@article{ref1,
title="Child life services",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="2020",
author="Romito, Barbara and Jewell, Jennifer and Jackson, Meredith",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Child life programs are an important component of pediatric hospital-based care; they address the psychosocial concerns that accompany hospitalization and other  health care experiences. Child life specialists focus on the optimal development and  well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults while promoting  coping skills and minimizing the adverse effects of hospitalization, health care  encounters, and/or other potentially stressful experiences. In collaboration with  the entire health care team and family, child life specialists provide interventions  that include therapeutic play, expressive modalities, and psychological preparation  to facilitate coping and normalization at times and under circumstances that might  otherwise prove overwhelming for the child. Play and developmentally appropriate  communication are used to (1) promote optimal development, (2) educate children and  families about health conditions, (3) prepare children and partner with families for  medical events or procedures, (4) plan and rehearse useful coping and  pain-management strategies with patients and families, (5) help children work  through feelings about past or impending experiences, and (6) partner with families  to establish therapeutic relationships between patients, siblings, and caregivers. Child life specialists collaborate with the entire interdisciplinary team to promote  coping and enhance the overall health care experience for patients and families.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="10.1542/peds.2020-040261",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-040261"
}