Child Life Services

How Child Life Specialists Support Your Child

As part of your child’s care team, our child life specialists help make medical experiences easier to understand and manage.

During your visit, your child life specialist meets your child where they are. 

Support may include:

• Explaining tests and treatments in simple, developmentally appropriate ways
• Using toys, models or real equipment to show what will happen
• Teaching coping skills for stress, pain or unfamiliar situations
• Helping your child express feelings and ask questions
• Partnering with parents, caregivers and siblings to support your child

Our Approach to Child Life Services

Child life specialists use proven, child-centered approaches to help your child feel more at ease. 

Medical Play: Learning Through Play

Medical play helps children understand and process medical experiences. It gives your child a safe way to explore tools, ask questions and express feelings. 

For example, your child may pretend to be a doctor or practice giving a doll a shot. This type of play helps children work through fear and build confidence.

Your child may show strong emotions during play. Staying present and supportive helps your child feel safe as they work through these feelings. That’s why we encourage you to participate in medical play. 

Support for Every Age

Children respond to medical experiences in different ways at each stage. Child life specialists adjust support to meet your child’s needs.

Infants and toddlers

• May react to unfamiliar people and spaces
• Benefit from comfort, routines and familiar items

Preschool-age children

• May feel a loss of control
• Benefit from simple explanations and choices

School-age children

• May understand more but still have questions
• Benefit from honest communication and involvement

Teens

• May worry about school, sports or independence
• Benefit from clear information and a sense of control