Child Life Program
 The Child Life Department is a unique team of professionals who help children and families cope with medical experiences. As part of a team dedicated to caring for kids, our main focus is to meet a child’s emotional, coping and developmental needs throughout their hospital stay and to make being in the hospital a more positive experience. Child Life Specialists, Child Life Assistants, and a Child and Parent Advocate are all a part of this team. EducationChild Life Specialists have a bachelor's or master's degree in Child Life, Child Development, or related field of study. At Sanford Children's Hospital, Specialists are required to complete a 480-hour internship and pass a certification exam developed by the Child Life Council. Ongoing education is required to maintain certification and for professionals to stay current in the field.
Importance of PlayPlay is a vital part of children’s lives. It is the way they learn about and explore their world. During times of stress (such as hospitalization or medical treatment) play can provide something safe, familiar, and normal to a child while, at the same time, promote continued growth and development. Play can also be used as a tool to help a child explore their feelings and learn about their diagnosis or medical treatment. The Child Life team strongly encourages play in the hospital, as it is a vital part of your child’s coping and recovery process.What Does Child Life Offer? Preparation for Medical and Surgical Procedures – To help explain medical events at the developmental level of the child and help them develop a strategy to promote relaxation and comfort.Support During and After Stressful Events – To help children cope during difficult tests and to help parents support their child in times of stress. Medical Play – To help kids learn about a diagnosis or "play out" fears about needles, tests, or what they worry may happen. Child Life staff utilize medical play to help ease fears, to increase a child’s knowledge about procedures and hospitalization and to allow them to gain a sense of control over an otherwise controlling environment. Play Opportunities and Activities – To allow kids to "just be kids" even when sick. Play helps a child to feel more comfortable in otherwise unfamiliar surroundings and supports their developmental needs when hospitalized. Sibling Activities and Support – To help siblings adjust to feelings, fears, and anxieties that the hospitalization of a brother or sister and the separation from parents often creates. Parent Education and Support – To help parents understand and meet their child’s needs. Some common areas of education include: sibling issues and coping, normal responses to hospitalization, child development, and how to support children with grief and loss. Areas Staffed By Child Life
Additional Programming and Events
Child Life Internship Application Eligibility Requirements To make a donation or speak with our child life team directly, please contact:
1305 W 18th Street, PO Box 5039 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5039 Phone: 605-333-7241For more information about education and internship requirements for certification, please contact:
Rockville, MD 20852-2529 Phone: 301-881-7090 www.childlife.org |
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