Heart Buddy Clinics
Helping children understand heart surgery through play, comfort and emotional preparation.
Heart Buddy Clinics are calm, child friendly support sessions for children facing heart surgery and their families.
A softer space to prepare.
Through gentle play, simple explanations, creative resources and the Heart Buddy Bear, children can explore what is happening in a way that feels safer, less frightening and easier to understand.
The aim is simple: to help children feel comforted, prepared and less alone.
What Happens In A Heart Buddy Clinic?
Meet the bear
Children are introduced to their Heart Buddy Bear and its removable heart in a calm, playful way.
Surgery preparation
Simple child friendly explanations help children understand hospitals, hearts and surgery without overwhelm.
Feelings check in
Children are gently encouraged to name worries, ask questions and share what feels scary.
Hospital role play
Toy stethoscopes, masks, bandages and teddy bear play help make medical moments feel more familiar.
Parent support
Parents receive guidance on talking about surgery in a reassuring, age appropriate way.
Bravery pack
Children can receive a bear, certificate, stickers, colouring sheets and gentle story based resources.
“Heart Buddy Clinics are about helping a child feel safe enough to ask questions, play through worries and hold onto something comforting.”
The Clinic Journey
Before surgery
Helping the child understand what may happen using the bear, pictures, simple language and play.
During the journey
Giving children and families a familiar comfort object and emotional support tools to use around appointments.
After surgery
A gentle follow up to help process the experience, celebrate bravery and support ongoing recovery conversations.
Designed for children and families
A supportive space with a clear purpose
Who are the clinics for?
Children preparing for heart surgery, children who have already been through surgery, and families who want gentle emotional preparation support.
Are they medical clinics?
No. Heart Buddy Clinics do not replace medical advice or clinical care. They are emotional support and play based preparation sessions.
What will a child take away?
A better understanding of what is happening, a chance to ask questions, a Heart Buddy Bear, and a reminder that they are brave and not alone.
Inside A Bravery Pack
Each clinic can include child friendly resources to continue the support at home and in hospital.
Heart Buddy Bear
A soft friend to hold through the hospital journey.
Bravery certificate
A positive reminder of courage and strength.
Colouring sheets
Simple creative activities to help children process feelings.
Story booklet
Gentle words and pictures to support family conversations.
Help us create gentle spaces for brave young hearts
Support Heart Buddy Clinics
Your support helps children facing heart surgery receive comfort, courage, emotional preparation and a Heart Buddy Bear to hold.