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Specialty Care
Child Life Program
Supporting children through medical experiences by offering comfort, education and emotional support.
What Does a Child Life Specialist Do?
During a child’s hospital stay, a child life specialist helps children and families cope with healthcare experiences by offering emotional support, education and play-based interventions. Support may include:
- Preparing children for medical procedures using age-appropriate language (e.g., IVs, stitches, flu swabs, etc.).
- Creating coping plans for procedures, testing or hospital-related anxiety.
- Providing play opportunities for patients and siblings before or during care.
- Supporting sensory needs and normalization for children, including those children with autism.
- Celebrating milestones and holidays to bring comfort and joy to the hospital experience.
Child Life support can be requested by parents, caregivers or a member of the care team when a child may benefit from additional preparation, coping support or play during medical care.
How the Child Life Program Helps
Activities & Play
Children have access to age-appropriate toys, art supplies, books, games, sensory items and fidgets to promote comfort, coping and normalcy.
Medical Play
Through guided play and hands-on activities, children can learn about medical procedures in a safe and supportive way, helping reduce fear and anxiety.
Family Support
Parents and caregivers receive guidance and resources to help support their child before, during and after medical care.
Specialized Support
The program offers individualized strategies and sensory-friendly tools for children with sensory or developmental needs.
Meet Your Child Life Specialist
She joined ChristianaCare to help establish the Child Life Program, bringing expertise from leading children’s hospitals, including nine years in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Shannon has also worked in radiology, pulmonology and outpatient clinic settings. She is passionate about helping children feel safe, informed and supported during medical experiences.
Certification & Professional Standards
ChristianaCare’s Child Life Program is led by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) – the only nationally recognized certification in the child life field. This certification is awarded by the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC) and reflects advanced training in child development, family-centered care and coping support for children in healthcare settings.
Certified Child Life Specialists meet rigorous education and clinical requirements, complete a supervised clinical internship and pass a national certification exam. To maintain certification, specialists must meet ongoing professional development standards, ensuring care is guided by current, evidence-based practices.
ChristianaCare’s Child Life Program aligns with professional standards established by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), the leading organization advancing emotional safety and psychosocial care for children and families in healthcare environments.
Support & Contact Child Life
If you’re interested in Child Life support for a patient, please speak with your care team or provider about requesting Child Life services. You can also contact our Child Life Program directly by emailing childlifeprogram@christianacare.org.
To support the Child Life Program through a donation, click here.