INTRODUCTION TO CHILD LIFE
FINAL
refers to a program within a pediatric clinical setting that attends specifically to the psycho-
social needs of the child and family. -
child life
Strive to reduce stress that affects normative development, health and well being of children
and families. We embrace play to facilitate intervention, prevention, advocacy and education
-
Mission Statement
Most vulnerable stage of development -
infancy
Developmental components of infancy -
basic needs fulfilled
stable, caring relationships
verbal, auditory, visual and tactile stimulation
stranger anxiety
Issues in medical setting for infants -
difficulty in attachment
separation from parents
disruption in routine
impaired basic trust
limited opportunities for stimuli
inconsistent caregivers
Developmental components of Toddlers -
continuing relationships with parents
space for mobility and explorations
consistency in daily routine
control
limit setting
separation anxiety
Issues in the medical setting for toddlers -
separation of parents
loss of autonomy
loss of control
restriction of movement
regression to earlier stages
Developmental components of Preschoolers -
fear of body mutilation
separation anxiety
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,control of emotions
increased autonomy
concept of time
egocentrism
begins to develop exploration
limitation
fantasy vs. reality
Issues in the medical setting for preschoolers -
separation from parents
fear of abandonment
fear of body mutilation
loss of autonomy
imaginative thinking
common reactions: guilt, anger, aggression, regression
illness viewed as punishment
Developmental components of school aged -
very verbal
easiest age group
tend to cope best
they understand reasoning
ability to think abstractly
longer attention span
concept of time increases
imagination broadens
Issues for medical setting for preschoolers -
Loss of bodily control
fear of pain
separation issues related to disruptions in daily routine
regression in cognitive skill
self esteem/ self identity
enforced dependency
Development of adolescence -
abstract thinking
aware of body image
defiance
risk taking
thinking about future
distancing from caregivers
sexuality
Issues for the medical setting for adolescence -
threat to future confidence
loss of peer acceptance
threat to bodily competence
enforced dependence
social isolation
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, physical limitations
lack of trust
Sensorimotor -
age: birth-2 year
Positive touch
face to face contact
singing
talking
play through grasping, reaching, sitting, crawling
colorful toys
books
lights, sounds, textures
Preoperational stage of development- symbolic -
age: 2-7
Modeling through parrellel play
sensory: play dough, paint, sand, water
big blocks
increase language use
books
music
pictures
peer play
Piaget Theory Stage: Preoperational -
age: 4-5
Increased amount of independence
associative play with peers
Give choices of activity
tone of activity
individual/ group play
Piaget Theory Stage: Concrete -
age: 7-11
exposure to novel games/ activities ex: bingo, tic tac toe
understanding of more abstract games- stimulated through interactive games
magic tricks
music
Erickson, Trust vs. Mistrust -
age: birth -1 year
Issue:
separation from caregivers
Intervention:
Prompt consistent care
Encourage parent involvement
Erickson, Autonomy vs. Doubt -
age: 1-3
3|Page
FINAL
refers to a program within a pediatric clinical setting that attends specifically to the psycho-
social needs of the child and family. -
child life
Strive to reduce stress that affects normative development, health and well being of children
and families. We embrace play to facilitate intervention, prevention, advocacy and education
-
Mission Statement
Most vulnerable stage of development -
infancy
Developmental components of infancy -
basic needs fulfilled
stable, caring relationships
verbal, auditory, visual and tactile stimulation
stranger anxiety
Issues in medical setting for infants -
difficulty in attachment
separation from parents
disruption in routine
impaired basic trust
limited opportunities for stimuli
inconsistent caregivers
Developmental components of Toddlers -
continuing relationships with parents
space for mobility and explorations
consistency in daily routine
control
limit setting
separation anxiety
Issues in the medical setting for toddlers -
separation of parents
loss of autonomy
loss of control
restriction of movement
regression to earlier stages
Developmental components of Preschoolers -
fear of body mutilation
separation anxiety
1|Page
,control of emotions
increased autonomy
concept of time
egocentrism
begins to develop exploration
limitation
fantasy vs. reality
Issues in the medical setting for preschoolers -
separation from parents
fear of abandonment
fear of body mutilation
loss of autonomy
imaginative thinking
common reactions: guilt, anger, aggression, regression
illness viewed as punishment
Developmental components of school aged -
very verbal
easiest age group
tend to cope best
they understand reasoning
ability to think abstractly
longer attention span
concept of time increases
imagination broadens
Issues for medical setting for preschoolers -
Loss of bodily control
fear of pain
separation issues related to disruptions in daily routine
regression in cognitive skill
self esteem/ self identity
enforced dependency
Development of adolescence -
abstract thinking
aware of body image
defiance
risk taking
thinking about future
distancing from caregivers
sexuality
Issues for the medical setting for adolescence -
threat to future confidence
loss of peer acceptance
threat to bodily competence
enforced dependence
social isolation
2|Page
, physical limitations
lack of trust
Sensorimotor -
age: birth-2 year
Positive touch
face to face contact
singing
talking
play through grasping, reaching, sitting, crawling
colorful toys
books
lights, sounds, textures
Preoperational stage of development- symbolic -
age: 2-7
Modeling through parrellel play
sensory: play dough, paint, sand, water
big blocks
increase language use
books
music
pictures
peer play
Piaget Theory Stage: Preoperational -
age: 4-5
Increased amount of independence
associative play with peers
Give choices of activity
tone of activity
individual/ group play
Piaget Theory Stage: Concrete -
age: 7-11
exposure to novel games/ activities ex: bingo, tic tac toe
understanding of more abstract games- stimulated through interactive games
magic tricks
music
Erickson, Trust vs. Mistrust -
age: birth -1 year
Issue:
separation from caregivers
Intervention:
Prompt consistent care
Encourage parent involvement
Erickson, Autonomy vs. Doubt -
age: 1-3
3|Page
