Imagine this scenario: your child has had a biking accident and requires stitches in the emergency room. They’re frightened and in pain, staring at a room filled with intimidating medical equipment. They refuse to enter. Suddenly, a compassionate individual steps in, clears away the unneeded machines, and gently explains the necessary ones, easing your child’s fears enough to walk in.
Now consider another situation: a parent has just received devastating news—their child has been diagnosed with a condition requiring extended hospital stays and numerous treatments. The entire family is present, grappling with the shock. A sibling, unable to process the overwhelming emotions, begins to act out. Then, a skilled professional enters, offering support to help the sibling understand and cope with the situation, allowing the family to navigate this challenging moment together.
In both scenarios, that vital support comes from a child life specialist—an essential, yet often overlooked, component of pediatric healthcare.
We spoke with Jordan Smith, COO and Interim CEO of the Association of Child Life Professionals, about the critical role child life specialists play in medical settings and the recent guidance from The Academy of American Pediatrics highlighting their importance.
Child Life Specialists Utilize Children’s Natural Resilience
“Child life specialists are trained professionals adept at assisting children and their families in overcoming the most challenging circumstances,” explains Smith. With a deep understanding of child development and common medical procedures, they help families cope during stressful medical situations. They clarify diagnoses, offer bereavement support, and leverage children’s inherent resilience to foster better coping mechanisms for the entire family.
Using medical play, distractions, and age-appropriate language, child life specialists ensure that young patients, along with their parents and siblings, grasp what’s occurring. Their presence is felt across various medical environments—from emergency rooms to outpatient clinics—providing support before painful procedures, such as MRIs or needle extractions.
The duration of involvement can range from a single hour to ongoing support over months or even years, especially in cases of chronic illness. The depth of engagement is determined by the family’s needs and how well they are coping, not solely by the severity of the illness, emphasizes Smith.
Child Life Specialists as Emotional First Responders
Highlighting the unique role of child life specialists, Smith describes them as “emotional first responders.” They are trained to assess situations in hospital settings and provide both emotional support to pediatric patients and their families, as well as to the children of adult patients.
Medical environments can be intimidating, and these specialists play a crucial role in alleviating potential trauma. They strive to make experiences less daunting and more relatable, working on-site to prevent additional distress during medical encounters.
Supporting the Entire Family, Including Siblings
What sets child life specialists apart is their holistic approach to family support, which includes siblings. In situations involving severe injuries or long-term care, siblings often struggle and require assistance.
This support may include helping siblings understand the diagnosis, providing a space for their emotions, and ensuring they feel involved. For parents, child life specialists offer techniques to comfort their child and empower them to advocate effectively within the medical system.
Beyond Hospital Walls
Child life specialists are not confined to pediatric hospitals; they can also be found in hospices, child advocacy centers, and private practices. Smith advocates for the inclusion of child life specialists in every healthcare setting, including pediatrician’s offices and clinics, noting the positive impact they have on reducing anxiety in children during even minor procedures.
New AAP Guidance Highlights the Importance of Child Life Specialists
Recent guidance states, “Collaboration with child life specialists is essential for meeting the overall health care needs of children and their families.” This truth has been consistently validated, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Child life specialists have transformed testing sites into engaging environments, provided in-person support for isolated parents, and helped mitigate the fear that comes from healthcare professionals wearing extensive PPE.
They are trained to navigate safety protocols while still creating a child-friendly atmosphere. Catering to pediatric patients up to 21 years old is crucial, particularly for engaging teenagers, who can be challenging to reach.
The AAP report suggests that administrators should consider maintaining a full staff of child life specialists seven days a week, according to Smith.
Awareness of Services is Key
Child life services are typically offered at no cost to families, yet many remain unaware of their existence. Increasing awareness is vital to ensuring families receive the support they need. Smith emphasizes, “We want parents to know these resources are available, enabling them to create the best possible experiences for their children.”
Ultimately, children are naturally resilient, and child life specialists are there to help them harness that resilience, no matter the challenges they face.
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Summary
Child life specialists play a crucial yet often overlooked role in the pediatric healthcare system. They provide emotional support to children and their families, helping them navigate challenging medical experiences. Their expertise extends to siblings, ensuring that the whole family receives the necessary support. With increasing awareness of their services, families can better utilize these resources to promote resilience in children during difficult times.