Soft Language

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I love the field of Child Life and enjoy having this blog to network, learn, and share information with other people who are already in the field, or interested in pursuing a career in it. I post anything and everything from internships, to tips for parents, and Child Life in the news. I graduated from the University of Utah last year with my BS in Human Development and Family Studies with a Child Life Emphasis. I am currently planning on applying for the Child Life Internship at Primary Children's Medical Center in the fall. For readers who are new to the field, Child Life Specialists help to make the hospital experience a less scary one for children and the entire family. They aim to do this by providing step by step procedural preparations including informing the child (in an age appropriate detail) about what they will hear, smell, touch, taste, and see during a test or surgery. Child Life Specialists also provide developmentally appropriate play, distraction during tests, emotional support to the patient as well as the entire family, sibling education and support, and bereavement support if necessary. If you have any questions, comments, or information you would like to see here, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact me at sweetblueair[at]gmail.com

Jul 01 2008

Published by wordsforeverything at 10:44 pm under Uncategorized Edit This

During my Child Life class last semester, one of my favorite things that we talked and learned about was the importance of using age appropriate “soft language” when talking to children and adolescents about procedures, surgeries and tests. I think one of the reasons it resonated with me is because, when you think about it, it kind of just comes down to common sense. Even adults are going to feel less stressed and better prepared if you tell them something like, “The test we are going to do involves sliding a small tube into your arm and getting some blood.” Instead of saying, “We are going to jab a needle into your vein and suck your blood out of it.” The soft language assignment we had for the class was really challenging, but enjoyable. I liked the fact that you had to use a little creativity in coming up with softer ways of saying certain things. My favorite medical procedure we were assigned to make into a softer description? …Enema.

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