Child life specialists are compassionate professionals trained to support children aged 0-18 and their families during challenging situations. Using play, developmentally appropriate interventions, and genuine emotional connection, these specialists create pathways to healthy coping and well-being when families need it most. The goal is to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress while promoting a sense of normalcy during frightening times. Through a family-centered care approach, children and families become active participants in their journey, leading to better emotional and physical outcomes.

The Four Pillars of Child Life

Child Life focuses on four essential elements that work together to help children navigate challenging experiences with resilience:

1. Thoughtful Preparation - Building confidence before difficult experiences

2. Developmental Education - Tailoring information to each child's understanding

3. Effective Distraction - Minimizing distress during procedures

4. Addressing Misconceptions - Eliminating unnecessary fears

The goal of child life is to reduce fear, anxiety, stress, and to promote a sense of normalcy for children during what can be a frightening time. Child life specialists empower children and families to be active participants in their journey using a family-centred care approach, leading to better emotional and physical outcomes. 

Beyond Hospital Walls

Though traditionally rooted in hospital settings, child life principles now extend to diverse environments where children face challenges. These settings include:

• Medical environments: hospitals, clinics, dental offices, blood draws

• Educational settings: schools navigating crises, daycares

• Community spaces: support centers for grieving families, courtrooms

• Home environments: families processing difficult news, end-of-life experiences

The Power of Play

In child life, all of our practices are based on play, since babies, children, and teens all learn and process their world and experiences through play. A child most likely will not sit and explain why they are feeling upset or share that they are worried about something. Instead, through play, important themes will emerge that provide us valuable insights into what is going on in their mind.

Play-Based Approach: The Foundation of Child Life

All child life practices are rooted in play, as children learn and process their experiences through this natural medium. Rather than directly explaining their worries, children reveal important themes through play that provide valuable insights into their thoughts and feelings.

Therapeutic Play Techniques:

• Medical/Dental Play - Transforms intimidating healthcare experiences by allowing children to preview procedures while placing them in positions of control

• Teddy Bear Clinics - Children step into leadership roles as doctors or teachers, guiding their "patients" through upcoming procedures, creating complete sensory rehearsal that significantly reduces anxiety

Common Stressors Where Child Life Principles Transform Experiences

Child life specialists provide crucial support across various settings where children face stress, uncertainty, or challenging transitions:

1. Medical Experiences

• Supporting children through procedures like immunizations and blood draws

• Reducing anxiety during medical and dental appointments

• Helping families adapt to ongoing demands of chronic conditions

• Providing education during new diagnoses

• Enhancing engagement in therapeutic and rehabilitation settings

2. Family Dynamics & Transitions

• Offering specialized sibling support when attention shifts to a child with medical needs

• Supporting children during foster care transitions and adoption processes

• Translating coping strategies into daily routines at home

• Helping families process difficult news or changes

3. Emotional & Educational Support

• Guiding children and families through grief and loss experiences

• Collaborating with schools to maintain emotional well-being

• Creating accommodations for diverse learning abilities

• Supporting neurodivergent children and those with autism spectrum disorder

4. Special Circumstances

• Preparing children for judicial settings to reduce trauma during testimony

• Supporting children through family court proceedings

• Assisting with crisis situations in various environments

Family-Centered Approach

As a child life specialist, my goal is to provide not only the best care and support to the individual child, but also to the entire family unit. I recognize that optimal outcomes require holistic care that addresses the needs of siblings, parents and caregivers in the child's life. I work with the child and family focusing on the four essential pillars: personalized preparation that builds understanding and confidence, education that empowers, distraction techniques that minimize distress, and sustainable coping strategies that families can implement across various settings. This integrated approach ensures that families develop resilience not just during immediate challenges but for future situations they may encounter.

Service Delivery Options

Child life sessions can be held virtually or in-person to provide emotional and psychological support.

Virtual sessions can be used to:

• Conduct developmental assessments that identify a child's unique needs

• Provide targeted parent coaching

• Facilitate preparation play that reduces anxiety about upcoming appointments

• Create individualized coping plans

In-person sessions allow for:

• Building autonomy through hands-on medical play

• Addressing misconceptions directly

• Gaining confidence and resiliency through immediate support

• Providing support during actual procedures

The flexibility of virtual options complements traditional in-person care, ensuring support remains accessible to all families regardless of geographic barriers, transportation limitations, or health restrictions.

"Every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported, no matter what they are facing."

Child Life Outcomes: Why It Matters

Child life services create measurable differences in children's experiences, leading to:

• Better emotional outcomes

• Fewer behavioral issues

• Quicker recoveries in many cases

This happens through:

• Emotional Support: Creating safe spaces where children can express fears, emotions, and questions through therapeutic play, art, or conversation. Specialists provide support during stressful moments like procedures or diagnosis discussions.

• Preparation and Education: Using developmentally appropriate language and tools to help prepare children of all ages for appointments, tests, treatments, surgeries, and more. This critical preparation reduces the fear of the unknown – a primary source of medical trauma.

• Play and Normalcy: To help children maintain a sense of normalcy and control when their world may feel out of control.

• Family-Centered Care: Providing parents and siblings with understanding, communication strategies, and practical tools to support their child, while addressing their own emotional needs.

• Coping Skills Development: Teach children personalized relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and distraction methods that not only help manage immediate pain and anxiety, but build lifelong resilience.

Child life services are needed because kids deserve to understand what is happening, preparation reduces fear, play heals, coping skills last a lifetime, and because every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported, no matter what they are facing.

Connect With a Child Life Specialist

Reach out to Healtheon today at info@healtheon.ca to learn how to connect with a Child Life Specialist.

About the Author

Kristin Schmidt is a Certified Child Life Specialist with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology and Master of Science in Child Life. She specializes in supporting children and families through medical procedures, illness, grief, and significant life changes. Her personal experience with chronic pain and scoliosis at a young age deepened her empathy and commitment to helping others navigate difficult circumstances. Kristin creates safe, supportive environments where children of all ages and abilities can thrive through challenging experiences. Her approach focuses on reducing stress and trauma while empowering children and families with the care and compassion needed to build resilience and confidence.

Testimonial: 

Kristin’s expertise was invaluable when we went through a difficult procedure with our 8 year old son. She talked through what to expect in the procedure, and had all kinds of distractions available. Although she was well prepared, the procedure was really challenging for my son. Kristin helped me debrief and process the situation afterward which is often overlooked, and is so important for a parent’s mental health. Kristin has made our journey so much easier by being so kind, genuine and relating so well with my 8 year old son. Having someone in your corner, there to focus on making the experience easier for your child is priceless.