Child Life Specialists

For a child, a trip to the doctor’s office or the hospital can be frightening. As a parent or other caring adult, you’d like to take away all the pain and fear but you know you can’t. But there are ways you can make it better – and one way is a Child Life Specialist.

Two Child Life Specialists work throughout Duluth Children’s clinics and hospitals. There is no charge for their services, even at routine office visits.

Child Life Specialists work with children from infancy to age 18. These child development experts can talk to a 2-year-old and teen.

And they can hear beyond words, all the way down to a child’s unspoken fears.
Child Life Specialists recognize that parents and family members are the best source of support and comfort for a child. Learn how comfort positions can help your child during a procedure.

When adults feel comfortable in a healthcare environment, so do children. Research shows that managing stress helps children heal faster and can reduce the use of pain medication.

Working with children
Child Life Specialists provide opportunities for children to express their feelings and help children understand what is happening to them. They also:

  • Explain medical procedures in an age-appropriate way
  • Support children during medical procedures
  • Offer medical play and therapeutic activities
  • Conduct preadmission tours of medical facilities
  • Provide one-on-one bedside visits
  • Create opportunities to play


Working with parents, siblings and other family members
Child Life Specialists help parents, siblings and other family members understand a child's illness and medical procedures. They can also:

  • Explain how family members can support a child
  • Explain a child’s behavior in a healthcare setting
  • Help families express their feelings
  • If a child is hospitalized, they help bridge the gap between home and hospital by providing familiar activities such as play, school and even celebrations of birthdays and holidays.

Who are Child Life Specialists?

Child Life Specialists have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines related to child development, psychology, education, family studies or therapeutic recreation. In addition, each of our specialists has completed a clinical internship and earned national certification from the Child Life Council.