Child Life Program
Making the Hospital a Less Scary Place
We all know how stressful being sick and in a hospital can be, but sometimes adults don’t realize that children deal with those same emotions.
Child Life Specialists at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital are there to help children and their families cope with the stress and anxiety that comes with being hospitalized.
Child Life Specialists are specially trained to provide emotional support for families because they understand that a child’s well-being is dependent on the support of their family. They help promote coping through play, age-appropriate preparation, and education as well as self-expression activities.
Child Life Specialists help the hospital become a not-so-scary place by:
- Reducing fear and anxiety during hospital visits with play and peer interaction
- Guiding play with dolls, child-friendly photos and medical equipment to help children better understand their treatment
- Preparing, distracting, supporting and accompanying children to procedures and surgeries
- Offering comfort and support for caregivers and siblings in difficult and challenging situations
- Providing crucial education to help children and families navigate new diagnoses of acute, chronic or life-limiting illnesses in an easy-to-follow manner
Normalizing hospital stays by celebrating birthdays, holidays and developmental milestones
How Humor Helps Kids in Medical Situations
Preparing Your Child for a Hospital Stay
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For all ages
When you're getting ready for a hospital stay, it's as important for you to prepare yourself as a parent as it is for you to talk to your child. First, ask your child's doctor or nurse about any questions or concerns you may have so you'll feel comfortable preparing your child. Kids can sense your emotions, and if they feel you're worried, they might become anxious or worried, too.
Be honest. Use language your child can understand and explain the reason for the hospital visit. Choose your words wisely, you may say: bed on wheels instead of stretcher, sleepy air instead of anesthesia, or make a small opening rather than cut open, etc. Remind your child that they did not cause their illness/injury, and this is not a punishment. Reinforce to your child that he/she has not done anything to cause the illness or injury.
Encourage your child to ask questions, answer them honestly and if you are not sure of the answer, tell your child you do not know but you will find out.
Remember to give your child appropriate choices, i.e. what to wear to the hospital, which stuffed animal, blanket, favorite toy or activity to bring.
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Toddlers, ages 1-2
Talk with your toddler one day before surgery, using simple language let them know surgery is going to make something better or fix something.
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Preschoolers, ages 3-5
Talk with preschoolers two to three days before surgery so they have time to ask questions. Focus on the senses, what will your child see, hear, feel, smell and taste before and after surgery. Discuss what is going to be “fixed” and that he/she will go to sleep with special sleepy air so he won't feel anything.
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School age children, ages 6-11
Begin talking to school age children several days or a week or two before. Help your child understand what is going to be fixed and why; assure them that they will be asleep so they won't feel anything during the surgery. Encourage them to ask questions and voice any worries or concerns.
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Adolescents, ages 12+
Talk to your teen when the surgery is scheduled and discuss why the surgery is needed and what is going to happen. Allow teens to be active participants in their care allowing them to maintain a sense of independence. There are many children's books available at your local library about coming to the hospital that you and your child may read together to help prepare for the experience.
Child Life Internships at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital
A Child Life Internship offers specialized fieldwork experience with children and their families under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. This experience is designed to facilitate the student’s growth as a professional through participation as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team. The internship consists of a 40-hour work week for 15 weeks, for a total of 600 hours. Internships are offered each fall, spring, and summer.
Our internship program does not require the student to be enrolled in a university during the internship experience. If the student is completing the internship experience for school credit, an affiliation agreement must be made between the student’s university and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.Applications must be received per the deadlines set by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
There will be no Spring 2024 Child Life internships.
This program is only available at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital.
Child Life Practicum Program at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital
A Child Life Practicum provides students who are majoring in Child Life, Family Studies, Child Development or a related field the opportunity to work with hospitalized children under the supervision of a certified Child Life Specialist. Practicum students will have the opportunity to observe the Child Life Specialist facilitate pre-procedural preparation, procedural support and distraction, and medical/therapeutic play. Practicum students will also have the opportunity to participate in playroom programming and provide bedside play.
Practicum Goals/Objectives:
- Become familiar with the Child Life profession and Child Life services offered on a general pediatric unit.
- Recognize and understand children’s and adolescent’s reactions to stress, illness, and hospitalization, based on developmental theories.
- Develop communication skills with children and families in the healthcare setting.
- Gain knowledge of Medical Terminology, diagnoses, and procedures.
- Recognize the value of play and psychosocially supportive interventions.
- Learn and practice intervention techniques with hospitalized children.
Plan and facilitate playroom activities and bedside activities.
This program is only available at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital.
Please note that Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital Child Life Program is not accepting interns or practicum students at this time.
Acadiana's Only Child Life Program
Through play, learning and communication, Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital Child Life Specialists help kids understand and process the complex feelings that can occur in a hospital.