Child Life Specialists

High School

If you are interested in becoming a child life specialist, you will need to plan on going to college after high school. Therefore, you should take a college preparatory curriculum. As a child life specialist you will need to understand family dynamics, child development, educational play, and basic medical terminology. To help you prepare for this specialty, take psychology and sociology courses and, if available, child development classes. In addition, be sure that your class schedule includes science courses, including health and biology. Because communication is such an important aspect of this work, take English, communication, speech, and foreign language classes. You may also want to take art, physical education, and drama classes to develop skills that you can use in a variety of therapies, such as play, art, and recreation therapy.

Postsecondary Training

Some colleges or universities offer specific programs in child life, and quite a number of schools offer course work in areas related to child life. Those who attend colleges or universities that do not have specific child life programs should major in another appropriate field, such as child development, psychology, and social work. Do some research before you select a school to attend. The Association of Child Life Professionals advises those considering this career to look for a school program that has sufficient faculty, a variety of field opportunities, and positive student evaluations. Typical classes in a child life program include Infancy and Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Adolescent Development, Working with Hospitalized Children, Family Stress and Change, Medical Terminology, Child Psychology, Child Growth and Development, Family Dynamics, and Theories of Play. Select an educational program that offers internships. An internship will give you supervised experience in the field as well as prepare you for future employment. As part of their enrollment in a graduate educational and training program, child life specialists frequently develop particular areas of expertise related to the patient populations they serve.

A child life administrator is usually required to have a master's degree in child development, behavioral psychology, education, or a related field. Graduate-level course work typically includes the areas of administration, research, and advanced clinical issues. Those who wish to be considered for positions as child life administrators must also have work experience supervising staff members, managing budgets, and preparing educational materials.

Certification

Colleges and universities offer certificate programs in child life that help students and current professionals build their skills and learn about new assessments and treatment methods. For example, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, offers a child life specialist graduate certificate program. To earn the certificate, students must complete the following classes (as well as an internship): Therapeutic Play for Child Life Specialists, Family Theories, Adolescent Development in Diverse Families: Ages 13-25, Death Studies, and Graduate Social Work Research I. Contact schools in your area for more information.

Other Education or Training

The Association of Child Life Professionals offers webinars to members and nonmembers. Recent webinars included Managing Communication and Conflict; Trauma: Beyond the Basics; and You're From Where?: Supporting Children from Diverse Cultures. Contact the association for information on current webinars.