Learning that your child needs a level of medical care that requires a hospital stay can be one of the most stressful experiences that a parent can have. The good news is that kids are very resilient, and there is much that parents can do to make hospitalization less scary and more of a learning event that will help their child handle a hospital stay more easily. This is also a time when a hospital’s child life specialist (CLS) becomes your family’s best friend.

What is a Child Life Specialist?

Child life specialists are experts in helping to normalize the experience of receiving care in a hospital or clinic setting. When children are fearful or anxious, they often regress developmentally. It is not unusual to see changes in a child’s behavior before or during a hospitalization. For instance, kids may seem withdrawn, act out to get more attention, have outbursts, or revert to behaviors common to a younger age. They may talk less or refuse to eat.

Child life specialists continually assess where kids are in the moment, and help them adapt and adjust to the circumstances around them. For example, CLSs use a wide variety of toys to help children understand some of the common treatments they may encounter. Medical play enables CLSs to educate kids and help them know what to expect during hospitalization and is an invaluable tool in preparing children for medical encounters. Therapy dogs may also be used when appropriate. These canine companions have received special training and passed rigorous certification before they are allowed to interface with patients, who often find them a great comfort and welcome distraction.

How Parents Can Prepare Themselves

Parents may have their own anxieties about their child’s hospitalization. Asking for emotional support from friends, family or partners can help manage these feelings. It is essential for parents to gather information and understand why their child needs a procedure, how the procedure may feel and how long it will last. Discussing your questions with your child’s pediatrician will help you explain why your child needs a treatment and what he or she can expect to hear, feel and see. Be honest with your child about what may hurt and what will not, but try to avoid creating undue concern or anxiety.

Here are some additional tips that can help your child through a hospital stay.

  • Use simple language – When describing a medical procedure, try to use words that do not have double meanings or that sound threatening. Use the word “medicine” instead of “dye,” “bed on wheels” instead of “gurney,” and “numb” or “make sleepy” instead of “deaden.” Explain in simple terms why a procedure or treatment is necessary and the medical equipment with which they will be in contact.
  • Listen to your child’s concerns – Encourage your child to ask questions, cry and talk about his/her feelings. Make sure your child knows that the hospital, doctor’s office or clinic is not a punishment for something they did, which is a common misconception among young children.
  • Bring familiar items from home – Children will take great comfort in having their stuffed animal, favorite blanket, electronic game or another treasured memento by their side. Letting them choose what to bring provides a sense of control.
  • Encourage play and exploration – Help your child become acquainted with the hospital and understand the equipment that will be used during treatment or diagnosis. Children learn about their world and how to cope by playing. Play gives children control and a way to work out and understand their feelings. Medical play, such as expressing themselves through art activities, using toys to rehearse the steps of a medical procedure, etc. — before and after a procedure — are some meaningful ways to teach children about their health care needs and experiences.
  • Help your child manage pain – Coping strategies for pain can be used by very young children through teenagers. Distracting kids with songs, blowing bubbles or video games can help divert their attention away from pain and anxiety. Let them know they can ask for a numbing agent to help minimize discomfort during injections. Older kids can harness the effects of deep breathing to calm their nerves and cope with discomfort.
  • Let your child make choices – Allowing children to have a say during a treatment, such as deciding which finger gets poked or whether they sit on the exam table or a parent’s lap for an injection, can help lessen anxiety and gives them more control during uncomfortable procedures.

Parents play an essential role in preparing their children for hospitalization, as well as helping them adjust during their stay. Providing comfort by touching and holding your child is an important part of healing. If medical needs prevent you from holding or rocking your child, you can still stroke them or hold their hand. Remember that for kids, the most important part of the care team is you.

March is Child Life Month

At MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, we acknowledge March as Child Life Month. The Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program was developed to help make the hospital experience more positive for children of all ages. Our team knows children need more than medicine to get well. To learn more about the Child Life Program, call (562) 933-8060.

Rita Goshert is Director of the Child Life Department at Miller Children's & Women’s Hospital (MCWH), which includes Music Therapy, Hospital School and Artful Healing programs. In addition, Rita supervises the Family Resource, NICU Family Support, and Injury Prevention programs at MCWH. Child Life programs at Miller Children's & Women’s Hospital have received national awards and recognition for their innovation. They are designed to help children cope with the anxieties of illness and hospitalization, in addition to promoting recovery. Rita has over 35 years of experience in the field and holds a Master’s Degree in Child Development and Family Studies. While not busy dedicating her time and expertise to Miller Children's & Women’s Hospital, Rita is an instructor at California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Long Beach for the child development bachelor’s degree program. Throughout the years, Rita has presented at dozens of local and national conferences on topics related to the hospitalized child and patient and family-centered care. She has been with MCWH since 1987.