Child Life Specialists are pediatric healthcare professionals with expertise
in child development and psychosocial care and support. Child Life Specialists
work alongside patients and their families, in both the inpatient and
outpatient settings, to provide:
Therapeutic play and developmental support
Education to decrease anxiety through increasing understanding (teaching
about the healthcare environment, procedures, and diagnoses in ways children
can understand and process)
Emotional support and rehearsing coping skills
Support with coping strategies before, during, and after procedures or
experiences that a child may feel are scary, painful, or overwhelming
Education for caregivers about their child’s developmental and psychosocial needs
With an emphasis on promoting understanding of medical care for both patients
and their families, a Child Life Specialist can help patients become active
members of their healthcare team.
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