Jun 12, 2023
So happy to share this "child life insight" with parents and professionals, but first let's answer the question:
What are child life specialists?
Child life specialists are trained professionals who provide emotional support and guidance to children and families facing challenging life experiences. They are experts in helping children cope with difficult topics and ensure that children's development is as smooth as possible while going through challenging times.
In this episode, we talk about how caregivers navigate difficult conversations:
Here's a break down of what we cover:
- First, take time to explore your own emotions around the information.
- Talk to your child about the situation in a way they can understand.
- Validate your child's emotions.
- Create a safe environment for your child to express their emotions.
- Encourage your child to name trusted adults and explore coping strategies.
Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe
Here are some of our favorite affiliates that help promote positive coping for kids:
10% off Coping Kits and other select merchandise at Present Over Perfect
Meet the host:
Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.