November’s Career of the Month
Child Life Specialist
Would you like to work in a hospital setting without having to perform medical procedures? Do you love children and love to play? Then a career in Child Life Therapy just might be the career for you!
A Child Life Specialist works with children primarily in an in-patient pediatric setting to promote effective coping though play, education and self-expression activities. Child Life Specialists also provide emotional support for parents, siblings, and other family members. They act as a liaison between healthcare professionals and pediatric patients, playing a vital role in providing education and resources about the needs of children under stress.
Child Life Specialists work as part of an interdisciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses, social workers, and other hospital personnel. Some examples of typical duties are:
• To ease a child’s fear and anxiety through therapeutic and recreational play activities
• To conduct pre-admission hospital tours for children and their families and answer questions about the child’s upcoming hospitalization
• To support families confronting grief and bereavement issues
• To engage and energize children in the hospital by providing special activities and events
Education required:
Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Psychology or a related field, that includes courses in child life and other relevant counseling and psychology classes.
Certified Child Life Specialists must complete a minimum of 480 hours of child life clinical experience under the direct supervision of a certified Child Life Specialist.
Salary:
The median salary of a Child Life Therapist is $43,000 but actual salaries will vary depending on the geographic location of the job.