Child Life Program

Helping Your Child Through Their Hospital Experience

A trip to the hospital is often a new and frightening thing for a child; big words, loud beeps, and lots of strangers. What if there was a person who was there to support your child and help them through the hospital experience through play and learning?

That is what Child Life Services are here for.

Our Child Life Program Services:

• Developmentally appropriate preparation for tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures using therapeutic language, play, and education.

• Therapeutic medical play using special dolls, stuffed animals, and medical equipment.

• Helping children and families cope during medical procedures by using techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, and distraction.

• Providing opportunities for play in the hospital setting by offering developmentally appropriate toys, games, and expressive art activities to promote normalization and coping with the hospital environment.

• Co-treatment with Music Therapy

• Coordination of special events, holiday celebrations, and donations.

• Coordination and supervision of Child Life Volunteer Program and Pet Therapy.

• Support for siblings and children of adult patients

• Bereavement support