Child Life Services 
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child life servicesThe Child Life Department provides appropriate psychosocial, emotional, and developmental support to pediatric patients and their families during hospitalization in the Janet Weis Children's Hospital.

Specifically, the Child Life Department:

  • Provides a therapeutic and safe environment for play
  • Assists patients in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness and/or loss
  • Participates in patient/family teaching
  • Functions as a health care team member
  • Communicates the psychosocial, emotional, and developmental issues of pediatric health care to others
    Play with medical equipment designed to educate staff about patients' understanding or misconceptions while offering patients an opportunity to act out their feelings, concerns and understanding of their experience.

Medical play

Play with medical equipment designed to educate staff about patients' understanding or misconceptions while offering patients an opportunity to act out their feelings, concerns and understanding of their experience.

Preparation

Explaining the process or the steps involved in a particular event or procedure while helping the patient to understand his/her role during the procedure, as well as teaching various techniques for coping during and following a procedure.

Patient support

Offer support to the patient before, during, and following a painful or threatening procedure, as well as address behavioral issues associated with adjustment to illness, treatment and/or the health care environment.

Family support

Offer supportive intervention to strengthen the child/family bond, educate regarding developmental information, and educate about the effects of hospitalization on children and families.

Staff Hours

There is at least one Certified Child Life Specialist on staff Monday - Friday, 6:30 am - 8 pm, and Saturdays 9 am - 2 pm.

Going on a Gurney Journey

Click to watch a short presenation of a child's-eye view of being hospitalized: Going on a Gurney Journey.

Computer access

Computers are available with internet access in each of the playrooms.  A minimal number of Laptops are available for patient room use.  The criteria for laptop use is as follows; the patient must be medically unable to leave the patient room due to bedrest or isolation, a laptop must be available, the patient and parent(s) must be willing to sign a computer agreement and abide by hospital computer policies.

Playroom rules

All three playrooms in the Janet Weis Children's Hospital are available 24 hours per day. One playroom is reserved for certain patients based on the healthcare needs. Each patient room has a TV, VCR, DVD player and Play Station 2. Toys, DVDs and PS2 games are provided and can be borrowed for use in any patient room. Arts and crafts, games and many other activities are available through the child life staff.

Visitor guidelines

Help make hospitalization a positive experience for our patients. A puppet show, musical performance, craft activity, party, or visit from a celebrity or cartoon character means a lot to a hospitalized child. Your visit will be of greatest benefit to the children if the following requirements are followed: Visitor Guidelines.

tender paws

pet therapy dog posterVisit our animal assisted therapy/visitation program: Tender Paws. Download our Tender Paws poster (.pdf right)

Staff

The Child Life office is located on the second floor of the Janet Weis Children's Hospital. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Please contact us with comments or questions at (570) 271-8957.