TLC Distraction™ Box

Giving healthcare professionals the perfect tools to guide young children through painful medical procedures.

The TLC for Kids Distraction™ Box Program is designed to give nurses and healthcare professionals the perfect tools to guide young children through painful examinations and procedures.

The Box is placed in medical rooms and contains items that engage the attention of the child; complement the procedure; comply with hospital infection control protocols; and divert attention away from the procedure.

What’s in the Box?

Each Distraction™ Box contains a number of fully-researched and therapeutic items to distract and guide children through painful medical examinations and procedures.

All items comply with hospital infection protocols and are geared towards children who are developmentally 8 years old and younger. Distractions can be delivered within 60 seconds using this program, meaning its impact is instant.

The Science of Distraction™

We aim to distract the child from what is happening and focus instead on a therapeutic item from the Distraction™ Box.

This can ease the child’s fear and lower the need for medical sedatives and pain relievers, meaning reduced anxiety for the child, parent, and professional, and a smoother procedure overall. It’s used in emergency departments, immunisations, paediatric wards, & even chemotherapy.

Distraction™ Boxes: Current impact

TLC for Kids currently services 405 hospitals and medical centres around Australia and New Zealand, with over 2,979 TLC Distraction™ Boxes currently in use.

Based on the amount of children who access these boxes, we impact procedures over to 2,600 times a day. This makes TLC for Kids a crucial presence in the medical community.

Distraction™ Boxes: Where to next?

TLC for Kids is aiming to expand the Distraction™ Box Program to more rural and regional areas across Australia, with the hope of reaching all children.

We also intend to expand into other medical services such as ambulances and dental surgeries, where Distraction would be valuable.

The Stats that Matter

400+ Hospitals

More than 400 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand have adopted the TLC Distraction Box program. This service aims to provide comfort and alleviate anxiety for patients and their families by offering various engaging activities and items designed to distract and soothe during medical visits.

2,987 TLC Distraction Boxes

Currently, 2,987 TLC Distraction Boxes are in use across these hospitals, playing a crucial role in enhancing patient care and comfort.

16,146,728 Impacts

The TLC Distraction box has been used over 16,146,728 times, significantly impacting the experiences of patients and their families by providing much-needed comfort and distraction during medical treatments and procedures.

“I regularly immunise with a colleague and the Distraction Box is very much part of what we do now. The difference it can make to the parents & children is visible. Children who are so upset can often be distracted & seem to settle quickly after the injection.”
Queanbeyan Health Services

Join the program

Apply to join the TLC for Kids Distraction™ Box program

Are you a healthcare professional interested in applying for the Distraction Box Program? Distraction Boxes are free of charge for public hospitals or clinics. For private hospitals or clinics, there is an affordable charge in order to cover supply & refills.

Click here to register

Distraction is a registered Trademark owned by TLC for Kids.