Essentia Health-Fargo introduces new pediatric sensory path

Young patients can now hop their way atop surfboards and dive under the sea before undergoing surgery at Essentia Health-Fargo.

Introduced in February 2025, a new ocean-themed sensory path – a decal system – weaves its way across the floor in the pre-operating space at the hospital.

The path is decorated with bubbles, dolphins, turtles, sharks and starfish. It helps transform what can be a stressful, clinical environment into a fun seascape, making it more comfortable and motivating for kids.

"We want to support our pediatric population, from the very start of their hospitalization to being discharged home," explained Michelle Finneman, a child life specialist who has been with Essentia since 2019 and who helped bring the path to fruition. "The sensory path has always been a very helpful and motivating tool to offer our pediatric patients as a support to get them out of bed and moving and engaging to heal quicker."

The first sensory path was introduced at Essentia Health-Fargo in 2020 within the inpatient pediatric unit. In the fall of 2024, the original path — now also ocean-themed — was replaced and expanded to create a cohesive and engaging environment throughout the entire unit.

Sensory paths are strategically designed with body movement in mind to help keep kids motivated and out in the hallway as they head back for surgery.

"They also have a developmental aspect as they provide the appropriate sensory input to decrease sensory-seeking behaviors that we may see in some kids who have Autism or ADHD," added Finneman.

The path's ocean theme was selected because of its bright, yet calming, and welcoming colors and aesthetic appeal. It was also chosen to help draw in and engage a variety of age groups (infancy through adolescents) and support pediatric development and sensory needs during a hospitalization.

"It was important to me as a child life specialist to find other ways to help support kids going back to the operating room," explained Finneman. "One way isn’t going to necessarily work for all. For example, some might love our remote cars, but others might be a little hesitant. Development age plays a role, too."

Introduced in December 2022 thanks to support from the Essentia Health Foundation, two remote control cars are also available for surgical patients between the ages of two and nine. Kids can drive themselves back toward the operating room, or staff can operate the cars via remote control.

The sensory path has been popular with staff, too.

"It's a nice way for our anesthesiologists and CRNAs to help guide kids back, making it a little more fun and distracting," said Finneman.

"I think it's important for all our staff and patients to understand that we do see kids in these spaces," she added. "And even something as simple as a colorful path shows we support our youngest patients."

More about child life specialists

March is Child Life Month and a time to highlight the important role of child life specialists like Finneman.

Child life specialists are professionals trained in child development and psychology. They're certified by the Association of Child Life Professionals to provide support to infants, children, youth and families in a medical setting. By using age-appropriate strategies, they work to reduce a child's fear, anxiety and pain.

You can count on our child life specialists to provide guidance and help your family build coping skills during doctor visits, treatments and procedures.

Child life specialists are available at Essentia Health-Fargo and the Essentia Health-South University Clinic, as well as Essentia Health-St. Mary's Children's Hospital and Essentia Health-Duluth.

Learn more about child life specialists at EssentiaHealth.org and at childlife.org.

Explore the science behind sensory paths at thesensorypath.com.