KidZone TV: A Patient-Led Community

KidZone TV: Connecting, Empowering, and Building a Community of Patients and Families

For some of our pediatric patients, the day does not truly begin until 11:30 AM, when they hear “Live - from the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital- it's KidZone TV!” on channel 114. Each day in the hospital, a KZTV producer invites patients to have fun, share their creativity, and make each show, activity, and even the studio itself - their very own.

As a service of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy department, KidZone TV is the collaborative effort of the department’s professional clinicians and media producers. Since its first live broadcast in 1989, KidZone TV has evolved from hosting simple live activities into an inviting therapeutic outlet that places our young patients at the center of its programming. The studio’s mission is simple yet profound: to empower young patients through creativity, connection, and self-expression.

Patients and caregivers participate by tuning into the live shows from their rooms, visiting the studio as an audience member, or stepping in and becoming a “tech”- a live show producer who controls the camera, video switching board, and the audio and lighting effects. Patients who are medically isolated in their rooms can also host via a “Remote Host” session, where KZTV producers establish a live video link between the patient’s room and the studio, enabling the patient to host any show live. Recently our KZTV producers helped Zayd and his mother remote host a bingo where he shared all his favorite things. When patients become producers like Zayd, they regain a sense of individualism, mastery and control which is sometimes lost while in a hospital.

From hosting their shows to working behind the scenes, young participants are given the tools and guidance to create content that explores their unique experiences. Watch Noah, a recent KZTV creator share how being a patient producer helped him: “You can come to the studio and help make bingo and all those shows. You can press all of the buttons and see all the technology that’s happening behind the scenes. Behind the scenes is my favorite part! It’s really fun. It takes your mind; it takes it away from your pain.”

Along with hosting special guests and our own custom shows, KZTV also aims to support our clinical staff of Child Life Specialists, Music Therapists, and Art Therapists, in engaging with their patients in innovative ways. By hosting live shows, staff offer therapeutic interactions that align with their clinical practices. Patients are often invited to join as co-hosts, strengthening the therapeutic bond and enriching ongoing sessions.

The variety of shows and activities offered by the studio connects to the diverse interests and needs of our patients. Fausta, a Spanish-speaking parent, enjoyed co-hosting a show with a producer and a drama therapist. She taught our staff and viewers how to knit and shared how her love of knitting helps her and her child stay calm and patient while in the hospital Our staff is committed to cultural inclusivity and hosts families that can speak to their unique experiences. By sharing how families in our KZTV community celebrate their beliefs and traditions, we hope to make our community members feel welcome in all departmental programming.

One of the wonderful aspects of KZTV is that the studio is a space dedicated to providing a safe environment where patients can socialize and feel at ease. Patients say the “vibe” in the room is different than anywhere else in the hospital. The often heard “I want to go to the studio” reinforces how this space supports the emotional and social well-being of our participants and fosters a sense of normalcy amidst difficult medical challenges. The studio and staff are here to help patients capture and tell their story, like Isai’s going home video.

As the studio continues to innovate and expand its offerings, the collaborative team remains dedicated to their core belief: meeting children where they are and providing opportunities to express themselves, connect with others, and find joy in their journeys. KidZone TV hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of all our young patients, one show at a time. Follow the studio on Instagram @KZTVlive