Child life services at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Certified Child Life Specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital are experienced in helping children and families cope with stress and other challenges while they are receiving care in the hospital. Our team meets with your child and family and works with you to determine the right plan for support. When your child is feeling anxious about tests or procedures, our Certified Child Life Specialists can provide positive distractions to help calm your child. And if your child is staying in the hospital, we offer therapeutic, emotional, educational and social support. Our goal is to help make being at the hospital a more positive experience for children and families.
Benefits of having a Certified Child Life Specialist
Certified Child Life Specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital work closely with your child and your family. Together, we create a care plan that helps your child cope with being in the hospital. Your child life specialist helps your child feel comfortable while they are receiving care – focusing on their mental and emotional health needs. Child life specialists provide support, including:
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Education about conditions and procedures
If your child is facing a diagnosis or procedure, they may have anxious feelings. Our child life specialists have expertise working with children in a healthcare setting. Using play and plain language, we can help explain your child's diagnosis, tests and treatments in a way they understand. We also take the time to listen to your child’s concerns and encourage them to ask questions. Helping your child understand what to expect can help ease anxious feelings. And we can work with your child to develop positive coping skills and strategies that they can use in any stressful situation.
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Distraction and relaxation
Some diagnostic tests or procedures can feel scary or stressful for a child. Using relaxation techniques and positive distraction methods, we can help your child focus on an activity rather than their procedure. Child life specialists help reduce your child’s stress during tests and procedures. Sometimes, we can eliminate the need for anesthesia during an imaging procedure by helping your child stay calm and still.
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Therapeutic play
Child life specialists encourage therapeutic activities that are appropriate for your child. This can help make the hospital stay a little easier and can help encourage cooperation during tests. Play can also help your child express their fears and feelings.
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Emotional support
We’re here for your child and family. Child life specialists offer emotional support to your entire family – parents, siblings and other caregivers. There are many emotions your child and family may experience. We listen and help you understand these emotions.
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Connection to additional resources
Child life specialists also help connect you with other resources at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and in the community, such as Hoosier Burn Camp, Brooke’s Place, and more.
Become a Certified Child Life Specialist
Interested in becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)? Learn more about internships, practicums, and becoming a CCLS.
Donate
For ways to give back, please visit our Ascension St. Vincent Foundation for in-kind donation wish lists, monetary donations, and more.