Nestled among tall trees and a quiet neighborhood stands a castle, bustling with activity as the day begins. The main entrance opens to a double-decker throne room complete with a fireplace, a crest, banners, balconies – and a reception desk.
This isn’t any ordinary castle. Inside these walls is the Sanford Children’s Hospital, the only freestanding children’s hospital in South Dakota. And even though kings, queens and court jesters don’t call it home, kids are treated like royalty here.
Going to the hospital means spending time in a strange place, seeing new people and breaking from the daily routine.
“It’s a lot to take in, even for adults,” said Carrie Kindopp, manager of child life services.
That’s why, since opening the hospital in 2009, Sanford Health has prioritized creating this space that puts the comfort of children first.
Photo by Sanford Health
A healing environment made for kids
Each floor is named after a different, magical land. On the ground level, the specialty care clinic, also known as the Rapid Rushing Waters, handles outpatient care.
It’s a state-of-the-art medical facility, but the spaces are disguised with child-friendly and playful details that make going there a little less scary.
“It helps kids know it’s a place where they can be a kid first,” said Kindopp.
Even in places like the infusion room, kids are greeted by nurses who call them by name and offer well wishes for the first day of school. Child life specialists often come by with birthday gifts.
“Big life events continue to happen while kids are in the hospital,” Kindopp explained.
Across the clinic, nurses weave in and out of kid-friendly waiting rooms that feed into colorful hallways, each one representing a different set of specialties.
Before leaving the clinic, families are asked if they have enough to eat at home. Kid’s Kitchen, the food pantry on campus, distributes over 3,000 pounds of food every week. It’s a big undertaking to restock, but it’s a responsibility the hospital is passionate about.
Putting the ‘art’ in state-of-the-art
Head up the elevator and enter the Wild Windy Prairie, a make-believe grassland on the first floor. It’s home to local creatures like prairie dogs and bison, which are depicted in the murals and artwork.
Art plays a huge role at the hospital. The colors and characters of each piece add playful touches to what could otherwise be a lackluster environment.
It’s easy to spot the large murals, but take a closer look and you’ll spot even more art in some unlikely places. Look upward and find a collection of hand painted ceiling tiles, customized by kids spending time in the hospital. These make the space beautiful and spark connectedness.
“Seeing all the tiles helps kids realize how many people have been here before,” said Elizabeth Schuster, a pediatric occupational therapist at Sanford Children’s Hospital.
Photo by Gabby Pike, Sanford Health
When you look down, tiny doors dot the hallway, but they aren’t just art installations. They are incentives for getting up and moving around.
“Not everyone knows this, but there’s a gem behind each door,” said Schuster. “They motivate children to get out of their rooms, to squat down and open doors.”
Sometimes, convincing a child to move around when they aren’t feeling well is difficult. Getting kids to engage is easier when there are interesting things to look at.
Similarly, a blue “ribbon” runs along the floor.
“Kids love a challenge,” said Schuster. “The ribbon has been lava, a balance beam, a walkway through water – it can become anything they imagine if it helps them get moving.”
The second floor, or the Land of Nez, is a mythical, jungle-themed intensive care unit. Seems like an unlikely pairing, but here it works.
It’s hard to make a hospital room look like something other than a hospital room, but the charm is in the details. The rooms are colorful but calming. Big windows let light stream in, highlighting murals behind the beds. Silly cartoons play in the background while kids do craft projects or play with blocks.
“It’s all about engaging kids,” said Kindopp. “We try to divert their attention to help them feel more comfortable.”
Photo by Gabby Pike
On each floor, there are spots for families and visitors to step away from the hustle of the hospital. The lounge areas are nice places to have a quick meal or a quiet moment with books and games that can keep siblings occupied.
If someone needs more intentional quiet time, the Everist Chapel on the second floor is available to both families and employees. There’s no denying hard days happen in the castle, and mental well-being is important for everyone.
“The chapel is inclusive of all faiths,” said Jayme Nelson, the pediatric chaplain at Sanford Children’s Hospital. “We offer many sacred texts as well as prayer rugs.”
The chapel is available 24/7 and is also used for centering sessions, yoga and prayer services.
The Enchanted Forest, or the third floor, is as magical as the others. Raccoons, wolves and foxes – decked out in medieval gear – greet visitors and patients as they walk through the halls.
Down in the basement, the radiology unit is known as the Deep Blue Sea. Underwater creatures add a touch of whimsy that keeps kids comfortable during X-rays and CT scans.
Care beyond medicine
The whole hospital features spaces meant to make kids feel like kids.
“Having these spaces available really shows off the caliber of care we can provide while also looking after the whole child,” Kindopp said.
On the third floor, you’ll find a classroom where kids stay caught up on their lessons, so they aren’t too far behind when they get back to school.
“There’s also a wall of books,” said Schuster. “We have all the best kids’ books in that library.”
Floors one and three feature playrooms, full of toys that kids of any age might want, including cars and trucks, a play kitchen, video games and animal figurines.
“Ultimately, what kids need is play and discovery,” said Kindopp.
Additional programming arranged by the child life team includes visits from the Great Plains Zoo, the Outdoor Campus and artists in residency.
“We want whatever we bring in to be complementary to our goals and objectives,” said Kindopp. “We choose programming that is normalizing as well as fun, engaging and distracting.”
Photo by Gabby Pike, Sanford Health
Inside the Storybook Room is Truman’s Closet. When a child walks inside, they find hand-picked costumes and accessories to try on. Lights and music top off the experience.
“It’s usually for special occasions,” said Kindopp. “Maybe a birthday or end of treatment celebration, or sometimes just as a pick me up.”
The space honors Truman Pins, a patient who passed away in 2017. His family understood the value of play for kids in the hospital and found a special way to keep his memory alive.
Creating a kingdom of care
Back outside the castle walls, the newest addition to Sanford Children’s Hospital is the Billion Pavilion, an outdoor, accessible playground.
“To have the Billion Pavilion front and center speaks volumes to our patients and families,” said Kindopp. “It shows that we know kids.”
The Billion Pavilion was designed with therapy in mind. It accommodates those with walkers, wheelchairs and IV poles. It’s a great place to go when kids need fresh air or motivation.
“If a kid needs to work on getting dressed, we can use going outside as an incentive,” said Schuster. “You have to be dressed to go outside!”
Photo by Gabby Pike, Sanford Health
Along with many other resources available at the children’s hospital, the Billion Pavilion was made possible because of donations given through the Sanford Health Foundation. The community has consistently shown up to support the hospital and the children in a variety of ways.
For example, a physical therapy gym that’s currently under construction has been funded through donations. Plans for the space include adding a climbing structure shaped like a tree with a slide and stairs.
Additionally, the team is excited to soon share plans for a playroom refresh which will include more space for dramatic play as well as new activities and toys.
Generally, kids aren’t known for being gentle, so eventually stuff wears out and needs to be updated.
“But that’s what the Sanford Children’s Hospital is for,” said Schuster. “It’s one hundred percent the kids’ castle and we want them to treat it that way.”
Find care that does more for kids at Sanford Children’s Hospital.
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Posted In Children's, Company News, News, Sioux Falls
