What is a Child Life Specialist?

Certified Child Life Specialists are experts in child development who help children and families navigate difficult healthcare experiences. Whether it be a trip to the doctor, a new diagnosis, a surgical procedure, or an ill parent, these moments can be overwhelming and scary. Through interventions such as therapeutic play, age-appropriate preparation, and psychosocial education, child life specialists aim to decrease the anxiety, stress, and fear often associated with the unfamiliar medical environment and process.

While child life programs are traditionally hospital-based, many child life specialists are branching out into their communities, offering dedicated psychosocial support in settings such as doctors’ and dentists’ offices, courts, schools, and private practice. Want to learn more? Click here to visit the Association of Child Life Professionals and discover the world of child life!

To learn more about how Ready, Set, Cope! can help your child and family manage the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, trauma, disability, or loss, contact me today.