Play Programming: International Child Life in Action - (2025)

This session examines the role of play programming in this hospital as a means of fostering normalization in an environment often affected by various barriers. It focuses on how child life assistants address cultural considerations and reflects on the program's commitment to honoring diversity.

Additionally, the presentation will highlight the program's history and its application in international contexts. The child life assistant's role will be discussed from the perspective of play, emphasizing daily priorities, the organization of playrooms, safety protocols, and cultural norms in collaboration with the program’s child life specialist.

Suggested Domain: Intervention; DEI
Credits: 1.5 PDU

Learning Objective(s):

1. Participants will gain awareness of the resources and services offered in an international Child Life Play Program, including play themes, activities, and shared resources, while also addressing language-specific barriers and solutions that impact programming.

2. Examine the characteristics of play programming in various types, compare play among different age groups and cultures, discuss different play environments, and explore play as a universal language along with its cultural variations.

3. Gain an understanding of cultural considerations and challenges that impact staff and patient engagement. Explore culturally sensitive approaches to play, diverse beliefs and practices related to health and treatment, and the effects of language miscommunications and conflicting cultural beliefs on care preferences and treatment adherence.

4. Enhance cultural competence by exploring lessons from a multi-national play program. This includes discussing the significance of gender roles in culture, reflecting on cultural biases and assumptions, and examining strategies to overcome these biases.

Please note: All webinar content and its certificate will expire on 02/04/2028 regardless of when it is purchased, accessed, or completed. At that point, contents will no longer be available in any form, including as an archive or as a PDU certificate. It is the responsibility of the learner to complete the contents and download and save the certificate for their records before 02/04/2028.