During March, we celebrate Child Life professionals and reflect on their significant impact on children and families across many settings.
Child Life professionals help families build and foster their own stories of major life events such as illness, injury and trauma. They are certified clinicians who are trained to focus on a patient and family’s emotional safety throughout medical experiences, with the intent to promote empowerment and understanding and lessen the possibility of any form of medical trauma. Child life professionals are skilled at providing developmentally appropriate support, education, preparation and therapeutic play opportunities to decrease anxiety associated with being in the hospital for patients, siblings and loved ones.
How Child Life Specialists Help
Child Life Specialists do so much for kids and their families, including:
- Helping kids feel less scared about medical treatments
- Teaching children and parents what to expect in the hospital
- Using play, art, and music therapy to keep kids engaged
- Providing pet therapy to bring comfort and smiles
- Helping families cope with stress, grief, or tough times
- Creating fun activities in the playroom and at the bedside
As Logan Health Children’s Child Life Specialist and Supervisor, Amy Rohyans-Stewart, MS, CCLS, RWWP, CPST, dedicates each day to helping patients and families in these ways. We honor her this month for her important work.
Learn more about Child Life at Logan Health Children’s.
Child Life Specialist and Supervisor Amy Rohyans-Stewart helps a pediatric patient try on Halloween costumes.