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Child Life Month
At Lurie Children’s, our Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) play a vital role in making the hospital experience less stressful or scary for children and their families. Each March, we celebrate Child Life Month to honor our dedicated professionals and recognize the impact they have on our young patients facing medical challenges. One way to honor our Certified Child Life Specialists is to make a gift in support of their work during Child Life Month. The Department of Family Services is primarily funded by philanthropy, and thanks to donor support, families never receive a bill for child life services at Lurie Children’s.
What Is a Child Life Specialist?
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are certified clinicians who are trained to focus on a patient and family’s emotional safety throughout medical experiences with the intent to promote empowerment and understanding and lessen the possibility of any form of medical trauma. They are skilled at providing developmentally appropriate support, education, preparation, and therapeutic play opportunities to decrease anxiety associated with being in the hospital for patients, siblings, and loved ones.
Lurie Children’s has Child Life Specialists located at our main hospital and our outpatient satellite locations. These specialists are there to help your child understand their visit (including diagnosis, procedural needs, and inpatient stays) in a developmentally appropriate way.
Child Life Specialists also help support and guide legacy-making and provide support through bereavement for siblings and loved ones.
What do Child Life Specialists Do?
Hospital visits can be overwhelming for children, but Child Life Specialists are here to help. These specially trained professionals provide:
- Emotional Support – Helping children and families cope with hospitalization, illness, and treatment challenges.
- Medical Play & Education – Using play-based learning to explain procedures in a way kids can understand, easing anxiety and building confidence.
- Therapeutic Activities – Engaging children in art, music, and play to bring moments of joy and normalcy to their hospital stay.
- Family Guidance – Supporting parents and siblings with resources and coping strategies during difficult times.
- NutriSource Facility Dog Program - A Certified Child Life Specialist handler works alongside Hawk, Lurie Children’s full-time facility dog, to help patients and their families.
How You Can Help During Child Life Month
The Department of Family Services is primarily funded by philanthropy. Thanks to donor support, families never receive a bill for child life services at Lurie Children’s. The generosity of our community ensures every child gets the emotional support they need—at no cost to them. Here's how you can help:
- Start a Fundraiser – Rally your friends and family to support child life services by starting a virtual toy drive or other fundraiser for Lurie Children’s.
- Donate Toys & Supplies – You can help ensure our child life team has the toys and supplies they need by donating toys or purchasing items from our Amazon Wish Lists.
- Make a Tribute Gift – Has a Certified Child Life Specialist at Lurie Children's made a difference in your life? Making a gift in their honor is a heartfelt way to show gratitude while supporting their important work.
- Participate in Step Up for Kids – Step Up for Kids is an 80-floor stair climb that takes place each winter and supports our Department of Family Services.
Together, we can help kids feel safe, supported, and empowered throughout their medical journey. You can make a financial gift during Child Life Month and help support our dedicated team and the patients and families at Lurie Children’s.