Business Development Manager | MBA | MPA | Certified Child Life Specialist
It's been a long time since I've provided child life services. There are a lot of jobs you work. When someone asks what you do for a living, it's normal to respond with the job title or even a job description for some obscure or esoteric roles. However, when you ask a Certified Child Life Specialist what they do for a living they'll start with "I AM A....". Because it's not what you do but who you are. It's a calling. It's a lifestyle. It's everything you think it is and so much more. We all rehearse the elevator speech. So in honor of Child Life Month, here is mine. Child Life Specialists help to reduce the stress and anxiety children and families might experience in a medical setting by providing medical preparation, procedure support, and developmentally appropriate play. These conversations usually carry on beyond the elevator because there's so much more to unpack in that statement. My succinct response was: I seek to inform. An informed patient is provided their due autonomy and is able to participate in their healthcare journey. I always clear up that my job is not to make kids happy...that's just a natural consequence of validating a child's experience. Take a look at some of my former colleagues in their element! Happy #childlife month!
During stressful times Driscoll's Child Life Department is there to provide great explanations to help a child feel at ease. Watch how Driscoll’s Child Life Department makes smiles their mission. 😊
