Child Life Specialists ease anxiety for kids in the hospital

Children's National has a team of Child Life Specialists who work with children staying overnight, visiting our specialty care locations, coming in for surgery, or making trips to our Emergency Department. 

Child Life Specialists are trained to explain complicated procedures and conditions at a level that children, teens, and parents can easily understand and comprehend. This education helps give families a sense of control that they did not previously have. 

Not only do Child Life Specialists teach coping mechanisms for different procedures, but they also ensure a patient is developmentally on track during their stay at the hospital through fun social activities and help patients express any lingering anxieties about their condition or treatments.