Child Life Specialists at Niswonger’s Children’s Hospital

When your child is in the hospital, it can be hard to know how to help them feel safe, calm and understood. Our child life program at Niswonger Children’s Hospital is here to support your child and your whole family during a stressful time.  

Child life specialists help children cope with hospital stays through play, simple medical education and emotional support that fits their age and needs. 

What do child life specialists do?

Child life specialists are trained to reduce fear, answer questions in child-friendly ways and help children build coping skills while they receive care.

 

Our child life specialists (identified by their pink scrubs) might use a pretend doctor’s kit to show your child what will happen during a needle stick, bring a squishy toy to help distract them during a scary procedure, or use a doll to explain a diagnosis in a way your child can understand. 

What can child life specialists help with?

  • Helping children and teens cope with illness, hospitalization or changes in their routine
  • Helping parents understand common reactions to stress, trauma and hospital experiences
  • Preparing your child for a test, procedure or surgery using words and tools they can understand
  • Supporting brothers and sisters during a hospitalization or serious illness
  • Using toys, play, breathing exercises and other coping tools to help your child feel more in control of their experience and emotions

Contact our team

We’re here to help

If your child is staying at Niswonger Children’s Hospital and you think child life support could help, email childlife@balladhealth.org to request a bedside visit.

Interested in supporting a child life program near you? Email our team to learn more about internship, volunteer and donation opportunities.

Child Life Specialists
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