{Child Life}

During my last semester of my undergrad, I decided to write a research argument paper about the fact that, in certain contexts, technology can actually be a huge benefit to children. Here is what I wrote for a writing class.

Currently, the media loves to inundate us with all the multiple negative effects that technology has on children. Video games are bad because they lead to decreased academic performance in school and obesity because children are spending so much time being inactive. But little has been said about the positive effects technology has on our children. Imagine a child in the hospital; frightened because they are in an unfamiliar place, anxious because they are separated from their parents, wondering what is going to happen to them next and how much pain it is going to cause them. What if technology could actually benefit these children in immediate and long term ways? Shouldn’t it be taken advantage of in these situations? Children deserve to be taken care of emotionally when they are also battling physical illnesses. If using video games achieves this, then there can be an argument that there can be positive benefits associated with technology and children when used in the right context. When implemented in certain situations with children, the advantages of technology such as computer games, can ultimately help a child cope with the hospital environment in a much more positive manner.

When children are in the hospital environment they face many different issues depending on their developmental level. These different challenges also depend on the severity of their illness and length of stay in the hospital. Child Life Specialists are members of the medical team that are extensively educated in child development and the various reactions that children often have when faced with the unknown of being hospitalized. It is their job to decrease the stress of the child and of the family involved. Infants face sensory deprivation while in the hospital and they lack a stable routine with a primary caregiver. These are all things they are provided with in abundance at home. Toddlers and preschool age children face many scary misconceptions with the health care field because of their tendencies towards magical thinking. Children this age tend to view hospitalization and tests as punishment because of their egocentric thinking. School age children are at a developmental stage when they need a lot of control over their lives and the health care setting doesn’t contribute to that. (Gaynard, 1990.) Adolescents are forming their identity and trying to detach themselves from their parents in order to gain independence. Battling illness complicates this process because they have to turn back to being dependant on their nurses and parents for help with medications and many other things. This age group also identifies and attaches to their peer group and hospitalization severely puts a strain on these relationships. (Gaynard, 1990.)

Using technology to assist these children and adolescents with coping skills and educating them about procedures and surgeries is a positive and effective form of intervention. It is not one that should be cast aside because of misconceptions that all video games and associated technology can only lead to harmful effects. Most of the time, Child Life Specialists utilize methods such as cloth “hospital dolls”, drawings and games, as a way to prepare children for an upcoming test, procedure or surgery. However, it has been noted that the most favored mode of learning for children in this day and age is being aided by a computer. Combining this with known issues in the hospital, it is correct to assume that creating video or computer games for the purpose of educating children about their upcoming surgery would be a wise and effective means of preparation for them. When children know what to expect of a procedure, they are better able to cope. (Thompson, 1981.)

A recent study was done using a computer game to prepare children for either a adenoidectomy or a tonsillectomy. These two events are very common and so they were chosen to test the effectiveness of using computer games in this specific study. Because of the fact that these two surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis for the most part, there isn’t much time allotted to prepare the child. Through the means of computer based communication, kids are prepared thoroughly and efficiently in a short amount of time. In this study, the teenagers prepared with the software before their surgery showed much higher levels of contentment and comprehension compared to information presented in more conventional ways. (Rassin, 2004.)

Others studies that illustrate the positive and rewarding aspects of computer programs for children facing illness or surgery include, a video game that teaches children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a ruthless form of muscular dystrophy that most often ends in death by the age of twenty years old) how to strengthen their respiratory muscles. The results of this study showcased the impressive outcome that the game actually heightened the respiratory acts for these children. (Rassin, 2004.)

People seem so preoccupied with the negative effects of excessive exposure to computer and video games, that they don’t even want to consider a positive side. It needs to be addressed that the negative outcomes associated with an overload of playing computer games is only when the games are being played a ridiculous amount and with no, or very limited adult supervision.

In addition to video games that prepare children for surgery, things such as video diaries and video essays have been proven useful in helping children cope with injury and illness. For example, it is therapeutic for an adolescent to be able to document their time and battles in the hospital and then be able to show it to their friends at school as a way for them to see firsthand what their classmate has been dealing with.

In conclusion, we should not only focus on the negative aspects of video and computer games when healthy children are exposed to them in high amounts. Positive facets need to be considered when the ill and hospitalized children need quick and effective modes of learning about a phenomenon that is entirely new to them, such as a surgery they have never heard of before. Research clearly shows that when used in the correct ways and in a guided and controlled environment, the positive consequences of computer and video games far outweigh the negative effects. Careful consideration needs to be taken though to make sure the child is understanding the information that is being given to them and that they don’t have any misunderstandings. Computerized preparation games are also a great way to bring to light any misconceptions that they child may have about their surgery. This way, the child life specialist can address these issues before the actual surgery and potentially avoid a lot of unneeded stress for the child and even the parents.

Works Cited
Thompson, R. & Stanford, G. Child Life in Hospitals - Theory and Practice. Springfield,
Illinois: Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1981.
Rassin M, Gutman Y, Silner D. Developing a computer game to prepare children for surgery. AORN J. 2004 Dec;80(6):1095-6, 1099-102.
Gaynard, Wolfer, Goldberger, Thompson, Redburn, & Laidley. Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals. Washington, D.C.: Association for the Care of Children’s Health, 1990.

As a Child Life Specialist or Child Life Assistant, it can be difficult to find quality materials for scrapbooking activities that don’t break the bank, but that are also safe for the children. Here are some great sites for Child Life Specialists who are looking to order scrapbook supplies;

Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Company - All of their stickers are made in the U.S. and not China, so they are safe! They also offer a discount to teachers as well as Child Life Specialists.

