Hospital playrooms have gotten a lot better than you might expect, and the volunteers have gotten a lot more creative with their activities, but even so, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. For every visit, I pack a small bag of new goodies: paper or notebooks, markers or glitter pens or other basic art supplies, a craft project, a couple of books, and a doll or toy. This usually includes a doctor kit or a doll with the same diagnosis as my daughter. We have dolls with g-tubes that she practices feeding, dolls with leg braces, and dolls with incision scars. Those end up being her best friends when she's inpatient.
Lots of people will want to help by sending gifts, but if you don't tell them what you want or need, you may end up with five narwhals from the hospital gift shop like my daughter did. We have at times established an Amazon wish list for people who want to send her new toys but can't come in person.
