Usually when I'm asked what I want to do career wise & I answer with "I want to be a Child Life Specialist" the responses vary from "What?? What in the world is that?" to "You want to be a what?!?" to just silence and a stare of confusion. I usually answer with the most consolidated answer I've been able to come up with: "Child Life Specialists are there to educate and counsel kids and their families on the diagnosis." It's usually enough to get an "Ooohh!" of understanding out of them but that doesn't even scratch the surface!
Here's a more detailed look at what Child Life consists of.
What is a Child Life Specialist?
"Child Life Specialists are child development experts who work to ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children in health care settings and other challenging environemnts. They promote effective coping through play, self-expression, and age-appropriate medical preparation and education. As advocate of family-centered care, Child Life Specialists work in partnership with doctors, nurses, social workers, and others to meet the unique emotional, developmental, and cultural needs of each child and family. [They] work in general pediatric inpatient units, and often in specialty areas like the emergency department, surgical and intensive care units, hematology and oncology units, and outpatient areas."
What services do Child Life Specialists provide?
"Child Life Specialists focus on the psychosocial and developmental needs of children, collaborating with families and other health care providers to:
- Prepare children for medical procedures or treatment using language that children understand.
- Introduce coping strategies to help reduce anxiety and enhance cooperation with the health care team.
- Provide support and distraction during medical procedures.
- Offer opportunities for play and expressive activities, to encourage normal development and a sense of FUN in spite of challenging circumstances."
- Promote family-centered care by providing information, advocacy, and support to families of pediatric patients.
For more information, please feel free to contact me or visit the
SOURCE: Child Life: Empowering Children and Families flyer.
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