Concord Hospital's Child Life Services Program provides critical support for children and their families while they are in the hospital environment. The program offers play, coping, and family support to ease children’s anxieties and parents’ concerns. Our child life specialist is trained and skilled in providing developmental, educational, and therapeutic interventions for children and their families. Working in collaboration with a child's care team, she responds to the needs of young patients receiving hospital services in Concord Hospital's pediatric, day surgery, radiology, and emergency departments. The program is also available to children visiting patients who may benefit from the emotional support a child life specialist provides.

Services provided by child life specialists:

• Offers developmentally appropriate toys and games for children;
• Offers creative and expressive art projects;
• Oversees the pediatric playroom by supervising and entertaining the children, giving them a much needed break;
• Helps prepare children for procedures by using gentle language, play and visual aides;
• Helps children and families cope during procedures by using techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery and distraction;
• Uses therapeutic medical play to increase a child's understanding and comfort during hospitalization;
• Helps explain a child's hospitalization in a way that siblings and other children will understand;
• Serves as a resource for information on child development and parenting;
• Helps connect families with other resouces in the community;
• Helps parents prepare for the transition home.

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