Child Life

CHEO makes every effort to make a child or youth's experience in hospital as positive as possible. Child life specialists help children and youth cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, disability and hospitalization. They help make sure that life remains as normal as possible for children and youth while in hospital.

Child life specialists

Your child life specialist will:

• Prepare children and youth for medical tests and surgery using age appropriate language and medical play materials to improve understanding of the hospital experience
• Provide support and distraction during medical tests
• Help children and youth understand and cope with a new diagnosis
• Help children and youth learn coping skills to deal with the stress and fear of being in hospital
• Offer normal and specialized play activities to strengthen self-esteem and independence in our playrooms and at the bedside
• Assist siblings in understanding and coping with a brother or sister's hospitalization and/or diagnosis
• Coordinate opportunities for school during extended hospitalizations
• Offer programs such the needle fear workshop, pet therapy, and click (Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids)
• Work in partnership with CHEO's therapeutic clown

Find out directly from a Child Life Specialist how they support kids, youth and families at CHEO.

Child life services

Learn more about some of our child life services and programs.

Music therapy

Music therapy happens when a music therapist uses music purposefully to achieve therapeutic goals which support development, health and well-being. A music therapist may be a part of your child’s healthcare team at CHEO. A music therapist uses music as a safe, non-invasive approach to address physical, emotional, social, or other needs. Music therapy can help in a variety of ways— music activates most parts of the brain. Music therapy is a versatile tool. It can play a role in: expressing emotions expressing creativity lowering anxiety reducing the perception of pain improving relaxation making stay at CHEO more positive providing more choice/control to patients aiding in physical and cognitive rehabilitation enhancing quality of life decreasing feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness, fear, or agitation addressing isolation supporting patient and family during end-of-life and bereavement If you feel your child or youth would benefit from music therapy services during a clinic visit or outpatient procedure, please speak to a member of your care team who can start the referral process. For general questions about Music Therapy services at CHEO, please call 613-737-7600 ext. 2321. Visit the Canadian Association of Music Therapists for more information on the profession. Donate To help make music therapy accessible to every patient, we need your help. We are grateful for to Long & McQuade for their support of music therapy at CHEO and CHEO School. If you'd like to make a donation to support music therapy at CHEO, please visit CHEO Foundation. In the drop-bar “I am giving in response to:” choose “Other” and indicate “Child-Life – Music Therapy” in the space for “Additional Information” Thank you for your support!

Therapeutic clown

Therapeutic clowning is a decades-old tradition at CHEO and at leading pediatric health centres around the world. At CHEO, therapeutic clowning is made possible by community generosity. Meet CHEO's therapeutic clown, Zedd "Wow! What a day and age in which we live...A clown from Galaxy Sprinkle – or, GS as the cool kids say – has joined the Child Life Services team at CHEO and is offering therapeutic clown sessions, one-on-one play-to-play experiences, group activities (soon, hopefully!). Zedd is even here to make memories in the halls between appointments. Zedd is here to reassure children through meaningful connections. He likes to juggle, colour, play his ukulele, and eat ice cream with freshly baked cookies. Zedd will dance whenever he can, make goofy faces and listen to a really good joke. So, if you’re coming to CHEO, don’t be surprised if you see Zedd around. Say hi. He’s happy to distract you from anything that’s worrying or bugging you. He’s happy to share time, play games, and make memories to brighten and lighten the mood for all." Learn more.

Research

Research has shown that:

• Children and youth who are prepared for medical procedures experience less fear and anxiety, and will have better long term adjustment to medical encounters
• Children and youth in hospital who participate in therapeutic play with a trained professional show less emotional distress, increased cooperation, and fewer negative responses
• Child life interventions can increase cooperation and help to minimize pain relating to a test or procedure
• Offering support for family members creates a better outcome for young patients

Preparing your child for hospital experiences

In general coming to the hospital can be stressful for your child or youth and the whole family. Knowing what to expect will help everyone be better prepared.

