Education of Child Life Providers in Family Health

Child life specialists are specially trained, college-educated professionals who care for the psychosocial needs of children and families in health care settings and related child/family psychosocial service environments. Research has demonstrated that children understand and cope with the stressors of events such as illness, hospitalization, bereavement, and trauma differently than do adults. Child life specialists are trained to encourage children's healthy coping and help them understand their experiences by utilizing play, expressive activities, education, and psychological preparation for stressful experiences. With the support of child life specialists, children and their families can learn to effectively cope with the emotionally challenging events that can threaten the normal development of children. This entry examines the education of child life providers with the intent of helping students and ...