Best-Kept-Secret Career: Child Life Specialist

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Wow, I myself want to be a Child Life Specialist... not because of money, but because I believe any child in a hospital setting needs to feel like they are important and not just another patient. Children are the main focus, not the needs of the nurse, docter, or volunteer. I know what it's like being a volunteer, sometimes you aren't appreciated by everyone for what you do... but that shouldn't be the reason you're volunteering. You should be volunteering for the well-being of the children, not to be praised for the hard work you endure. And the average salery for a CERTIFIED CLS is anywhere from 39000-60000, this is someone who has at least a Bachelor's degree and 2 internships equaling 1200 hours, which is plenty of training. They aren't useless, and I'm sorry for your unpleasent experience but you're just sticking all CLS and future CLS into some awful generalization and I feel you should just move on and realize not everyone is exactly the same.

Jesse of OK 4:50PM January 28, 2012

Why don’t people know about Child Life Specialists as much as they do about doctors or nurses if they are as important?

Tiffany of MN 10:19PM December 04, 2011

First of all, may i say, your ego needs to be brought down a WHOLE BUNCH of levels. You seem to think you know everything there is to know about this profession and children. I bet you don't have the slightest idea what you're supposed to do for a child when they have a traumatic memory [or circumstance]suddenly hit them and they become diconnected from the world (even if it may be temporary), lost, scared, and in some cases the child can and will freak out. Sometimes, causing harm to themselves or others. Now, if a child is facing a tremendous amount of stress, fear and uncertainty (more than most adults have/will experience) do you have ALL the necessary skills to calm that child, to really help them, (not just to your standards) to make it so they really are at ease? I highly doubt it unless you have an extensive record in working with children in these areas.
Also, you are making the same arguments over and over. Perhaps you should just shut up already considering all but one person is against you, and almost every other comment on here has some valid contradiction to your same few arguments. You may volunteer with the children, make them happy and all that and that's awsome. That is awsome that you have a passion for that. However, i get the sense that your hostility maybe comes from the fact that you can't do it the way the specialists can. You may be able to help that much for a handful of children, but what about the ones who are getting surgery because they've been abused. or they were in a traumatic accident, or the children who just turned 6 or 7, are just starting school and making friends and suddenly end up in a big scary hospital being told they have to go into a big machine for this or get their arm ampuated or chemo therapy!!! You are an ignorant, rude, un uninformed human being that really needs an attitude adjustment and maybe a kick in the {metaphorical} testicles to reduce your level of... pride, ego, whatever you want to call it.

sam of CO 12:21AM August 27, 2011

I'm reading these hateful comments from those who think Child Life Specialists are useless and I'm astonished by how much time those with the horrible comments have put into being down right mean!!!! I really believe people who make these sort of comments really do have sp much hatred in them that they must take it out on others. I am a CCLS and everyday I go to work with my held up high knowing I am going to make a difference that day. So to other CCLS remember how amazing you do and all the thank yous that you get from patients, families and staff!

Kris of OH 1:33PM August 16, 2011

Broadanon of MI
I find your comments repulsive and offending. First off, CLS do more than just "play" with children.
They do rotations in the following units:
Bone Marrow Transplant
Solid Tumor/Brain Tumor Inpatient
Leukemia Inpatient
ICU
Radiation Oncology
Solid Tumor Clinic
Leukemia Clinic
Brain Tumor Clinic
Solid Tumor/Brain Tumor Teens Outpatient
Leukemia/ Bone Marrow Clinic Teens
Diagnostic Imaging
Hematology/ Infectious Disease clinics
Procedures/ Surgery clinics
They are very well educated in trained:
Child developmental theory and impact of hospitalization
Diagnostic teaching
Child life Assessment
Therapeutic Interventions
Implementing a play group
Expressive Art
Medical Play
Documentation
Sibling support
Body Image
Preparation
Death and Dying
Clinical Training
Also while it is only required to have a bachelors, I plan to obtain my MSW as well and additionally be certified in Child Life.
One last thing... I quote you: "Lets be honest, people like you (especially little girls,) are attracted to such healthcare professions because it does not require neocortical ability or energy to think such as Science or Engineering and it's easier to get a direct sense of purpose (regardless of how truly useless the profession really is.) " Last I check, going into a healthcare profession requires classes such as calculus, chemistry, organic, biology, etc. It is NOT any easy field!
Also, while not all CLS are required to have some of these courses, perhaps you should think that some of them do. I am doing all that I can to make sure I am as knowledgeable and trained about the medical field as possible before I begin in this profession.
I truly pity your ignorance. Best regards.

