Child life specialist

They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management, and coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities.

[2] Child life specialists recognize individuality in patients, and use a range of developmentally appropriate activities, including play, preparation for a medical procedure, education, self-expression, and family support to help cope with hospitalization, illness, or death and dying.

Prior to this time, it was not uncommon for parents to be excluded from the pediatric wards of hospitals except for brief visitation hours, sometimes just on weekends.

[4] Child life specialists collaborate with parents and other health care professionals to meet the distinct needs of children in managing the effects of stress and trauma.

Child life specialists use child-centered interventions and pain management techniques to work with the patient and family members to help them cope with hospitalization and medical procedures.

[7] The interventions include: encouraging parent presence and participation in care; showing parent(s) how to participate and be involved; talking and communicating frequently with patients in a calm manner; advocating for pain management strategies to prevent child discomfort or pain; providing choices when appropriate; being realistic and truthful with children and adolescents; and providing "age appropriate" activities that foster a sense of accomplishment.

Some pain management techniques child life specialists practice involve sharing music, favorite toys or objects, encouraging words and statements, singing, videos, comfortable positions and places, and using humor.

Prior to the program at Wheelock College, child life specialists typically had degrees in fields like Psychology, Human Development, and Education and gained experience in practicum settings.