This webinar will explore the family systems perspective and parenting practices. We will discuss the concept of meta-parenting (how parents think about their parenting), and further investigate how parenting practices or meta-parenting might be different for the parents of children in the hospital. We will explore what factors might contribute to parenting differences and what the implications of parenting differences might be for children and families. We will conclude by discussing how child life can potentially educate, or play a role in supporting families, parents and children.

With the number of sexually transmitted diseases on the rise and the risk of teen pregnancy looming, it would make sense that a profession that focuses on the developmentally appropriate needs of youth would feel compelled to ensure adolescents are well-educated and able to advocate for their sexual health.

The way families react to the medical environment drives how clinicians provide support. By thoroughly assessing the family, the clinician can provide the best individualized care.

Working with adolescents can be challenging inside and outside of the hospital setting. Understanding the development of the adolescent brain, both anatomically and psychologically, can provide a child life specialist greater insight into assessing teens and creating effective interventions to implement in daily practice.

Read this Focus article and earn .5 PDUs. This is a free resource for members and $15 for non-members. Once you've read the article, you will need to complete your quiz in order to access the certificate of completion through the professional development platform. Participants should maintain a copy of their certificate of attendance for their records.

Read this Focus article and earn .5 PDUs. This is a free resource for members and $15 for non-members. Once you've read the article, you will need to complete your quiz in order to access the certificate of completion through the professional development platform. Participants should maintain a copy of their certificate of attendance for their records.

Strength-based practice is a theoretical approach originally developed and employed in the field of social work. This philosophy attempts to highlight and build upon a person’s strengths rather than focusing on his or her deficits. This webinar presentation will define strength-based practice and describe its basic tenets as well as articulate specific ways to embrace this approach in the field of child life.

Age-appropriate, play-based communication is a foundational and necessary skill for child life professionals working in a variety of medical and community settings.

Healthcare is in the midst of a changing climate. This changing climate is resulting in the presence of more short stay units and expedited admissions. This change causes child life specialists to identify and balance new patient and family needs as well as demands from hospital administration. Child life specialists will discuss how to adapt to this new work flow while advocating for the role of child life.

This presentation will discuss changes in anesthesia practice (use of Versed versus use of interactive games via tablet) preoperatively for pediatric patients, aged 4 to 12 years, admitted for outpatient surgery procedures. This large urban pediatric hospital has routinely administered Versed to all pediatric patients prior to separation from caregivers.