Our goal at Methodist is to help your child and family feel comfortable and cared for during your child’s hospitalization.

A Child Life Specialist will:

Provide preparation and procedural support for your child as they undergo medical tests, procedure, and/or surgery through the use of developmentally appropriate medical play and teaching materials.

• Engage your child with games, arts, crafts, toys, music and movies. Play helps normalize the hospital environment and make it a more positive experience.

• Lead medical play to allow your child the opportunity to rehearse the procedure, role play and become familiar with medical equipment. This helps to reduce a child’s stress and fosters coping.
• Assist your family and child by providing emotional support, education and advocacy.
• Consult with your child’s healthcare team regarding your child’s unique emotional, social and developmental needs.
• View our surgery prep book: a step-by-step guide to outpatient surgery for kids.
• Provide pre-surgical or pre-admission tours, which can lessen anxiety children and their families may have.  (To make an appointment, call Carol Weis at 309-671-2145 or Juli Zerwer at 309-672-4903.)