Best-Kept-Secret Career: Child Life Specialist

Great Career!

I am currently a senior in college studying to be a child life specialist. This is my dream job and I cannot wait to get out into the real world and apply everything that I have learned to help children and their families effectively cope with the stress that might come from hospitalization. The only thing that is really scary about planning to go into this career field is that there are not very many jobs out there in this field, and because of this, it is very competitive. I recommend this to anyone that loves children and genuinely wants to help people.

As for some of the previous comments, the name might be a little confusing and vague but this is a very important and necessary career that helps children. Sometimes, the medical personnel at a hospital will tell information about what is going on only to the parents and in terms that even they might not understand. This causes anxiety in the parents that will pass on to their hospitalized child. On top of that, the child might not be given any information as to why they are in the hospital in the first place and what is going to be done to make them healthy again. Medical procedures can be extremely threatening, especially when you know nothing about them. A child life specialist is educated in child development as well as medical information. They can pass on this information and help children work through the emotions that they might be feeling so that they can feel like they are in control of something instead of nothing.

If you are interested in this career field, I highly recommend you to get some experience with ill children so that you know for sure that this is the right fit for you. There are many summer camps out there that are specifically for ill children. You can volunteer there if you only have a week or two or, if you have more time available during the summer, you can apply to work at one for 2-3 months. The Hole in the Wall Camps that were founded by Paul Newman are fantastic and the website gives some great information. Also, volunteering at a hospital or hospice can give you some valuable experience as well.

Hope this info helps!!!

Brittany of AL @ Nov 11, 2009 12:54:11 PM