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Child Life Specialists

Child life specialists: your child's hospital ally 

Hospitalization can be a daunting experience for children and their families. At Banner Children's, we understand the challenges you face. Our dedicated team of certified child life specialists is here to provide essential support and comfort during your child's hospital stay. Child life specialists work closely with children, families and health care providers to create a positive and healing environment. 

What is a Child Life Specialist?

Child life specialists provide emotional and educational support to help children feel more comfortable while they’re at the hospital.

What do child life specialists do?

Child life specialists offer a wide range of services designed to address the emotional, developmental and educational needs of children and their families. Our specialists work with children of all ages, from infants to adolescents, to help them cope with the hospital experience.

Key services provided by our child life specialists include:

  • Medical preparation: Helping children understand medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and demonstrations.
  • Emotional support: Providing comfort and reassurance to children and their families during stressful times.
  • Pain management: Teaching coping strategies and relaxation techniques to manage pain and anxiety.
  • Play therapy: Using therapeutic play to help children express their feelings and process their experiences.
  • Sibling support: Offering support and education to siblings to help them understand their sibling's illness and cope with their own emotions.
  • Pre-surgery tours: These tours let children and families become more familiar with the hospital environment before a child goes into surgery.
  • Education: Assisting with schoolwork and maintaining academic progress during hospital stays. 

The benefits of child life services

Research has shown that child life services can have a significant positive impact on children's hospital experiences. By providing emotional support, education, and preparation, child life specialists can help reduce anxiety, improve coping skills and promote overall well-being for both children and their families.

For school-age children, hospital stays can be particularly challenging due to missed school and social interactions. Our child life specialists can help bridge this gap by providing educational activities and support. 

Child Life Programs

Banner Children’s offers a variety of programs to help your child while they’re in the hospital to ensure they’re getting the best education if they have emotional or learning challenges.

At Banner Children’s, we are committed to providing the highest quality care for our young patients and their families. Our child life specialists are passionate about their work and dedicated to creating a supportive environment for all. Contact us today to learn more about our child life services.