Child life specialists are available to help children and their families understand and manage challenging life events and stressful healthcare experiences.
Service provided under the direction of Primary Children's Medical Center.
Child Life Specialists can provide:
- Support during healthcare experiences.
- Validation, relaxation, education, and diversion.
Pre-operative preparation class
The pre-operative preparation class is designed to help children and their families understand what it will be like while they are in the hospital. The class includes a short video introducing surgery, healthcare play for the children, an introduction for parents of what to expect, and a tour of the various areas patients and families will see when in the hospital.
Pain management support
Children are naturally imaginative with a great ability to pretend. Visualization, guided imagery, and expressive activities can help them better cope with their pain. It has been shown that these methods, in conjunction with pain medicine, increase the child’s ability to manage pain.
Therapeutic play
Child life specialists provide play opportunities for patients and siblings in individual and group settings. Familiarization play helps children become more comfortable and familiar with health-related items in a non-threatening way. Questions can be explored during play so children are allowed to work through fears and concerns. Examples of therapeutic play include: medical collages, finger cast puppets, medical mobiles.
Health related theme play
Using actual medical equipment and cloth dolls, children have the opportunity to express themselves, learn coping skills, and feel a sense of control.
See a video of medical play and the role it has at Primary Children's to help patients, siblings, and friends feel more comfortable with the hospital experience.
Expressive play
This can be a non-threatening, positive way to express feelings, especially for those unable to verbally express feelings. This type of play provides opportunities for choice and control in an unfamiliar place.