a member of pediatric health care team that helps hospitalized children and their families deal with the stress of the health care experience
a member of the Pediatric Health Care Team who focuses on the emotional and developmental needs of children, using play and other forms of communication to help reduce the stress of the health care experience for children and their families
a part of the healthcare team who focuses on the emotional and developmental issues of children while staying in the hospital
a person that is specially trained in the growth and developmental needs of children
a professional who is specially trained to help children and their families understand and manage challenging healthcare experiences
a person who provides opportunities for therapeutic play during a child's hospitalization. A child life specialist also assesses the developmental needs of the child and family.
a hospital staff member who has special training in the growth and development of children. A Child Life Specialist can help your child with play activities, relaxation and pain management skills, and help meet the educational and emotional needs of the entire family.
the people whose job it is to see that anything that might make the hospital stay easier for your child is provided, i.e. a tape recorder to play tapes from home, a mobile to hang up for visual stimulation, a baby swing for the room, etc.
A child life specialist is a professional traditionally employed in the hospital setting. She or he supports the psychosocial development of children who are hospitalized or children of adult patients who are hospitalized. Child life specialists provide children with developmentally appropriate activities that help them adjust to the hospital environment, prepare for a medical intervention or medical procedure, or cope with hospitalization, illness, death and dying.