Sophie dances again

Sophie loves dancing. But when she gets sick and is admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit everything changes. Who can help Sophie dance again?

Sophie dances again can help young children admitted to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU):

  • talk with their caregivers, family and friends about what happened
  • feel they’re not alone – other children have had similar experiences
  • process the sensory and emotional experiences involved in their injury or illness, admission and treatment
  • understand more about the procedures they undergo and how these are intended to help
  • develop trust in hospital staff and other caring adults
  • name feelings and learn coping strategies that help
  • feel hopeful about their recovery and future

It’s normal and expected for both children and adults to have some uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while or after reading a Frankie books. Read our Guide to reading Frankie stories [PDF 192.03 KB] to prepare and learn more about using these stories to help your child cope with medical experiences. After you have read the story with your child a couple of times, it is likely that any distress will decrease. If it doesn’t, it’s a good sign that it’s time to seek some additional mental health support.

Last updated: November 2024