Some of the most traumatic moments a family may ever face happen when a child is rushed into surgery, receives a life‑altering diagnosis, or lies frightened in a hospital bed. In those moments, child life specialists step in to help steady children and their families, providing calm and stability.
Trained in child development and the emotional impact of illness, child life specialists translate the overwhelming language of medicine into terms children can understand. Using play, preparation, and simple honesty, they help ease fear and offer comfort. They support siblings, guide parents through difficult conversations, and create small pockets of normalcy in an environment defined by uncertainty. In the middle of a crisis, child life specialists help families breathe, cope, and find the strength to move forward together.
“We work with every child who comes into the hospital, no matter the age, diagnosis, or level of cognitive ability,” said Regina Burdett, a certified child life specialist stationed on the inpatient and surgery units at UTMB Health Clear Lake Hospital. “There are some diagnoses that are quite difficult. A child may have something like cancer or another serious illness, or they may have lost a family member due to illness or injury. Kids in these circumstances grow up a little faster than planned because of these hard experiences.”
Children in the hospital may undergo multiple potentially upsetting procedures, including bloodwork, X-rays, nasal swabs, stitches, or having an IV inserted.
“It was pretty daunting to have to go to the hospital with my daughter,” said Clear Lake resident Nicole Ruiz, who brought her 6-year-old daughter, Monae, to UTMB Health Clear Lake last week with a serious eye infection.
“We didn’t know what it was at first, but a child life specialist came to talk to her,” Ruiz said. “She was very kind and calm. She explained what an IV was and told her how important it was to be still, in kid-friendly terms. She also brought in a fidget, which my daughter used and focused on while the IV was being inserted. I was surprised with how understanding Monae became with that one conversation.”
Thanks to that intervention, Ruiz said her daughter did not seem worried or in pain, even though she had never been hospitalized before.
“The medical team often consults with Child Life when a child is about to undergo a procedure, a diagnostic test, is receiving a challenging diagnosis or is showing signs of stress or anxiety,” said Zoe Murden, another certified child life specialist who met Monae and her family when they arrived at the hospital and works closely with Burdett.
“Parents are an essential part of the preparation process, so I involve them from the beginning,” Murden continued. “I first find out about the child’s past medical experiences and coping style and discuss any concerns they might have about the upcoming procedure.”
Murden added that Child Life support is particularly valuable during invasive or stressful situations, as preparation, education and developmentally appropriate coping strategies can greatly improve a child’s experience and overall outcomes.
“Helping children understand what to expect and providing coping tools can reduce anxiety and promote a greater sense of comfort and control during medical care,” she said.
“Miss Zoe checked on her, and Monae really liked her,” Ruiz said. “She made her feel comfortable. This place can be scary and full of unknowns, so we really appreciated her.”
Ruiz added that Burdett had also been helpful, playing games with her daughter and helping the time pass more quickly.
“I truly appreciated how the specialists and volunteers were with the children,” Ruiz said. “Everything that is happening is out of the child’s control, so they really understand what the kids are going through. My daughter stayed engaged, didn’t keep asking to go home, and slept through the night.”
Burdett said that regardless of a child’s state of mind, medical staff still must complete their work.
“When kids are agitated and focusing on what’s going wrong, we can help them get through it by distracting them with things they love, like games or painting,” she said.
Child life specialists also work with families coping with a range of fears — whether their child will go home the same day with little more than a few stitches or medication, or face a longer hospital stay and potentially life-changing medical challenges.
“We are not counselors, but child life specialists are trained to support whole families going through medical trauma,” Burdett said. “Both Zoe and I completed child-related bachelor’s degrees, finished a 600-hour internship under the supervision of a certified child life specialist, and then passed a certification exam.”
“Child life specialists are part of the room,” she said. “No insurance is needed. I don’t have to wait for a consult. I can walk into a patient’s room and let families know I’m there to help kids and parents understand what’s going on."