Make sure to:

• Be honest about what will happen. This helps your child or youth trust you and the CHEO staff. The truth is often less scary than what children are actually thinking
• Ask questions and have your child or youth tell you what they know. This is a good way to find out what they are thinking so you can correct any misunderstandings
• Avoid bribes and threats
• Reassure them that it is ok to feel nervous or scared
• Give your child or youth some control by giving age-appropriate choices: “which toy/activity would you like to bring?” Remember to only give choice when you are able to follow through

Preparation by age guidelines

These guidelines are based on age, and will help you prepare your child or youth for hospitalization.

Infants and toddlers (birth – 3 years)

Bring comfort items such as pacifiers, favourite toys or blankets. Infants and toddlers may react to changes in routine and after 8 months of age may have difficulty separating from caregivers. Tell the staff how you think your infant will react. You can help by: Rocking or holding your child Talking calmly and gently Distracting your child with toys or books Using simple explanations such as, “the doctor is going to fix the bump on your tummy”

Preschool children (3 - 6 years)

Preschool children may believe that hospitalization is punishment and may not fully understand why the procedure or surgery is needed. You can help by: Talking about the procedure 2-3 days ahead of time Explaining only those things that they will see and experience. Too much detail can be confusing Using play to help your child understand the procedure (toy medical kits, books) Explaining that the hospital is a safe place and the staff are there to help us get better

School-age children (4-12 years)

School-age children have a basic understanding of how their body works. They need time and encouragement to ask questions and share their feelings. You can help by: Preparing your child by telling him/her why a procedure needs to be done, how it will be done, and how it may feel. Talk with your health care team if you need guidance Encourage your child to express his or her feelings. It is normal for children to feel angry or frightened

Adolescents (12 - 18 years)

Youth are more independent and can become more involved in their own medical care. They may ask for detailed explanations regarding their hospital experience. You can help by: Being honest—they have the right to know everything that will happen Encouraging them to ask questions of you or the health care team Giving space so they can speak with the health care team on their own if they wish Encouraging them to become active participants in their own health care

Tips and tools to help cope with hospitalization

Being in hospital can be difficult, especially if your child or youth is in pain due to a procedure or illness/injury. Sitting on a caregiver's lap can help ease young children's fear and provide comfort. During procedures, it is common for children to want to watch and doing so can provide them with a sense of control.

Coping strategies can help a child or youth deal better with medical procedures or pain. Children and youth need an opportunity to choose and practice a coping method.

Here are some ideas:

• Bubbles: using bubbles can encourage deep breathing which will help lower stress and anxiety
• Imagery: “Going to a favourite place” encourages your child or youth to think of positive experiences
• Toys: helps distract your child
• Books: reading together can help distract your child and encourages imagination
• Music: music can be relaxing and soothing and helps relieve stress
• Fidget toys/stress balls: allows your child or youth to focus energy elsewhere

Referrals

If you feel your child would benefit from child life services during a clinic visit or outpatient procedure please speak with a member of your health care team who can start the referral process.

For general inquiries about child life services at CHEO please call 613-737-7600 x 2321.

Visit the child life website for information on the profession.

Child Life Internship

The Child Life Program at CHEO offers full-time internship opportunities to train and educate emerging Child Life Professionals.

Our internship curriculum follows the requirements and standards set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

We select one candidate for each internship term year-round.

Required application materials are as follows:

• Completed ACLP internship readiness common application
• A current CV/resume and cover letter

Application deadlines are outlined by the ACLP as follows:

Internship Session	DeadlineEligibility Assessment must be started & paid for, transcripts received, and courses entered by this date	Application Deadline	Initial Offer Date	Acceptance Date
Winter/Spring2026	Aug. 20, 2025	Sept. 5, 2025	Oct. 16, 2025	Oct. 17, 2025
Summer 2026	Dec. 12, 2025	Jan. 9, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
Fall 2026	Feb. 24, 2026	March 13, 2026	May 5, 2026	May 6, 2026
Winter/Spring 2027	Aug. 19, 2026	Sept. 4, 2026	Oct. 6, 2026	Oct. 7, 2026

General questions about the internship program and completed applications can be sent via email to mdeslauriers@cheo.on.ca.

Hear from some members of Team CHEO and some kids, about how Child Life Specialists support them