Zapz Academy • Hospital Learning System
Hospital Staff Guide
This guide is designed for nurses, child‑life specialists, educators, and support staff who work directly with children and families. It explains how to use Zapz Portable Learning Kits and Learning Paths in a way that fits real hospital workflows, time limits, and emotional realities.
How This Guide Helps You
Quick‑use steps • When to offer a kit • How to support families • What to say to children • How Zapz fits into your existing role
Core Principles of Zapz in Hospitals
Zapz Academy is built to respect the realities of hospital care: limited time, changing conditions, emotional stress, and complex medical needs. The goal is not to “keep school going” perfectly, but to offer comfort, connection, and small moments of meaningful learning.
- Comfort and emotional safety come first
- Activities are optional, flexible, and low‑pressure
- Families choose what feels right in the moment
- Staff can use kits in seconds — no training required
- Every interaction is an opportunity for dignity and connection
When to Offer a Portable Learning Kit
Kits can be offered at any point in a child’s stay. They are especially helpful during:
- Long waits before or after procedures
- Extended inpatient stays
- Times of visible anxiety, boredom, or restlessness
- Moments when families ask, “What can we do with them?”
- Transitions between units or levels of care
How to Use the Kits in 4 Simple Steps
- Offer the kit. “We have a small learning and comfort kit for kids and teens. Would you like one?”
- Explain briefly. “There are simple activities, comfort items, and tools you can use whenever it feels right.”
- Point out the guides. “This card is for you as staff, and this mini‑guide is for parents or caregivers.”
- Let them lead. Families and children decide when and how to use the items — there is no “wrong” way.
What to Say to Children and Families
Simple, gentle language helps families understand that this is support, not pressure. Here are some phrases you can use:
- “This is just here to give you something comforting and engaging to do while you’re here.”
- “You can use as much or as little as you want — there’s no expectation to finish anything.”
- “If today is a hard day, you can just use the comfort items and skip the activities.”
- “These activities are designed for low‑energy days — it’s okay to go slowly.”
How Different Staff Can Use Zapz
Nurses & Techs
Offer kits during downtime, explain briefly, and point families to the guides and QR codes.
Child‑Life Specialists
Use activities for distraction, coping, and emotional processing during procedures or long stays.
Teachers & Hospital Educators
Connect kit activities to Learning Paths and school goals when appropriate.
Volunteers
Sit with children, read activity cards aloud, or help with simple tasks from the kit.
Learning Paths & QR Codes
Many kits include QR codes that link to Zapz Learning Paths. These paths provide digital guidance for age‑appropriate activities, but they are always optional.
- Families can scan QR codes with their own devices
- Staff can suggest a path based on age or interest
- Activities can be done in tiny pieces — even 5 minutes matters
- No login is required for basic access (if that’s how you configure it)
Supporting Children on Hard Days
Some days, a child or family may not be able to engage with activities — and that is completely okay. Zapz is designed to flex with the emotional and medical reality of each day.
- Offer only comfort items if learning feels overwhelming
- Suggest one very small, low‑demand activity
- Invite families to save activities for a better day
- Reassure them that there is no expectation to “keep up”
Safety, Cleaning, and Infection Control
Kits are designed with hospital safety in mind. Materials can be adapted to your facility’s infection‑control policies.
- Most items are wipeable or replaceable
- Single‑use items can be swapped based on policy
- Kits can be labeled by unit, room, or patient
- Staff can remove or substitute items as needed