A Trip To The Doctor
You’re tired, frustrated and just need to lay down and take a nap and it's only 11am in the morning! Is this from lack of sleep? Too much to drink the night before? No! You just came back from an appointment at the pediatrician where your child clung to you nervously, whimpering at the site of the doctor, and then screamed during the exam and the shots that followed. If this sounds familiar then you are not alone. The good news is, there are a few things that may help your ch
Bonding over books
There is much positive press on the beneficial effects that reading to children can have on language development, cognition and social-emotional development. I have posted articles before on this blog regarding the use of bibliotherapy in helping children express their emotions but have not yet touched on what the seemingly simple act of reading can provide for a child and caregiver. Among the chaos, fear and uncertainty that accompanies an unexpected crisis such as hospitali
The Thing About Sadness
In the new movie Inside Out, Sadness is a problem. She is the opposite of Joy. She is the one no one wants to be around, the one who isn't allowed to touch memories for fear of destroying the happiness surrounding them. At one point she is delegated to standing in a circle that is drawn on the ground as an attempt to contain her. But it's impossible to contain Sadness, change it into something it isn't, such as Joy, or ignore it, as anyone who has ever felt sad can tell you.
The Many Ways To Tell A Story
Maya Angelou wrote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” As we work with children we are given a window into their stories in many ways. Sometimes it's direct and obvious and other times in comes out in the quiet and still moments. I am always paying attention to ways in which people tell their stories and the importance of the narrative is even becoming recognized in medicine as evidence by the groundbreaking Narrative Medicine program at Colu
Book Nook: Healing Days
According to the American Psychological Association, a significant number of children in American society are exposed to traumatic life events. Traumatic events include sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, community and school violence, medical trauma, motor vehicle accidents, acts of terrorism, war experiences, natural and human-made disasters, suicides, and other traumatic losses. With an emphasis on taking the blame off the child, the book "Healing Days: A Guid
Easing A Child's Fear About Ebola
With the newest case of Ebola diagnosed in New York, there is no shortage of news coverage and fear surrounding this development and no doubt children are being exposed to the information either from the news or from peers at school. Without an adult to help them understand, many children can end up feeling anxious and afraid about what is happening. Here are a few tips to help ease a child's fears: Ask them what they know. This is often the same way a child life specialist m
Diagnosis Explanation: Diabetes
Providing age appropriate explanations to a child is an integral part of the work of a child life specialist and crucial to healthy coping for the patient. Following is one way of explaining type 1 diabetes that could be used for older children. In addtion to the words used, any visuals and props, like a toy school bus and kid figures, can help further deepen the understanding for the child and allow the child to play out the situation. "Every time you eat something, sugar
The Power of The Superhero
Superheroes are prevalent in children's lives and the lure of the superhero isn’t just limited to young boys playing out the roles of Spider-Man or Iron Man. Remember Supergirl and Wonder Woman? Regardless of gender, the role of the superhero can be an important one in a child’s life and something that child life specialists can tap into to help facilitate coping and give a sense of empowerment to a child struggling with an illness. Heartwarming stories of superheroes have be
Book Nook: It's Complicated
It is clear that social media is the new backdrop against which the adolescent developmental stage is taking place. As the use of social media continues to grow, it is important to recognize its importance as a therapeutic tool for adolescents in the hospital. "It's Complicated" is a new book that takes a deeper look at the role social media plays in the lives of the networked teen. #book #teenager #technology #support #internet #socialmedia #coping
