Child Life Centers
A child's needs in the hospital are similar to those at home-a need to feel secure, comforted, and accepted and to be able to engage in age-appropriate activities. These needs are often magnified by the stress of illness and hospitalization. Recognizing that being hospitalized can be frightening to children, the Hospital's Child Life Programs create an environment designed to ease children's fears and provide the important emotional and social care to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for both the child and the family.
The Child Life staff consists of professionals trained in child development and special education who apply their expertise to help children understand their unfamiliar situation. Through their knowledge of child growth and development issues and children's reactions to the stresses of illness and medical procedures, child life specialists offer opportunities for patients and their families to gain mastery over difficult experiences. They provide developmentally appropriate information to children and adolescents about their diagnosis and treatments, helping to clarify misconceptions and fears while maintaining a child's self-esteem. Using age-related activities, they prepare patients for procedures and foster their recuperation from the physical and emotional effects of illness. These activities take place either at the bedside or in playrooms filled with toys, video games and computers, which provide a respite from the medical setting.
Some activities are just to make kids smile and, if even only for a short time, take their minds off the fact that they are hospitalized. Maybe it's playing a video game in a Child Life playroom or enjoying a bedside game and some conversation with an understanding Child Life specialist trained to help these young patients cope. Maybe it's the eager visit of a cuddly dog from a pet-assisted therapy program or the whimsical antics of a clown from the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. But whatever it takes to cheer up our patients, we know the importance of play and laughter for the well being of a child.
Some children who spend time at Hospital can participate in a special School Program offered by the New York City Board of Education for patients in grades K through 12. This program allows the children to keep up their schoolwork.
Child Life playrooms are located in Tower 4, 5, and 6. They are staffed by Child Life Specialists and it offers age-appropriate activities for each child. Child Life Specialists also offer support to parents, who are encouraged to use the Child Life Center during its regularly scheduled hours. Family waiting rooms on each patient floor are available for family-centered activities.
Child Life offers staffed sessions seven days a week. Individual sessions are scheduled as needed. Playrooms generally close at 8 pm, but are accessible 24 hours a day upon request.
For more information, call (212) 342-8579.