Minimizing Fears with Child Life Program
The child life program helps minimize the fears and stress experienced by children, adolescents and families as related to health care experiences.
At Phoebe, we want to enhance the hospital experience for patients of all ages. The child life program helps minimize the fears and stress experienced by children, adolescents and families. Our child life specialist is specifically trained to enhance the quality of care for hospitalized children. When visiting our youngest patients, the child life specialist provides developmental play periods to help children express their fears or concerns and to help them understand the hospital environment.
Child life specialists may offer activities and entertainment as a diversion from hospital routines and procedures. A specialist may also use play with dolls and medical equipment to assist children in understanding their medical experiences. In some cases, they organize group activities that allow children to socialize with their peers. Child life specialists help patients and families:
- Understand medical procedures, equipment and diagnoses
- Adjust to and cope with the hospital environment
- Express concerns and work out feelings
- Continue to achieve developmental skills
- Participate in activities that support individual personalities, interests and skills
- Build supportive relationships
Where the Child Life Program is Utilized
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Center
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – Provide sibling support and explain why their little brother or sister is in NICU.
- Through hospital and hospice
The goal is to expand the program into all areas of the hospital as well as other campuses, and to eventually conduct special events as well as offer pre-admission operating room tours for families whose children are receiving surgery.
The program is also utilized for visiting children who have a sick relative in the hospital.
For more information about the Child Life program, call 229-312-5110.
