Child Life
What We Do | When We're Needed | Sibling Reactions | Child Behaviors | Contact Us
What does a Child Life Specialist do?
Your Child Life Specialist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is dedicated to meeting the growth and development needs of infants, children, and adolescents in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and in the Cardiac Ward. A family centered care approach is utilized to include patients as well as significant family members. In working with hospitalized children, your Child Life Specialist will promote and encourage:
- A sense of security, warmth, and nurturing
- Positive growth and development
- A sense of accomplishment, independence, and positive self-esteem
- Adjustment to hospitalization.
Your Child Life Specialist is available to discuss patients' needs, provide play and therapeutic materials, and serve as a resource during hospitalization.
When would a family need a Child Life Specialist and what could they do to help?
When children are in the hospital, they may become anxious about unfamiliar surroundings or unexpected events. By giving patients familiar toys and soothing activities, patients are able to express their fears and concerns through play. Medical play (play with "safe" medical equipment) gives patients an opportunity to perform medical procedures on dolls or stuffed animals in a safe, non-threatening environment. This therapeutic play can help lessen anxiety and make procedures less frightening. A Child Life Specialist can also help a child cope during a particular procedure or treatment using techniques such as distraction, guided imagery, reassurance, and role-playing.
What reactions can families expect from siblings? How can a Child Life Specialist help?
Brothers and sisters are very much affected by their sibling's hospitalization. Home routines are compromised and family anxiety is heightened. Because of these changes and their own thoughts and feelings, siblings may react through atypical behaviors. They may become angry or aggressive, fearful of the unknown, or may regress to behaviors typical of a younger child.
Involvement between siblings and the hospitalized child can continue throughout the hospital experience. While in the CICU, your Child Life Specialist will encourage siblings to draw pictures and send cards and favorite items from home. If visitation is permitted, a Child Life Specialist can facilitate the visit with an explanation of medical equipment and diagnosis in age appropriate terms. If visitation is suspended, parents can request a sibling book with age appropriate information and photographs about the hospitalized child, hospital, and medical equipment.
Your Child Life Specialist will be happy to discuss any of these issues with you to promote the reduction of family stress related to hospitalization.
What behaviors can families expect from their hospitalized child after being discharged to home? What can parents do to help?
When a child is discharged from the hospital, behavior may be slightly different than before the hospitalization. Changes in sleep patterns, temper tantrums, "clinginess," social withdrawal, and regression are all common behaviors in the first few weeks home after a hospitalization. With time and understanding these behaviors will improve.
How do families contact their Child Life Specialist?
Child Life Specialists are available during activity center hours and by pager. Ask your nurse to help you contact them.