Lina of MI 3:25PM June 16, 2011

If a job is offered, if someone is passionate about the job, that person will go to school in order to pursue that job. I would much rather get paid for something i loved to do, then sit in a cubicle from 8-5 hating my life. I feel like every job should be respected and praised no matter how important it is, because it really isn't up to you. There is nothing wrong in taking pride in your job, no mater what it is. I never experienced a child life specialist as being a volunteer around them, only as a patient. I have a slight feeling though, that the reason they were snooty or whatever, is probably because you acted like they didn't deserve to get paid for what they did. If you believe this is not true, please take this as my oath, that when I become a child life specialist I will treat volunteers with respect and thankfulness that they are there to help. If being a CCLS to the economy, we should probably also not have therapists, or psychiatrists, because people don't have problems, humans definitely don't have emotions, and children who are sick don't need someone on their side. When a child is sick their parents are crying, their doctors and nurses are sticking them with needles, and the child life specialist is solely their for their mind. To make them feel like they are normal, like the hospital can actually be kind of fun. And ya the nurses have off time to play with the children and that's good because it establishes a relationship, and the child knows they are in the right hands. But the nurse is like an authorative figure along with the doctor and parents, the child life specialist has more of a sibling or friend feel. If you took all the child life specialists out of field and put them into a job that "helps the economy" I doubt it would make a difference. So you child life haters go get your good for economy job and while you're at it why don't you help out the deficit we are in, you should probably stop the war too, and for heaven's sake please stop all of these natural disasters! Why do you need to hate on something as innocent as a child life specialist, it makes me seriously sick. They don't think they are God, like really? Do you think people in the peace corps think they are God? Do you think priests think they are God? People on mission trips do you think they are God? A doctor heals the sick, kind of like God too huh? Sorry for the sarcasm in all of this but I just think it's ridiculous and can't believe all of the hatred towards child life specialists I have read in all of these blogs. It seriously makes me want to cry. Experience a child life specialist as a patient or a parent, and then tell me what you think. As much as I despise your comments, I don't wish this upon anyone, i just wish you could understand it from the other side of the fence.

Cassandra of IL 10:50PM May 26, 2011

There is significant truth in the statements below about the pretentious pompous girls in fields such as this. Immature girls and bim**ness doesn't deserve any respect. Competing for stupidty doesn't make you smart.
Using the example mentioned by the doctor earlier, if your local bars invented a position called 'Certified Beer Drinking Specialist', you would see an endless line of mindless lazy drunkards around the corner of the next town competing for such an asinine position. People will create ludicrous degrees in such fields to make money. They will create absurd CBDS titles to feel smart and respected.
People's criticism below is well deserved, a bachelors or absurdity of a masters degree in this field requires no real mental effort in terms of coursework. Let's be honest: babysitters, and simply because they work with sick children doesn't justify overglorifying and proclaiming them as being incredibly gifted. Any good parent or sensible adult understands how to communicate with children and how they articulate pain, it's not rocket science. Also just take a visit to your nearest medicare ran elderly nursing home to understand the gross differentiation and inequality in the current state of services for elderly and child care, there is a huge difference. Things such as playing with kids, distraction, squeezing a ball, etc do not require overpaying jobs with bachelor or masters degrees.
I see it as quite obvious that such requirements for bachelors or masters degrees, useless certification and CCLS title are simply clever, obtuse marketing methods to create a false illusion of safety and comfort by these people, so the hospitals can increase their revenue based on the business they receive from the distraught parents. Their work is simple common sense that most sensible adults know or should be taught if otherwise.
The specialist girls seem to be no different than the mindnumbing marketing girls you find in a private corporation, their purpose solely to attract more customers based on pretension rather than acutal value on useless services they provide.
These are our tax dollars at work. I would rather see healthcare reorganized with more useful nurses and assistants sharing more responsibility, arranging, promoting and training other volunteers on the peds floor themselves to play with and distract kids, etc.
Volunteers don't need brainless specialists to place them on Peds floors. Like the other doctor quoted below, hospitals could hire nursing assistants for $10/hour instead of overeducated babysitters (useless CCLS title is better marketing.)
Reallocate resources going to such draining marketing positions such as child life specialists to instead alleviate the overtaxed healthcare costs, medicare deductions, high insurance, etc. It makes sense now for the apt naming of the 'Job-killing' health care bill which was recently passed. It's no wonder people like Sarah OConnor's daughter below can't find a job in this profession.

