Child's Care Package

• 1). Make your child feel at home by providing him with his favorite stuffed animal, blankie or something that can he held in bed. Provide pictures of family and friends, including the family pet. If appropriate, bring his favorite pajamas with a cheery pattern.
  
  
• 2). Bring you child short books or magazines. You can bring homework if it's not too involved and stressful. Travel games and word-puzzle books are great, as are coloring books.
  
  
• 3). Bring a journal or scrapbook and the necessary tools for the activity. Choose items that aren't messy (crayons or pencils over magic markers, and stickers over paper and glue). Encourage your child to draw or write about his experience at the hospital.
  
  
• 4). Bring an MP3 player filled with your child's favorite music. If the room has a DVD player, bring movies to watch.
  
  
• 5). Ask your child's doctor or nurse if you can bring healthful snacks, such as juice boxes and fresh fruit.
  
  
• 6). Make your child's room as cheerful as possible. Decorate with paper flowers, lots of pictures, dinosaurs--anything your child is interested in. The more colorful and cheerful the room, the less scary it is.
  
  

Adult's Care Package

• 1). Travel-sized toiletries, including toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and shaving cream are great ideas. Powder can be used to freshen hair if it can't be washed. If you're bringing a care package to a woman, be sure to bring some light makeup, like blush and lip gloss, and some hair ties.
  
  
• 2). No one likes to wear a hospital gown. Fun pajamas or a cozy robe and slippers will keep your friend warm and make a welcome gift. Choose a cheery pattern (monkeys, flowers, robots) or color to brighten her mood.
  
  
• 3). Bring pictures of friends, co-workers and family. Cards and letters brighten the room and let the patient know that people are thinking of her.
  
  
• 4). Books and magazine help pass the time away. Choose "light" reading material as there are usually distractions in the hospital. A journal and good pen are handy to jot down thoughts and make notes of conversations with doctors.
  
  
• 5). An MP3 of her favorite songs is a welcome gift. Make sure there are plenty of batteries or include the charger.
  
  
• 6). If the patient doesn't have dietary restrictions, snacks will probably be the most welcome thing you can bring. Make sure the snack is in a resealable package, does not smell too harshly (pickled herring is out) and doesn't need refrigeration. Fresh or dried fruit, granola bars, juice boxes and pretzels are perfect snacks.