A Child Life Specialist is an integral part of the healthcare team yet prior to a pediatric hospital stay many individuals do not know the roles and functions that a child life specialist plays in the health care journey. Their central role is to help young patients and their families cope with the challenges of illness and hospitalization. Their support and advocacy make a profound difference in the families’ ability to maintain a sense of normalcy during this vulnerable time.
Child life specialists understand that the techniques to help children manage the stress and trauma of illness differ from those used to help adults. Moreover, when age-appropriate techniques are used with and taught to children they:
- Heal as quickly as possible;
- Cope better with pain and need fewer sedatives and less pain medication; and
- Develop properly and avoid lasting negative effects on their wellbeing.
