Because physical and mental activities are an essential part of the healing process, the Child Life Specialist at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital works at the bedside and in playrooms to help patients have positive experiences during their hospital stays. She has a strong child development background which she uses to promote effective coping through play, preparation, education and self-expression activities. The specialist provides emotional support for families and encourages optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization.
In addition to creative and therapeutic activities for inpatient children, our Child Life Specialist actively helps patients and families prepare for surgery and procedures. Specialists are available to meet with families of both medical and surgical patients, conduct hospital tours, and explain the upcoming procedures using dolls and terms children can understand.
Our Specialist, along with our long-time charity and volunteer affiliate Joni’s Angels, also coordinates holiday activities for patients, such as Halloween Trick or Treat, gifts donated at the end of year festivities, special movie screenings and more.
What can Child Life offer you?
- Pre-operative teaching and tours
- Family and sibling teaching and support
- Diversional support during procedures
- Teaching about new diagnoses
- Age-appropriate toys and activities in the playrooms
- Bedside and playroom activities with volunteers
- Medical play
- School liaison support
- Pet therapy
Children and Healthcare