Children frequently feel overwhelmed, confused, frightened and as if they have no control. Parents often feel helpless when their child is in pain or sick. This feeling that they have no input into their own daily lives often results in stress for both the child and the family. Children also frequently have difficulty identifying and expressing feelings, especially fear and anxiety. They tend to understand and express these feelings differently than adults do.
Children communicate through non-verbal means, especially when they are distressed.
For example, the child may express his fear or anger through play and art rather than talking about it. In fact, play often is the primary way a child communicates. The Child Life professional helps patients, parents and siblings understand and cope with their experiences. They try to make the child's routine and environment as normal as possible while they are in the hospital. The Child Life professional also interacts with the patient to reduce negative feelings that can be associated with being in the hospital.