Child Life and Learning Through Play

What does a child life specialist do?

Child life specialists help children and teens maintain a sense of normalcy while living with a serious illness. Child life specialists explain what is happening in terms children and teens can understand and create opportunities to keep life as normal as possible.

Most pediatric hospitals have a child life department. Child life specialists have advanced education and specialized training in child development.

Child life specialists are there to:

• Explain medical conditions and treatments in simple, honest terms
• Minimize the stress and anxiety
• Teach patients positive coping techniques
• Support children and teens through medical procedures and hospitalizations
• Work with kids on developmental milestones
• Provide opportunities for children and teens to gain a sense of mastery, learning, self-expression, family involvement and peer interaction
• Provide support and education to siblings

Play with a purpose

Many of these goals are accomplished through play and activities because that is how children and teens best learn and express themselves.

• Therapeutic play: When patients cannot express themselves with words, a child life specialist may observe them expressing anxiety when they play or participate in other activities. The child life specialist can use play as an opportunity to respond to the child’s needs and decrease stress of the hospital environment.
• Medical play: When getting ready for medical procedures or tests, medical play gives children the opportunity to see or rehearse medical procedures. It can help them and learn why the procedures are necessary. Knowledge and understanding help children and teens overcome fears.
• Developmental play: It is important for children to play and be as active as possible. It also provides ways for children and teens to interact socially with peers having similar experiences.

If you are interested in your child receiving support from a child life specialist, ask your care team.