[Child Life 101] How to Support Kids in Pain

As a child life specialist, I know that pain can significantly impact children. It can affect them physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Research has shown that uncontrolled pain can lead to long-term effects such as stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as changes in brain function and delayed recovery. Helping children cope with pain can be particularly challenging as they may not be able to articulate what they're feeling or understand what's happening to them. That's where child life specialists come in.

What we cover in this episode:

• Pain can have a significant impact on children, both physically and emotionally.
• Child life specialists play an essential role in assessing kids in pain and determining what they need to feel better.
• Child life specialists use a combination of observation, conversation, and other techniques to understand a child's pain experience.
• Child life specialists work closely with healthcare providers and other professionals to ensure that children's pain is being managed effectively.
• By providing a supportive and compassionate presence, child life specialists help children and families navigate the often-challenging world of healthcare with greater ease and confidence.

By the way, my favorite resources for anything pain related are over at Meg Foundation for Pain.

Whether you're a parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in learning more about child life, this podcast is for you.

Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe

Here are some of our favorite affiliates that help promote positive coping for kids:

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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.

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