What is a Child Life Specialist?
According to the Child Life Council's website, www.childlife.org, "Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events."
Armed with a strong background in child development and family systems, child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Because they understand that a child’s well-being depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress.
To help prepare for this career, students should consider taking courses such as Medical Terminology, Child Development, Theories in Human Development, Play Therapy, Counseling, and Family Relationships.
For more information about the outlook of this career, please visit the Child Life Council's website, www.childlife.org.
Armed with a strong background in child development and family systems, child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Because they understand that a child’s well-being depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress.
To help prepare for this career, students should consider taking courses such as Medical Terminology, Child Development, Theories in Human Development, Play Therapy, Counseling, and Family Relationships.
For more information about the outlook of this career, please visit the Child Life Council's website, www.childlife.org.