Child Life
At UTMB Children’s Hospital, the staff of Child Life tries to make each child’s hospital stay as much like normal life as possible.
- Teachers from the Galveston Independent School District help kids keep up with homework, even when those kids attend schools out of town.
- A number of computers with Internet access are available in the classroom and other locations. We have laptops that can be taken to immobilized patients.The boredom of hospitalization can be eased by play with computers that have educational and entertainment software.
- Two Fun Stations—rolling multimedia carts—are available for playing movies, video games, and other electronic entertainment.
Hospitalization can be a stressful event for children and their families. Children frequently feel overwhelmed, confused, frightened and as if they have no control of coming events. Child Life therapists work to reduce these fears while also providing methods of coping with hospital experiences. Some of these methods include:
- Teaching children about upcoming medical procedures
- Allowing them to explore real medical equipment that will be used
- Teaching relaxation techniques to help reduce pain
- Coaching children through medical procedures.
Along with this they provide outlets for creative expression through art, music and play, and they also provide psychosocial support for patients and their families.
Child Life Internship
Are you or do you know an undergraduate student with a background in Child Development, Child Life or a related field? Child Life is offering a 520 hour internship in appropriate areas of study. Learning opportunities and responsibilities include:
- Orienting to hospital and Child Life Department
- Participating in daily clinical work with patients, both one on one and in group sessions
- Students work with patients in the areas of Cardiology; Hematology/Oncology; Children’s Restorative Care Unit; General Pediatrics; Renal/Dialysis/Organ Transplant; Surgical Services; PICU; Day Surgery and Pedi Clinics
- Participating in individual and group medical play, pre-operative, pre-procedural and diagnostic teaching
- Reviewing current literature in health care
- Planning and supervising playroom sessions
- Participating on inter-disciplinary teams
To apply contact the child life office at 409-772-3424 to obtain an application. Deadlines for applications are:
- Fall placements: May 5th
- Spring placement: September 9th
- Summer placement: January 5th