Child Life Specialists
What is Child & Adolescent Life?
Child & Adolescent Life is a program that supports your child's emotional, psychosocial, educational and developmental needs in a health care setting. Children learn about the world through play. In the hospital, where children feel particularly vulnerable, expressive play activities help them understand what is happening and provide opportunities to gain a sense of control.
 Medical play and preparation is an important aspect of Child Life. It allows children to explore medical equipment and to role play their experience at a safe distance. Individualized preparation for a specific upcoming procedure allows children to develop appropriate coping skills they can later utilize. This serves to empower the child and give them a sense of control. Child Life Specialists help children understand procedures by using medical play to introduce medical equipment to children in a non threatening way. Children have the opportunity to pretend they are giving the doll or stuffed animal medicine, a shot, or taking their blood pressure.
Who are Child & Adolescent Life Specialists?
Child and Adolescent Life Specialists are professionals educated in child development and skilled in working with hospitalized children and their families. They use medical play, coping techniques and playroom interaction to help make hospitalized children comfortable and content. Additionally, child life specialists provide distraction techniques and support through stressful procedures.
If you are interested in becoming a Child and Adolescent Life Specialist or would like more information about the profession, visit www.childlife.org.
Call the Child & Adolescent Life Department 706-721-6838 for:
- medical play
- psychological preparations
- group and individual interventions
- developmentally appropriate activities
- questions about donations
|