Child life specialist
A child life specialist is a trained professional dedicated to helping children navigate the emotional challenges associated with significant life events, particularly in medical settings. These specialists work directly with children and their families to provide support through play and tailored activities, primarily in pediatric hospital units but also in outpatient clinics, camps, and hospice care. The field began in the 1920s in the U.S. as the benefits of play and educational opportunities for hospitalized children became recognized, leading to increased involvement of families in care.
Child life specialists collaborate with healthcare teams to address children’s emotional needs during stressful times. They utilize play, music, and art therapies to facilitate expression and help children regain a sense of control. In addition to supporting the child, specialists also work closely with parents, guiding them through explanations of diagnoses, procedures, and nonpharmaceutical pain management techniques. They also consider the needs of siblings, preparing them for hospital visits and helping them understand their sibling's experiences. Certification is available through the Child Life Council, and while not federally mandated, many employers prefer candidates with the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential.
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Child life specialist
A child life specialist is a trained professional who helps children cope with and recover from the strain and emotional trauma of major life events. Child life specialists work directly with children and their families to provide support through play, individualized programs, and activities. They work primarily in hospital pediatric units, but they are also used in outpatient offices, specialty camps, and home-visit hospice care.
Overview
Early child life programs began in the United States during the 1920s, when it became apparent that a child’s hospital experience and subsequent recovery rate was improved when they were provided opportunities for play and education. The importance of family involvement in a hospitalized child’s health was also acknowledged, and early child life specialists advocated for increased family visitation and parental involvement in their child’s care.
Despite initial resistance and a lack of support from medical professionals, the field of child life support grew. In 1966, a group of women formed the Association for the Well-Being of Hospitalized Children and Their Families; by 1979, the organization, renamed the Association for the Care of Children’s Health (ACCH), included among its members nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers who worked alongside child life specialists.
Child life specialists work with families, healthcare professionals, social workers, and other members of a support team in order to address a child’s emotional needs during crisis and stress. They work one-on-one with children to help them process the range of emotions they may be experiencing. Child life specialists worked with pediatric hospital patients and their families during the COVID-19 global pandemic. They alleviated children's fears by helping them understand medical procedures and the specialized medical environment that was implemented during the pandemic. Child life specialists may use play, music, and art therapies, as well as toys and drawings, to enable children to have a voice and regain a sense of control in their lives.
In addition to their work with children, child life specialists work closely with parents to help them provide added support for their child. This work includes explaining new diagnoses and procedures, addressing any questions or concerns, exploring the choices in nonpharmaceutical pain management techniques, and helping plan for future healthcare visits or hospital stays for the child.
The needs of siblings affected by a child’s trauma or illness are also taken into account. When necessary, child life specialists work with siblings and explain in age-appropriate language the trauma or illness that is being experienced. They prepare siblings for hospital visits and discuss ways in which they can help and be supportive members of the team.
Colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate-level child life programs, which usually include supervised internships. Although certification is not federally mandated, most employers require applicants to hold a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential, which is issued by the Child Life Certification Commission. Before they can take the Child Life Professional Certification Examination, applicants must first complete their undergraduate education, which should include child life courses, and have a minimum number of hours of supervised clinical experience.
Bibliography
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