Child Life Services

Child Life Specialists

KerryThe members of the child life staff are certified professionals who are prepared at the bachelors and masters levels in child life, child development, early childhood education, and other related fields.

Child life services includes the child life program and the hospital school, which collaborate with one another to better serve patients' needs.

Child life specialists provide activities that help reassure pediatric patients and their families regarding illness, hospitalization, surgery, or other procedures. They provide hands on use of play materials and actual medical equipment, and structured and unstructured educational and play experiences.

Child life specialists help to minimize stress and disruption of growth and development by:

  • coordinating
    • special creative arts programs
    • holiday celebrations
    • celebrity guest visitors
    • outdoor garden activities (seasonal)

  • listening and advocating for pediatric patients and their families.

  • providing age appropriate, safe play environments.

  • implementing a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities that meet the unique needs of each patient and family.

  • taking an active role in the in-service education of volunteers, child life students, student nurses, and various groups from the community. The child life program has established an internship program with many of the local colleges and universities.

Child life specialists are an integral part of the interdisciplinary health care team. Their observations, interactions and assessments contribute to the development of the total patient care plan.

For more information on child life or the hospital school, please call child life services at 401-444-8278.

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