Child’s Play is dedicated to improving the lives of children in hospitals around the world through the kindness and generosity of the video game community and the power of play.

Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.

Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.

Over the years, Child’s Play has received incredible feedback from parents, doctors, friends, and patients regarding the positive influence of games during hospital stays. Studies have shown that children able to play games while undergoing painful procedures request less pain medication. Technology like the Kinect and Wii Balance Board allow for children to participate in physical therapy activities in an enjoyable, approachable environment. Children also struggle with a lack of normalcy or routine during hospital stays; being able to play a multiplayer game with a sibling or play a handheld system during a late-night treatment helps ease these additional stresses.