Close To My Heart - They will ship directly to you.

Also, I’ve been meaning to talk about this for awhile, but haven’t had the chance yet. The world’s first Child Life Podcast! You can also find it by doing a search for Child Life Julz on Itunes.

Emspiration has the cutest Child Life gear. They have shirts, totes, keychains, buttons, stickers, mousepads, magnets, mugs, notecards, posters, and stamps. I love all the different designs; the teddy bear one is so adorable! I actually ordered some of the colorful cartoon Child Life Specialists stamps and used them on all of my graduation Thank You’s I sent out. They were a big hit with friends and family. The bags and shirts are a great way to spread the word about Child Life when you are out and about, perhaps in an environment where your career wouldn’t ordinarily come into the conversation.

Cook Children’s in Forth Worth, Texas, offers a Child Life Internship three times a year, consisting of five hundred plus hours. (Atleast 480 hours are required to sit for the Child Life certification exam.) Cook Children’s likes you to have a hundred hours or more of volunteer work in a pediatric setting within a Child Life Program. However, they will consider you if you don’t meet this critera but have a strong background in Child Development or Child Psychology. They accept independent interns. For an internship starting in January of next year, applications will be due September 5th. In addition to the application, Cook Children’s requires you to send the most recent academic transcript you have, a miminum of two recommendation letters, as well as a minimum of four goals you hope to accomplish during your internship, and a five hundred word essay describing personal philosophy of child life, including information about how you became interested in the field. The application for Cook Children’s can be found here.

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare offers a Child Life Internship in their Pediatric department. Evanston Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois. They take two students full time a semester and may be able to take some part time. An interesting thing about this Child Life Program is that it was started in 1977, which is quite early to be accepted as a crucial part of a Pediatric Program. The requirements and contact information can be found here.

Another internship opportunity in Illinois is at Rush University Medical Center Rush Children’s Hospital located in Chicago. The deadline for an internship starting in January is September 5th. The application can be found here.

Many people look for helpful, yet easy medical terminology texts as they begin their study of Child Life. Personally, I think a vast majority of learning medical terms will be based on actually being in the hospital environment, but I think it is also helpful to absorb as much as you can before your actual internship. Some suggested titles I have heard of include: Medical Terminology by Genevieve Love Smith, Phyllis E. Davis, and Jean Tannis Dennerllis, Barbara Janson Cohen’s Medical Terminology-An illustrated Guide, The Language of Medicine, 8th edition, by Davi-Ellen Chabner, and Terminology for the Allied Health Professionals 5th edition by Carolee Sormunen. I have found in my experiences that I learn the best when the roots, prefixes and suffixes are explained separately, and then it’s easier to understand the medical term when you put it all together.

I’m not sure of how many college Child Life Programs require you to take a medical terminology class for the major, but mine didn’t. However, I took a medical terminology class even before I decided to go into a career in Child Life. I’m really glad I did. So, even if it’s not required by your college, I think it is a wise thing to do.

A great Child Life resouce is The Expressive Arts Activity Book. I ordered this last month after someone on the Child Life Council forum recommended it. I was surprised at how diverse the activities are. They can easily be adapted for use in a hospial setting, and most of them have enough flexibility that they can either be done at a patient’s bedside, or in a group in the hospital playroom. I can see children who aren’t in the hospital enjoying all of these fun ideas as well. It’s a wonderful tool to have for anyone working with children. The book has a easy to use index with activities sorted into categories such as, activities for groups, activities for individuals, activities that can be done at a patient’s bedside, and more.

Miami Children’s Hospital offers a Child Life Internship. The complete information can be found here. The application can be downloaded here. The deadline for an internship starting in January is September 1st. They recommend that you have read The Emotional Care of Hospitalized Children, Child Life in Hospitals, and Specified chapters from the Guidelines For The Development of Child Life Programs and the Official Documents Of the Child Life Council, before beginning your internship. I do not think they take independent interns, but I am not 100% sure.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta also offers a Child Life internship. The information for their program can be found here. In order to apply, you must have volunteer and/or paid experience working with children and families undergoing high amounts of stress. Although they prefer you to have had hospital experience. You also must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

I was recently made aware of a wonderful association called Splashes of Hope. They provide beautiful and creative wall paintings to various medical locations. This group is a non-profit and relies heavily on volunteers, including the brilliant artists who donate their talents. Reading the feedback is so great; they have placed all comments in categories such as patient/staff, corporate, and volunteer. There are even a few reactions from Child Life Specialists and how important the environment is to helping the child feel at ease in the midst of scary and unknown healthcare situations. The history behind this foundation is truly special and inspiring. Even though it is not exactly the same as Child Life, I have always been interested in the world of Art Therapy because I feel like it is such a powerful facet of healing that not many tend to focus on very much.

Finding appropriate books to help kids understand cancer can be a challenge for parents, family, friends, as well as child life specialists. I’ve learned about two great ones that come highly recommended from fellow CCLS. The first is called H is for Hair Fairy and is available from amazon. The second one is available from amazon as well. It is called Kathy’s Hat’s and is suggested for kids from 4 to 8.

Also, here is an intriguing article about a numbing and cooling spray when used with children having to endure I.V. starts. Nurses and child life specialists were included and involved in this study. I know there were many times in my childhood that I could have benefited greatly from the use of something like that! I.V.’s were always extremely stressful for me and most of the time I passed out. It is refreshing to see stuff like this being used now. It helps so much with easing the stress for the parents and the child as well, especially in the emergency room.