Child Life Services
Child life specialists work with patients and families to reduce the stress and anxiety that can come with the healthcare experience. Trained with an understanding of child development and the impact of hospitalization, the child life team meets the developmental, psychological and emotional needs of patients and families through a variety of services:
- Educating your child about illness, treatment and surgery.
- Supporting your child during stressful experiences and procedures.
- Encouraging your child to express feelings about illness and treatment through therapeutic activities.
- Normalizing the environment through age-appropriate play and group activities.
- Helping your child with pain management through distraction
and relaxation.
- Providing support for siblings and other family members.
Child life specialists promote coping and normalization with opportunities for patients to play and interact in our activity centers. All three Children’s locations feature activity centers supplied with toys, games and crafts for all ages. Patients and families at our Scottish Rite location can also visit The Zone to relax, watch a movie or play video games.
Where You Can Find a Child Life Specialist
Child life specialists and activity assistants provide specialized services in the following areas:
Support for Parents & Siblings
When your child is in the hospital, siblings may need help expressing feelings and questions. Child life specialists are available to:
- Prepare siblings for hospital visits.
- Educate siblings about your child’s diagnosis and treatment.
- Identify ways to help siblings stay connected with your child during his stay.
Our Care Tips provide helpful information to help you, your child and his siblings prepare and cope with experiences both in the hospital and at home. Visit My Family Health Spot for kid-friendly information about the body as well as preparation tips for hospital visits and procedures.
For Professionals
Visit the Child Life Council or call 301-881-7090 for further information about the profession and the organization.
For students interested in learning more about the Child Life profession:
Support Us