Coursework

• Child development and advanced child development
• The hospitalized child
• Observation and developmental assessment
• Theories of play
• Therapeutic activities for children
• Children and families under stress
• Family dynamics and family development
• Child and adolescent psychology
• Early childhood education and methods
• Parent education
• Special education
• Death and dying
• Medical sociology
• Infant development
• Pediatric therapeutic recreation
• Medical terminology V
• Verbal communication and written communication
• Multicultural awareness Foreign language(s), particularly Spanish
• Anatomy and physiology
• Sign language

Recommended training based on requirements for Child Life certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or closely related field. Some hospitals require or prefer Master’s degrees.
• 100 hour practicum or volunteer experience in established child life program.
• 500-600 hour internship in established child life program with supervision by a Certified Child Life Specialist(CCLS).

Recommended reading

Thompson, R. and Stanford, G. Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice. Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 1981.

Official Documents of the Child Life Council. Bethesda, MD: CLC, 1990.

Gaynard, L. et., Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals: A Clinical Practice Manual From the ACCH Child Life Research Project. Bethesda, MD: ACCH, 1990.

For More Information contact childlife.org