Tim of MD 9:39PM May 10, 2011

I wanted to add my two-cents about the career.
Although, on the surface, this job may seem like people that simply play with kids--something that, yes, a volunteer could do--there is much more to this job than simply playing. CCLS are trained for at least four years in child development and medical interventions. They help the child by not only providing play, but advocacy, understanding, and coping techniques. Also, many CCLS have their MA in CL or in a creative arts therapy or psychology. They have many more years of training than many other professions.
And CL isn't only about keeping kids company. Yes, older people may be lonely. However, unless they are DD, they probably have a good understanding of what is happening to them, or if not, they are able to clearly articulate what they would like to understand. However, children cannot fully express themselves clearly to adults. CCLS are trained to understand how children communicate (that's why some of the job is to play--that's how children process!) and therefore they can better provide what the child needs to them, whether it is company, supervision, answers, explanation, etc.
Also, without CCLS the volunteers wouldn't be there to play with the kids. CCLS are the ones who arrange the volunteers on the peds floor! As well as all the donations and special visitors (such as Santa or a sports team)
CCLS are incredibly gifted people. They have a great training and understanding of how children communicate, and they also are the ones to provide children and their families with understanding and support in trying times.
I think people shouldn't judge other professions as being useless. I had a friend who was sick when she was younger and told me that "Child Life got me through my childhood." I think this profession has a lot to offer.

Andi of NY 11:14AM May 08, 2011

My daughter has a CL degree and is having a hard time finding a hospital that has an opening for the internship program. Its a Highly competitive field ,hospitals usually only hire one or two for internship program. Not all hospitals offer the program and if they are offered the internship program
is offered two times a year.

Sara OConnor of OK 3:52PM April 26, 2011

Figures, the child life 'specialists' had the other posts removed.
'God-wannabe'?
There is a reason for the saying, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ There is a reason why it is true!
The history of feminism in our country back in the day involved girls going to college simply to find their vision of 'god-like' men to carry them. The majority of girls I have met in this 'profession' are a sad by-product of this history.
The future of REAL women needs to lie with those girls who are willing to truly challenge themselves; those who are spending nights working hard to fight the status quo and the cheap image of low self esteem the media throws at them. These are the women who deserve true respect, instead of many of the pretentious pompous girls who are simply trying to raise their deep-rooted low self esteem with excessive self-preening to the level of a 'Wanna-be Doctor Wife' or other such, who further used their pretentious fake feminism, sick children, and the over-taxed healthcare system as a crutch to raise their image and the status-quo.
I worked at the children's hospital directly with these so-called specialists. I quit due to their conniving inherent nature to mistreat others.
"Sweep the floors", "serve the food"? They did no such thing! I have much more respect for the janitors and cooks who are doing real useful work instead of tying their egos to meaningless alphabet soup of titles such as CCLS. They connived with the corrupt doctor who they were sleeping with every night, along with some corrupt nurses, to mistreat other people so they feel more important. They also spout off useless things that are common sense to everyone, to raise their ego along with healthcare costs. Here are the true facts.
Health insurance is a pool we are all swimming in together, and their paychecks paid for by the collective system. The new healthcare law requires everyone to purchase health insurance; Do you think there is a reason for this?
Realize it now that we are all paying for this. Nothing they do is overtly difficult that others can't be trained to do with minimal effort. "Prepare families for procedures," what are the nurses and nursing assistants doing? "School Reentry," what are the school counselors doing? "Safe person" to "play with the children," what are the volunteers doing?
“Nurture the spirit”? The pretentious 'rules' and disrespectful, conniving atmosphere they create to raise their egos instead drive away any Samaritan truly willing to help the people and improve the system.
Here is a perfect example of their self-preening nature to hide the truth as accounted by real people who have interacted with them.
Perhaps you can now let it all rest with the real truth, or scheme to further destroy the freedom of speech by getting this post removed as well.

jn_1178 of MA 7:38PM April 23, 2011