Child Life in hospitals

Posted by jefra to Pediatric/Parenting, Sep 16, 2009 1:58pm

Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families deal with the stress of being in the hospital. Child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Because they understand that a child’s wellbeing depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress.

Because not every hospital will have a child life specialist, you can provide information on ways that parents can play that role if their child is hospitalized. Ideas include: preparation, distraction, positioning for comfort, etc.