to make important medical decisions. You don’t want a 4-year-old running around the room, you know, saying that they’re hungry while you’re trying to listen to that information.” 

Ronald McDonald House also has a Family Room on the fourth floor where families can grab coffee and snacks. 

“The Sibling Center is definitely going to play well with the Ronald McDonald Family Room,” said Matlick. “Families can be referred back and forth to the two spaces.”

“We think this is going to be a really important service to the entire community. This is going to be available for all families who are being treated at Banner, so we’re excited for the opportunity to help more families stay close together and to get access to the care that they need,” he added. 

The Sibling Center officially opens Dec. 11 as one of the 11 spaces in the Play Zone at Diamond Children’s Medical Center. 

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.