What Is Child Life?
Child Life is a specialized healthcare profession that helps children and families navigate illness, loss, and major life changes with compassion, expertise, and a focus on building resilience.
Child Life supports emotional safety by meeting children where they are developmentally and empowering caregivers with the tools and confidence to support their child through stressful experiences.
Supporting Children Beyond Play
While play is our primary tool, child life is a clinical discipline rooted in psychology and child development. We simplify complex life changes into language children can grasp, advocate for their emotional well-being during periods of uncertainty, and ensure their developmental needs are prioritized alongside the practical challenges of any life transition.
Our goal is to reduce the potential for trauma and help children maintain their development even while facing health challenges and life transitions.
Child Life Specialist Qualifications
Child Life Specialists are highly trained professionals with specialized education and clinical experience focused on children’s emotional safety, development, and coping. Becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) requires rigorous preparation and ongoing professional standards.
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
In child life, child development, psychology, or a related field.
Specialized Coursework
Including child development, play, family systems, grief and loss, and the psychosocial impact of illness and trauma.
Competitive Clinical Internship
600 supervised clinical hours in healthcare or community settings working directly with children and families.
National Certification
Passing a comprehensive exam administered by the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC).
Ongoing Development
Maintaining certification through continuing education to stay current in evidence-based, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate practices.