Their overarching goal is to ease discomfort and promote coping during hospital visits. The growing child cannot afford to interrupt his cycle of living and growth; the hospital has to take on tasks beyond its primary healing function. Our team consists of 12 Certified Child Life Specialists. One team member is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and all are required to continually advance in their practice through participation in professional development.
Child Life Specialists are advocates for improved hospital environments and currently serve the following inpatient and outpatient settings:. If your child is scheduled for a hospital visit and you would like to inquire about Child Life Services, please call: ext. Since the Child Life department adopted and introduced the Bravery Hearts Program in , children and adolescents have been proudly wearing the necklaces demonstrating their courageous journey in their fight against cancer.
The program has a multitude of benefits for children of all ages, infants through adolescents. The colourful necklaces that bear their names provide children with an on-going opportunity to share their stories of courage. The Child Life cooking program is designed to facilitate the continuation of normal living patterns and to promote heightened self-esteem. This activity can be used as a tool for the reduction of hospitalization stress.
This activity encourages social connections and interactions, and is open to all. We encourage children and their families to celebrate holidays, seasonal parties and special days. Upon referral, a Child Life specialist certified in infant massage instruction can meet with a parent and their baby to teach infant massage. This approach promotes the use of positive touch and encourages bonding between parent and child.
The goal is to create a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy a cup of coffee and freshly-baked cookies. Some families take the opportunity to share and exchange stories and encourage one another, while others may benefit from having a little time to themselves. As Child life specialists we are strong proponents of allowing children to have the time and space to play as a means to express themselves, develop and have positive experiences in the hospital.
