What Youth Experiencing Hospitalization Want Adults to Know
Young people thrive when they’re enjoying themselves and have the freedom to explore or play outside with their friends. These activities are essential to their overall wellbeing. So when this freedom is stripped away, how do they get by?
Many children and youth end up hospitalized due to chronic illness, cancer treatment, palliative care or recovering from surgery, injury, disorders, or mental health conditions, taken away from their joys and community. Even though they’re still kids, they often feel they’re losing parts of their childhood. This loss can be experienced in many ways that adult allies, including youth workers, need to remember.
One of the biggest struggles for youth is feeling isolated, especially from their peers and others close to their own age. They imagine what their lives would be like and what they might be doing if they weren’t in the hospital like other kids, constantly reflecting on what they’re missing: maybe if life were different, that could be them, too. These conflicting emotions and worries are the thoughts that hospitalized youth wish others understood; even when they are trying to stay strong, there is so much running through their minds.
Recovery is Individual and Requires Support
During this difficult time, youth experiencing hospitalization also want adults to recognize that their recovery may look different from that of others. For many, this isn’t the result of a simple cold or flu – it can be a matter of life or death. Nobody can rush their healing process, not even the youth themselves. It is their health and no one else’s; only they know how their body feels and responds, and their circumstances can’t be compared to anyone else’s journey. Providing an individualized support team that understands this can help youth feel recognized, respected, and appreciated.
Family members, caregivers, and other trusted adults have a unique but important responsibility in helping youth cope with their hospitalization. Often, parents/caregivers feel helpless while watching their child in pain, but their presence and reassurance can make a huge difference. Doing something as simple as sitting beside a young person, encouraging them to share their thoughts, or even asking questions about what their child needs most can be empowering. Families must be supported as active partners in care so that youth feel less alone, which can help build a stronger foundation for both their emotional and physical healing.
In many hospitals, child life specialists, art therapists, and other visitors can play a crucial role in helping young people maintain a sense of normalcy, even when in the hospital. Whether through playrooms, bedside activities, or even friends helping them to keep up with their schoolwork, resources can remind youth that they are more than just patients or their illness. Engaging youth through creativity, learning, and play can help them regain pieces of their childhood, even within hospital walls. This not only helps to reduce their stress, but also supports youth in building some resilience, all the while giving them moments of joy in a stressful environment.
Recovery Beyond the Hospital
For many youth, the challenges they face don’t end once they leave the hospital. Returning to school or social life can feel overwhelming, as they may struggle to catch up academically or to explain their experiences to peers who can’t fully relate. Some may face ongoing health issues that make their daily lives unpredictable. Others carry lingering anxiety, depression, or even fear. Recognizing that recovery continues long after discharge is vital. By providing ongoing support at schools, in communities, and through families, trusted adults can help youth rebuild their confidence and ease through the tough transition into everyday life.
Listen and Affirm Youth Voices
Youth also want to be understood for who they are, not looked down upon simply because of their age; their opinions are no less valuable, especially when it comes to their challenges, needs, and care. They want adults to listen and to take seriously what they share about their mental and physical health. Many young people in hospitals feel conflicted about their health and uncertain about how to move forward. They need a trusted adult to guide them, especially when in fragile states.
Haley, a 19-year-old, was admitted to the pediatric floor after telling her roommate, “I am at the end of my line and can’t keep going.”
Ryan, a 16-year-old, was hospitalized with anorexia nervosa.
Emmanuel, a 13-year-old, is struggling with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
These are just a few of the youth who we’ve connected with about their hospital experiences. Their feelings of being “lost” only become worse with additional stressors, like school deadlines, family expectations, or the pressure to recover quickly. What young people need most is patience, compassion, and a reminder that their voices matter.
With the right support and understanding from adults, youth experiencing hospitalization can find strength, hope, and resilience, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Sifa Siraj (above right) is a volunteer with The Kindness and Smile Zone, a youth-led, non-profit organization based in London, Ontario, with volunteers from around the globe. The organization was founded by Ayona Jaswal (above left) with the goal of helping children and youth in hospitals or clinics have opportunities to be creative, have fun, and stay connected.
If you know of a young person experiencing hospitalization or a period of prolonged recovery, you can access resources through The Kindness and Smile Zone’s website.
References
Abazari, L., Ghonchehpour, A., Abazari, A., Isari, Z., Abbaszadeh, M. H., & Tavan, A. (2025). Experiences of children during hospitalization: Content analysis of interviews and paintings. BMC Pediatrics, 25(1), Article 183.
Bsiri-Moghaddam, K., Basiri-Moghaddam, M., Sadeghmoghaddam, L., & Ahmadi, F. (2011). The concept of hospitalization of children from the viewpoint of parents and children. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, 21(2), 201–208.
Claridge, A. M., & Powell, O. J. (2023). Children’s experiences of stress and coping during hospitalization: A mixed-methods examination. Journal of Child Health Care, 27(4), 531–546.
Fialkowski, A., Shaffer, K., Ball-Burack, M., Brooks, T. L., Trinh, N. T., Potter, J. E., & Peeler, K. R. (2022). Trauma-informed care for hospitalized adolescents. Current Pediatrics Reports, 10(2), 45–54.