Child Life at CHRISTUS Children's in San Antonio
A child's needs for security and age-appropriate activities are often magnified by the stress of illness and hospitalization. Recognizing that being hospitalized can be frightening to children, the Child Life Department at CHRISTUS Children's creates an environment designed to ease children's fears and provide the important emotional and social care to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for both the child and the family.
Certified Child Life Specialists, or CCLS, respond to the psychosocial, developmental, and educational needs of patients and families to help children cope with these feelings. CCLS provide patient and family centered care throughout the hospital, including the pediatric intensive care unit, emergency department, neonatal intensive care unit, surgical services, inpatient units and various outpatient clinics.
Supporting Children Through Treatment
Our child life specialists are part of the health care team that supports children through their treatment and healing.
The child life specialist team can assist your child with:
- Preparation for medical procedures
- Coping and adjusting to a new diagnosis
- Pain management
- Extended hospitalization
- Emotional expression
- Treatment compliance
- Developmental stimulation
- Promoting socialization
- Promoting socialization and bonding
- Mastery over difficult experiences
- Clarify misconceptions and fears
- Adapting to the hospital environment
If you feel your child would benefit from the support of a child life specialist during your stay, ask your nurse or provider to make a referral.
Services that child life specialists provides during hospital visits can include:
- Developmentally appropriate preparation for procedures, surgery, and medical tests
- Medical and therapeutic play
- Developmentally appropriate education about illness, injuries, and medical treatment
- Procedural support and distraction
- Coping plans and support
- Advocacy for patient and family involvement for family-centered care
- Sibling education and support
- Emotional support
Gifts for Children
See Donation WishlistGifts for Children at CHRISTUS Children's
Donate toys and gifts to help make our patients hospital stay more enjoyable! Our Child Life Department works to provide comfort items, toys, and distraction items for our children staying at CHRISTUS Children's. View our gift guide to see what items are accepted.
Clarissa's Experience
During her time at CHRISTUS Children's, Clarissa found comfort and joy through the Child Life Team's support. Engaging in activities like animal-assisted therapy and making slime became highlights of her clinic visits. As a talented artist, Clarissa used arts and crafts to express herself, turning creativity into a source of strength. One of her proudest moments was representing the hospital in a fashion show for the American Cancer Society. The Child Life Team’s encouragement helped Clarissa focus on the things she loved, even in the toughest times, making her hospital experience more positive and empowering.
Our Programming
At CHRISTUS Children's, the child life department creates a positive environment for young patients and their families. Beyond therapeutic support, the team brings joy to the hospital experience with special events, celebrations, and holiday parties that create magical moments.
From birthday surprises to festive events, these activities allow kids to be kids during a difficult time. The child life team focuses on making each child feel valued and cared for, turning the hospital experience into one filled with hope, happiness, and a little bit of magic.
Healing Through Play
Our Child Life Specialists play an important role in the lives of our patients and their families!
Our Child Life Specialists play an important role in the lives of our patients and their families!
Music Therapy utilizes music interventions to help patients cope with hospitalization, provide non-pharmacological pain management, promote self-expression, and meet medical goals.
Sponsored by the Teammates for Kids Foundation, the Child Life Zone provides an escape from the hospital environment into a state-of-the-art play space for patients and families. The space also includes a studio that broadcasts closed-circuit TV shows to patient rooms.
Certified child life specialists and trained therapy dogs provide animal-assisted therapy to patients, families, and staff. The child life specialists and dog duos help patients meet medical goals, cope with the hospital environment, and provide comfort.
A dedicated gaming and technology specialist, sponsored by Child’s Play, partners with child life specialists to bring gaming and technology to patients. The gaming and technology specialist uses gaming, virtual reality, and technology to help patients meet medical goals, reduce pain and anxiety and promote play.
The Child Life Department partners with San Antonio Independent School District to meet the educational needs for patients with a chronic illness or extended inpatient hospitalization. For more information, please ask your certified child life specialist.
Training for Certified Child Life Specialists
The Child Life Specialists at CHRISTUS Children’s are certified by the Child Life Certification Commission and complete continuing education to maintain certification. Child Life Specialists have graduate or undergraduate degrees in child development, psychology, education, or a related field and complete a 600-hour child life internship
Child Life Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers play a crucial role in providing patient and family centered care at CHRISTUS Children’s. Our volunteers have diverse backgrounds and experience. Volunteers serve in multiple departments and many positions offer flexible scheduling. Volunteer opportunities are based on the current needs of requesting departments and on the volunteer's suitability, experience, and time commitment. For more information on volunteering, click here.