Child Life Week: Making Medical Experiences More Magical

By Amy Sandlin, CCLS

Let's celebrate with our Child Life team as they mark their 45-year anniversary at Cook Children’s. Our dynamic Child Life team can be seen throughout our medical centers in Fort Worth and Prosper, outpatient areas, Emergency Department, and Urgent Care Centers.

“As a Child Life Specialist, I never take for granted the privilege it is to be able to come alongside and support patients and families in some of their most difficult and vulnerable moments," saysTori Thompson, CCLS.  "Through the power of play, preparation, emotional support and more, we work to empower our patients and families to help them feel well equipped to handle the difficulties hospitalization may bring their way.”

The Association of Child Life Professionals says that Certified Child Life Specialists play a critical role in helping children and their families cope with stressful experiences to minimize the effects of stress, anxiety and trauma. Specialists provide preparation, education, distraction, play, and coping tools to promote and protect emotional safety in times of duress.

What Does Child Life Do at Cook Children's?

At Cook Children’s, the Child Life department has 84 employees. Here are some of the services Child Life offers to our patient families:

• Activities and toys for patients and families to engage in while they are in the medical setting.
• Developmentally appropriate teaching about diagnosis, treatments and life changes.
• Opportunities to desensitize and explore real medical equipment through play.
• Preparation for medical exams, procedures and surgeries.
• Assistance with coping strategies, distraction and/or support during stressful events.
• Support to siblings and other family members visiting a patient.
• Celebration of birthdays, milestones, holidays, and essential life experiences.
• A visit to a child's school after a life-altering injury or chronic illness to help classmates understand and make it easier for the patient when returning to classes.
• Developmental assessments and referrals to community resources.
• End-of-life support to patients and families as well as bereavement support for family members.

Who Is Part of Our Child Life Team?

Child Life specialists and activity coordinators are assigned to specific units and collaborate with other members of the child life team. Let us introduce you to them:

• Activity Coordinators provide and facilitate play opportunities for patients.
•  Sit…Stay…Play is our Facility Dog program and we currently have six dogs. Our dogs provide many services including distraction, unconditional love, motivation, social interaction, and emotional support.
• The Child Life Zone is a treatment-free area where we offer games, events, a library, a recording studio, a broadcasting studio, and so much more. 
• Our Creative Arts Program is made up of music therapists, a resident artist, and a drama therapist who provide opportunities for supporting a patient’s autonomy and allowing emotional expression[JB1]  through a variety of artistic media.
• Laughter League is the team of therapeutic medical clowns that provide humor and laughter to help our patients in their healing.
• Our school program includes Fort Worth school district teachers who partner with Cook Children’s to provide school services to hospitalized patients.

How Can I Celebrate and Learn More?

As we celebrate Child Life Week at Cook Children’s, here are some opportunities for staff across the Medical Center-Fort Worth to meet the Child Life team and learn about what they do every day for our patient families:

Visit the Child Life Zone: come experience the Child Life Zone for yourself at a Play & Learn event. This is your chance to play air hockey, explore the library, and learn more about the Child Life department. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 18

Facility Dog Visit: come meet and greet one of the Sit…Stay…Play! Facility Dogs and a Child Life Specialist Handler at the time clock in the basement by the South Tower staff elevators. 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19

Facility Dog Visit: Meet and greet one of the Sit…Stay…Play! Facility Dogs and a Child Life Specialist Handler at the time clock in the basement by the South Tower staff elevators. 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21

Learn more about the Child Life Zone on the Cook Children’s website here: Child Life Zone (cookchildrens.org)

We appreciate our Child Life team and look forward to learning and celebrating with them throughout the week of March 18-22.