Greenville Hospital System's Children's Hospital Child Life program addresses the emotional, social, educational and recreational needs of hospitalized children and adolescents. As recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Child LIfe programs utilize developmentally appropriate activities to minimize stress and anxiety and to foster positive feelings about health care.
The profession's tools of the trade include everything from lip balm-scented face masks and bubbles to explanations about an upcoming procedure that a child can understand. During “medical play,” a Child Life specialist might help a child give an IV to a puppet in order to show how the straw-like tube delivers medicine to the body. In an operating room, they might show a patient how changing his breathing can make the numbers and lines on the monitor beside him fluctuate.
"Child Life and Family Studies" is its own college discipline, and all specialists have either a bachelor's or a master's degree in the subject or related subject such as psychology, sociology or therapeutic recreation. Specialists must also take additional classes including medical terminology and anatomy and physiology, as well as complete a practicum and a clinical internship. They must also pass the certification exam, given by the Child Life Council, as well as be recertified every five years.