Child Life

Play has many benefits. It creates a safe place for peer interaction, fun, creativity, healing, coping, mastery, self-expression, achievement, and learning. Play is vital to a child’s growth and development. In group play, child life specialists lead fun activities where your child or teen can socialize and express themselves. We guide your child through the play areas and teen rooms at St. Jude. Our activities can help your child adjust to the hospital. 

Our team can comfort and support children and teens who are going through a big change. We also help those who are upset about these changes. We work with your child to develop positive coping skills and regain a feeling of control.

Child life specialists can explain illnesses, treatments, and the body. We use words and activities that fit the age of your child or teen. Learn more about talking to your child about their diagnosis. 

Child life specialists help your child or teen get ready for new or scary things like tests, procedures, or surgeries. We explain what they will feel, see, hear, taste, and smell during these events. We also teach them ways to handle and cope with what will happen. 

Child life specialists provide support at the bedside during procedures. We can distract your child or teen or engage with them to help them cope with what is happening.

Our team offers tours of the surgical area to help your child or teen prepare for surgery. This helps your child know what to expect and gives them a chance to talk about any fears or concerns.  

Our team can help your child or teen prepare for imaging and treatment. We can give them a chance to practice lying still for scans and for radiation. Your child or teen can listen to the noises and see the machines that will be used. We can support them to go through these procedures while awake. Learn more about going through imaging scans without anesthesia. 

Expressive play uses toys, art, and role playing to work through your child’s feelings and fears. Medical play uses dolls and medical equipment to help children and teens understand the procedures they may go through at the hospital. A child life specialist offers chances for expressive and medical play.  Learn more about medical play.

We teach kids or teens how to swallow pills and make medicine routines. We share ways to cope with taking medicines. Learn more about helping your child take medicine.  

Child Life serves as a resource for caregivers on:

• How children and teens grow and develop
• The special needs of children and teens who are in the hospital
• Play, activities, and toys that fit a child’s age

Child Life supports caregivers with siblings’ responses to their brother or sister being ill and in the hospital. We help siblings cope with their feelings about these changes. Learn more about support for siblings.

Child life specialists plan celebrations for holidays, special events, birthdays, and end of treatment. We give your child or teen a chance to make memories and keep track of their time at the hospital.

A child life specialist can offer support to children and teens grieving a loss. We teach them ways to express their feelings and to make memories. Learn more about handling grief.  

Our team helps with your child or teen’s transition back to school. We work with their school and teach their classmates and teachers about diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about school and peer support services.