When I was in high school, I wanted to be an art therapist. Ever heard of that? It’s basically a clinician that uses visual art and art practices to promote healing and healthy mental and emotional expression for patients undergoing care at a hospital. Pretty cool, right?

I also have a few friends that are Child Life Specialists- and let me tell you- they are special people who do a very important job. Child life specialists are trained professionals who help children cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization. These Specialists enter the hospital room with the knowledge and understanding that people need more than physical help to heal- and they also provide the resources patients need to take care of their mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

Did you know Covenant Children’s employs Child Life Specialists specifically there to help with these things?

• Preparation for medical procedures, tests or surgeries

• Developmentally appropriate education about diagnosis, treatments and medical environment

• Assistance with developing coping strategies, distraction and/or support during stressful events

• Opportunities to explore real medical equipment through medical play

• Developmentally appropriate activities and toys for patients

• Support and education geared toward siblings of hospitalized patients

• End-of-life support to patient and family as well as bereavement support for family members

• Celebrations of birthdays, medical milestones, and holidays

You can check out more about Covenant’s Child Life Specialists here.

I think that is pretty cool! I want to teach my children to recognize their need for health not only in their physical bodies, but in their thoughts and emotions as well. I believe it’s going to be very important for my children’s generation to understand how to manage their minds in a world that is constantly overwhelming them with information.

I also want them to take charge of their own health- and I believe that a holistic approach to health is so important. I have seen how my own stress and anxiety has affected my physical and mental/emotional health, and so it’s a top priority to help my children process their own feelings and thoughts. I want them to have the skills they need to cope with the hard things in life, but also be able to celebrate the good!

I love knowing that when we visit Covenant Children’s, the people caring for my kids have the same philosophy- and that they’re not simply looking for a physical healing, but want to encourage mental, spiritual, and emotional health as well. They’ve incorporated Integrative Care, which provides “developmental, educational, and expressive opportunities through play and the creative arts to help our children and families better cope with illness, hospitalization, and recovery.” More info on their Integrative Care here.

We’re so thankful that a specialized hospital like this is just a mile away from home- and that they’re providing top-level care to the region. It brings me a huge sense of security to know where we’ll go and that we’ll be receiving excellent care when we have a need.

How do you teach your children to care for their mental and emotional health? I’d love to hear!