Child Life

Children and Families Come First

Providing psychological and emotional support.

Assisting parents in caring for their child.

Promoting a positive health care experience.

Advocating for patients and their families.

The hospitalization of a child can be stressful and cause strain of the family unit. The Child Life Department at Driscoll Children’s Hospital has assisted many families who have walked through our hospital doors. Child Life Specialists are trained to provide psychosocial and emotional support for children and their family that promotes a positive experience and nurtures your child’s growth and development.

The support given to patients ranges from preparing patients and families for upcoming medical procedures/surgeries, to the celebrations of important events in the lives of our patients. Child life Specialists work with other members of the healthcare team to promote family-centered care, by encouraging patients and families to become an active participant in their child’s care.

Easing the Pain with Understanding

Will it hurt?

Why do I have to do this?

What are they going to do?

How long will it take?

When children are faced with a health care experience, they will have many questions. The Child Life Department recognizes the need of children and their families to be well informed of upcoming medical events. Child Life Specialists foster this understanding by providing developmentally appropriate preparations for upcoming procedures and surgeries. Preparations include exploration of medical equipment, photo books, videos, tours, and an in depth explanation of specific procedures or surgeries. Child Life Specialists help to prepare families and patients by teaching them appropriate coping strategies to aid in procedures, and offer support during the procedures.

Healing Through Play

Promoting normalization and individual expression.

Fostering understanding and acceptance.

Providing opportunities for choice and control.

Nurturing normal growth and development.

For healthy children, play is a normal part of their everyday routine. For ill children, play becomes more important because they are faced with new and overwhelming experiences. The Child Life department can provide opportunities for normal play; as well as, facilitate play that encourages opportunities for self-expression and understanding.

Before stressful events children are given the opportunity to rehearse upcoming procedures. Our staff offers supervised medical play sessions which teach children factual information about their procedures, and allow opportunities for manipulation of equipment and mastery of coping strategies to help them during the actual event.

Guiding Families Through the Difficult Times

Creating safe and supportive environments.

Reducing fears and anxieties.

Understanding the need for continued family unity.

Encouraging families to seek out support and find answers.

For most children, hospitalization may occur only once or twice during childhood. For other children, the hospital is like a second home. When children come to receive treatment for serious illness, our Child Life Department works to help patients and siblings understand diagnosis and probable outcome of treatment.

Driscoll Children's Hospital is a place of hope and healing for most families. However, when families experience loss, our Child Life team is here to help the family unit (patients, siblings, and parents) begin the grieving process. Our goal is to guide families toward acceptance and understanding.

If your child is currently hospitalized or will be experiencing a
hospitalization in the near future, our services are available to you.

Contact Us!

Driscoll Children's Hospital
Child Life Department
(361) 694-5048