Transforming the Emergency Department: The Benefits of Child Life

The waiting room is filled with soft whimpers and heart-wrenching cries. Some children cling to favorite toys as others lean into the parent stroking their hair. Cheeks are flushed with fevers, jaws locked in grimaces, eyes fluttering closed in exhaustion. No matter how quickly each name is called, it never feels fast enough. No matter if it’s their first trip to the pediatric emergency room or the tenth, the feelings of stress, uncertainty, and helplessness loom over each family.

The 3-year-old in Room 104 would benefit from seeing what stitches look like on a doll, Room 106 has siblings in need of an activity while they wait for a broken leg to be X-rayed, there’s a 7-year-old refusing to go in the MRI because he’s worried it’ll be too loud, extra hands in Room 107 to help soothe a five-year-old getting their first IV would be great, and a sixteen-year-old in the midst of a behavioral health crisis was just brought into Room 109.

At hospitals like Children’s Minnesota, the Emergency Department relies on Child Life services to make sure each child and every family get the support and care they need. Child Life professionals are trained to support, advocate, and educate pediatric patients and families. Collaborating with doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff members, they transform an environment of uncertainty and stress into one of empowerment and resilience.

When Leigh* had to go to the Emergency Department and wait for results, Child Life Professional Kim turned what could have been hours filled with stress and anxiety into an opportunity to create.

“Kim with Child Life was absolutely incredible,” raved Leigh’s family.

By the time Leigh returned from her ultrasound, Kim had filled her room with a plethora of arts and crafts to help her pass the time. Then, after Leigh got through her IV insertion, Kim brought her a Squishmallow to celebrate her bravery. Moments like these not only help kids process and normalize their medical experiences but also honor each child’s autonomy and milestones throughout their care.

Child Life professionals like Kim maximize support and care for children and families in the following ways:

1. Providing individually tailored psychosocial support to pediatric patients and all family members, reducing emotional burden, anxiety, and stress

2. Foster welcoming and age-appropriate atmosphere for families of all backgrounds in an environment that can be unfamiliar and intimidating

3. Sharing developmentally appropriate explanations of diagnosis, procedures, and care plan

4. Offering healthy, sustainable coping skills for use in the ED and beyond

5. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration for trauma-informed care

6. Championing child-friendly and family-centered practices

7. Serving as a resource and support for patients experiencing acute mental health crisis

8. Increasing resilience and supporting empowerment for pediatric patients

9. Facilitating opportunities for play and self-expression

10. Creating avenues for peer-to-peer connection and family engagement

These services provide kids and families with essential support during what can be some of the most harrowing days of their lives.

Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) has been funding services like Child Life for over 90 years because we believe offering a robust network of support in the medical setting is essential to improving medical care and outcomes. For Leigh and many other kids, the services Child Life offers can turn emergency medical care into a positive experience for themselves and their families.

“[Kim] was compassionate, caring, and kind, making us feel like we were the most important family she was taking care of though we knew the ED was extremely busy,” Leighs family recalled.

CHA is proud to be a partner in funding Child Life in the Emergency Departments at Children’s Minnesota. Seven days a week, these specialized professionals make a world of difference in the care the children and families in our communities receive. You can ensure these services not only remain available but have the opportunity to expand by donating today.



Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) is a fundraising and resource 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, MN dedicated to supporting holistic pediatric healthcare services and programs rarely covered by insurance.

*Name changed to protect patient privacy.