Child Life Services

Abstract

Child life programs are an important component of pediatric hospital–based care to address the psychosocial concerns that accompany hospitalization and other health care experiences. Child life specialists focus on the optimal development and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults while promoting coping skills and minimizing the adverse effects of hospitalization, health care, and/or other potentially stressful experiences. Using therapeutic play, expressive modalities, and psychological preparation as primary tools, in collaboration with the entire health care team and family, child life interventions facilitate coping and adjustment at times and under circumstances that might otherwise prove overwhelming for the child. Play and developmentally appropriate communication are used to: (1) promote optimal development; (2) educate children and families about health conditions; (3) prepare children and families for medical events or procedures; (4) plan and rehearse useful coping and pain management strategies; (5) help children work through feelings about past or impending experiences; and (6) establish therapeutic relationships with patients, siblings, and parents to support family involvement in each child’s care.

Retinoblastoma

“…Quality of life begins in infancy, assisted by Child Life 181 and respect for the child’s need to play. Patient-oriented research will develop and validate life-long survivor follow-up care protocols, including centralized specialist eye care, genetic testing, second cancer screening, ongoing psychological support and fertility care.…”

“…115,178–180 Child Life interventions at any age and with any treatment help children cope and even thrive during treatment, reduce treatment costs, ease family stress and improve long-term mental health (Figure 11). 5,75,181–184 …”

“…Child Life 181 helps children and their families cope with challenging healthcare issues, hospitalization and therapeutic interventions. This child plays doctor and nurse, wearing gloves and stethoscopes to examine Puppet Kevin who had one eye removed for retinoblastoma.…”

Strategies parents use to give children oral medicine: a qualitative study of online discussion forums

“…We therefore encourage parents and health professionals to involve children and use play actively when administrating medicines. Play is considered the language of children, and is used to help children of all ages cope with medical situations [27]. By providing a shared focus for the child, parent and health professional, play can shift the attention away from the discomfort of medical treatment and create a potential for positive caregiver–child interaction [28].…”

A criança autista em sessão de brinquedo terapêutico dramático: uma análise winnicottiana

“…Para que o brincar efetive-se nesse ambiente, são realizadas adaptações que atendam às necessidades do nível de desenvolvimento individual, o interesse de cada criança, suas condições de saúde, vulnerabilidades psicossociais e habilidades físicas, além de adaptar o cenário em que a brincadeira acontece, como à beira do leito, no ambulatório ou brinquedoteca. (3) Ressalta-se que o brincar cumpre diversas funções na assistência à criança hospitalizada, como a recreacional, de lhe suprir segurança quando sob estresse, de proporcionar relaxamento e envolvimento dos familiares na brincadeira. (4) Outra utilidade do brincar é na função terapêutica por meio do Brinquedo Terapêutico (BT), conceituado na literatura científica, desde a década de 1980, como um brinquedo estruturado para a criança aliviar a ansiedade gerada por experiências atípicas de sua idade, que costumam ser ameaçadoras e requerem mais do que recreação para resolver a ansiedade associada, devendo ser usado sempre que ela tiver dificuldade em compreender e lidar com a experiência.…”