The Tools of the Trade

As a Child Life Specialist, the main goal is to ensure proper development for children despite being hospitalized and to provide methods for coping under the stress and through the pain that accompanies this situation. A CCLS will use many tools in order to accomplish this goal. These tools may include real medical supplies such as medical tape, IV syringes, stethescopes, and surgical gowns, masks and caps. It also likely that the CCLS will use some sort of medical doll, whether that is a stuffed doll, a teddy bear, or something similar is up to the specialist and the program director. These tools give the child the opportunity to pretend to be the doctor or nurse and have the doll be the 'patient.' Through this play, like any child's play, you can learn quite a bit about what the child is thinking. Their fears and questions show through the way they play with the tools, for example, if the child keeps giving the bear a shot and saying that it will hurt, that is likely to mean they are concerned about being poked with needles all the time. Just about anything can be part of the CCLS's toolkit. I have read that at St. Jude, they use super hero capes and squirt guns. One of larger tools that most hospitals employ is a Playroom. This is a very important place to the children because it is a 'Medicine-Free Zone,' so no doctors are allowed and no medicine or procedure is allowed to take place. This allows the children to have a safety zone where they do not have to worry about being poked and prodded. The playroom is much like a room in a daycare, with stations that enhance the development of the child. Many hospitals also have a Teen Room, for ages 13-18 only, so that they can have a place to relax and not feel like they are considered 'children.' I love the Playroom, because it is a place where the child can play with other kids and feel normal for a little while, while still being inside the hospital should an emergency arise. A huge part of the Child Life program is to normalize the situation as much as possible for the children and their families, and these tools I have mentioned play a key part in doing just that.