Child Life Program

Child Life Specialists help patients and families adjust and cope with being in the hospital or clinic setting. Armed with a strong background in Child Development, these specialists use play and other education techniques to assist children and their families during medical visits and procedures by helping  ease children’s fear and encourage cooperation.

Having an adult family member in the hospital can also be stressful for children. Children benefit from preparation and developmentally appropriate support to increase positive coping skills. Child Life Specialists are available for children when they are visiting adult units if needed.  

Each Child Life Specialist has a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the areas of child life, child and adolescent development or special education. They are required to have an internship supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist and become certified through the national Child Life Council.

Our Child Life Specialists are here to help! 

• Provide support during difficult medical procedures
  Child Life Specialists help reduce pain and anxiety during medical procedures through distraction and relaxation techniques.  Additionally, they assist parents in helping their child during medical procedures. Their goal is to make each procedure as positive as possible for patients and families.

• Medical Preparation and Pre-Surgery Teaching
  Surgery or medical tests can be a difficult time for a child Our Child Life Specialists teach kids about what to expect, what the doctors will ask of them and prepare them for a hospital stay. This helps ease fears about the hospital and the surgery routine.

• Pre-Surgery Tours
  Denver Health provides pre-surgery tours for children and families. Come see the rooms that you will visit and practice some of the things that the doctors or nurses may ask you to do Children will get to try on a surgical mask, practice breathing techniques and become familiar with the hospital environment. It is an excellent opportunity to ease their anxiety and make their experience much more positive.

• Therapeutic Play
  Child Life Specialists engage children in therapeutic play activities that help meet their treatment goals and decrease pain. They work with children at the bedside or in the Child Life Zone

• Sibling Support
  Not only is a trip to the hospital difficult for the child, but many times, brothers and sisters are also affected by the experience. They need to understand what is happening and need to work through their feelings. Our specialists are here to help children understand the situation and provide age- appropriate support.

•  Family Support
  Medical treatments and hospital visits affect the entire family.  Families benefit from emotional support during their child’s hospital stay. Child Life Specialists help parents communicate with their child’s healthcare team  to promote a Family Centered experience.

Recreational Therapy also plays an intricate part of the Child Life Program by providing age appropriate activities for patients and siblings at the bedside, in the playrooms and the Child Life Zone. Our recreational therapist is a strong advocate and creates a supportive environment for our families in the Pediatric unit.  Our Recreational Therapist also provides community and safety education.