Child Life and Education Department

The Child Life and Education Department addresses the emotional, social, educational and recreational needs of hospitalized children and adolescents. As recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Life programs utilize developmentally appropriate activities to minimize stress and anxiety and to foster positive feelings about health care.

Child Life and Education Staff

Certified Child Life Specialists acquaint children and families with the hospital prior to admission, prepare children for medical tests, procedures and surgeries, provide structured play opportunities to promote normal growth and development and incorporate medical play experiences to enhance the child's understanding of medical events.

Certified Teachers of the Hospital School Program ensure the continuation of the child's education.

Patient Activity Specialists supervise playroom sessions, coordinate games and activities, special events and visitors for children and teens. They also provide bedside activities for patients who are medically unable to leave their room.

Artists-in-Residence
Arkansas Children’s Hospital has three artists-in-residence. Two, Hamid Ebrahimifar and Elizabeth Weber , are funded by an In-School-Residency (ISR) Grant from the Arkansas Arts Council. The third artist, Laura Phillips, is funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation Endowed Fund For Children’s Cancer. The ISR artists facilitate art projects that support the core curriculum, both in the classroom setting and at the bedside. All three artists educate patients and families about the process of art, while at the same time teaching them that, despite an injury, illness or disability, they can be successful at art.

Child Life and Education Hours

Child Life and Education services are available to all inpatient care units, clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Center and the Emergency Department.

Times change during the holidays, please call the Child Life and Education Department at 501-364-1412.

For more information, contact the department Director, Gloriane Kabat.

What is Child Life?

Click here to read information from the Child Life Council how Child Life helps to empower children and families to cope with life's challenges.

Child Life Services

• Importance of Play
• Pre-Operative and Procedural Teaching
• Expressive Arts
• Distraction and Coping
• TAILS (Animal Assisted Therapy)
• Siblings and Child Visitors
• Volunteers
• Hospital School Program

Child Life and Education Employment Opportunities

• Job Requirements
• Child Life Internship Packet PDF
• Child Life Practicum Information PDF
• Job Openings
• Child Life Council

Other Child Life and Education Information

• Playroom & Hospital School Program Hours
• Reasons to Call Child Life & Education
• Child Life and Education Pamphlets
• Activity Web Sites
• Online Games
• Links

For more information call the Child Life and Education Department at 501-364-1412.





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