Earlier this year, Kiddie Academy made a $100,000 donation to support the Child Life Program at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, helping ease the emotional burden for children and families during health care experiences.
What Is a Child Life Program?
For most children, a hospital stay can feel overwhelming. Unfamiliar environments, complex procedures, and separation from normal routines can create fear, stress, and confusion. Families also often find themselves navigating emotionally demanding moments while trying to stay focused on their child’s medical care.
The Child Life Program at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center aims to reduce the stress and anxiety children and families may experience during hospitalization, procedures, and medical treatment, while supporting emotional and social well‑being throughout a child’s care journey.
Certified Child Life Specialists work with children of all ages across inpatient units, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, pre‑operative areas, and diagnostic spaces within the hospital.
How Child Life Specialists Support Children
Child Life Specialists focus on helping children understand and cope with medical experiences in developmentally appropriate ways. Their work often includes:
- Preparation and education to help children understand upcoming procedures or treatments in a way that feels less frightening
- Procedural support, offering comfort and coping strategies during challenging moments
- Therapeutic play, which allows children to process emotions, regain a sense of normalcy, and continue important developmental play even in a hospital setting
- Emotional support for families, including caregivers and siblings, recognizing that a child’s medical experience can impact the entire family unit
Creating Emotionally Safe Care
Research and experience show that medical treatment can leave lasting emotional impressions on children and families. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center emphasizes emotionally safe care, an approach that intentionally supports resiliency, trust, and emotional well‑being alongside physical treatment.
Child Life Specialists play a key role in this effort by helping children feel a sense of control, confidence, and comfort during health care experiences, whether that means explaining what will happen step by step, offering calming techniques, or simply being present during difficult moments.
Learn more at [hopkinsmedicine.org]
