'Makes me smile': Chronically ill kids experience low-sensory shopping spree at toy store

Toys R Us at Southpark Village Mall hosted a low-sensory shopping spree event for families with ill children on Dec. 15, 2024. (Brandon Lynch/CTV News Edmonton)

Families with sick children were invited to a toy shopping spree event on Sunday.

The Starlight Children's Foundation Canada hosted the sensory-friendly event at the Toys R Us at Southpark Village Mall on Gateway Boulevard to support chronically ill kids and their families during the holiday season.

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Greg Plant, a volunteer for Starlight Children's Foundation Canada, told CTV News Edmonton on Sunday how providing a "disability and a sensory-friendly environment" can help kids feel like they're having a normal outing.

"We're here with other Starlight families, we understand each other … my son's a Starlight kid, that's how we got involved," Plant said. "When you get together, it's just a different environment, a lot more understanding."

"(It) just makes me smile … to be able to encourage and enable kids to have a day where they can just be themselves," he added.

Kristin Van Balen was among the 15 families invited to the shopping spree event with her three boys – two of whom were born with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder.

Her family has been taking part in Starlight events for three years and she said these events give her children the same freedom as others.

"The boys get sensitive with lots of sounds and lights, so we are given the opportunity to enjoy these events at our own pace, which is great," Van Balen said.

"They don't have a lot of friends that have the same abilities as them. So just to interact with people and kids that have different abilities is really important as well, and (lets them) feel part of a group," she added.

The Starlight Children's Foundation Canada has helped sick kids and their families for more than 30 years. Donations can be made here.