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Child life services have roots as far back as the 1920s, when hospital volunteers used play to help children cope. But the profession really came into its own in the 1960s, thanks to Emma Plank. Her groundbreaking book, Working with Children in Hospitals, provided a blueprint for addressing the unique needs of children during hospital stays and is still considered foundational in the field today.

Over the years, child life has grown far beyond hospital playrooms. Today, child life specialists provide support in a wide variety of settings, tailoring their care to meet the needs of both patients and their families. Whether offering emotional guidance, helping siblings adjust, or educating parents about medical procedures, child life professionals create a more supportive healthcare experience for everyone involved.

And now, let's fast forward to Annie's role as the Child Life Specialist at Hope for HIE. Her main objective is to help children and families navigate medicalized life by empowering and supporting both children and their caregivers and fostering the ability to advocate for their needs while simultaneously reducing stress, pain, and anxiety. This often looks like support for patients and their families facing surgeries, tests, procedures, diagnoses, and hospitalizations by offering preparation, creating personalized coping plans, providing education, fostering creative expression, and incorporating medical play.

Transitions back to school can feel especially tough after a summer break, a medical leave, or extended time at home. Here are some practical ways to ease that process:

• Talk about school ahead of time – Walk your child through what their day will look like, from classes and therapies to breaks and lunch. Predictability helps reduce worry.

• Read books about starting school – Stories give kids a chance to see their feelings reflected and open space to talk about their own concerns.

• Use visual supports – Create a simple calendar, countdown, or a social story (we have a Canva template to help with that!) to help your child anticipate changes.

• Practice short separations – If your child is anxious, try gradually building up time apart so they learn they can manage and reconnect with you after.

• Highlight what to look forward to – Focus on the positives—favorite subjects, friends, or special activities—so they have things to be excited about.

Routines and practice reduce the "unknowns," which are often the hardest part for children. Consider these activities:

• Drive by the school — getting familiar with the route can make the day feel less intimidating.

• Walk the halls or visit the playground — seeing familiar spaces ahead of time helps reduce the unknowns.

• Meet the teacher, counselor, or school nurse (if possible) — putting faces to names builds trust before the first day.

• Look at pictures of the school and talk through the daily routine — visuals can help kids know what to expect.

• Keep prep close to the first day for younger kids — too much time in between can make them anxious.

• Use repetition and familiar visuals — calendars, checklists, or storyboards can provide comfort and consistency.

This can feel like a big task- we know! For some families, it's all about sharing all of the information to keep your child safe and supported; for others, it helps to break it down and focus on what matters most for daily routines, learning, and safety, and adjust as needed throughout the year.

• With teachers and staff: Be clear, transparent, and proactive. Share diagnoses, medical or developmental needs, and any information that affects learning, emotions, or safety (think triggers, warning signs for seizure symptoms, emergency protocols, etc.)

• With classmates: Let your child guide what's shared. Some kids prefer to explain their differences, while others don't. Practicing simple responses and role-playing questions can help them feel more in control. This previous Child Life Q&A about self-advocacy and helping kids in our community own their story also provides some great tools and resources to navigate this!

Helping your child feel safe, understood, and included is and should be a shared effort between families and school staff. They can take on an active, supportive role by:

• Staying informed and proactive – Keep detailed notes on medical or developmental needs, triggers, warning signs (like seizures), and emergency protocols. Review and update plans regularly in collaboration with parents.

• Initiating conversations – Staff can gently check in with the child to see how they’re feeling about routines, transitions, or peer interactions, creating space for the child to express questions or concerns.

• Collaborating with families – Maintain open lines of communication to share observations, successes, and areas where additional support might help. Families and staff working together can adapt strategies to meet the child’s needs.

• Supporting peer understanding – Help classmates understand differences in age-appropriate ways, and encourage inclusive behaviors that foster friendships and empathy.

• Encouraging independence and choice – Give children opportunities to share what they feel comfortable with about their diagnosis, while guiding and supporting them through role-play or structured conversations.

The more supported, understood, and connected a child feels, the easier the transition into a new setting will be. Consider:

• Encouraging clubs, activities, or groups where they can meet peers with shared interests.

• Arranging playdates with classmates or joining before-school meetups. You can also check out this past Child Life Q&A on fostering peer relationships—it’s full of helpful tools and strategies!

• Asking about buddy systems or peer mentors for new students.

• Highlighting your child’s strengths and normalizing their differences by reminding them that everyone needs help with something. This Child Life-curated book list is all about titles that celebrate differences and inclusivity!

A child’s confidence can make a big difference in how they handle new or overwhelming experiences. Building them up—emotionally and socially—helps ease their worries and helps them feel more capable moving forward.

Provide emotional support:

• Listen and validate feelings – Remind them that it’s normal to feel nervous and they’re not alone.

• Model confidence – Share stories of times you felt nervous but succeeded, showing that challenges can be overcome.

Celebrate growth (milestones and inchstones!):

• Celebrate small wins – From making it through the first day to trying something new, acknowledge progress out loud.

• Praise effort, not just outcomes – Emphasize perseverance, creativity, or kindness as much as achievements.

• Help them set small, achievable goals – Meeting goals one step at a time builds a sense of accomplishment.

Build on their strengths:

• Highlight strengths and interests – Talk about what they’re good at and encourage activities that let those talents shine.

• Encourage self-advocacy – Give them simple phrases to explain their needs, building both confidence and independence.

Create and model stability:

• Ensure supports are in place – With accommodations set, your child can focus on learning and enjoying school instead of just coping.

• Create routines and predictability – Consistency helps kids feel secure, which boosts confidence in handling new situations.

• Check in regularly. Try open-ended prompts: "School is starting soon—what are some things you're curious about, or things you hope to do this year?"

• Validate their feelings. Instead of jumping to fix it, acknowledge: "I can see this feels really hard." Then brainstorm solutions together.

• Offer creative outlets. Drawing, building, role-play, sensory play, or even big-movement activities (like stomping water balloons or running outside) give kids a safe way to release emotions.

• Toddlers/Preschoolers: Limited words for emotions may lead to frustration, tantrums, clinginess, sleep disruptions, or regression. Some may become extra bossy as a way to feel in control. Repetitive questions are also common.

• Older kids: Feelings might show up as physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches), irritability, emotional outbursts, crying, or withdrawal. Moodiness and fatigue are also to be expected.

It's important to note that the environment makes a difference, too. Expect more meltdowns or tantrums after school once your kids return home. Many kids "hold it together" during the day and release those big emotions where they feel safest—at home with you.

Even with the best preparation, life can throw curveballs. The routines and strategies introduced earlier in this blog can be flexible and adapted to these unexpected events, but here are some additional ways to help your child feel secure during these changes:

• Create a safety plan together. Involve your child in making an emergency plan so they know what to expect. For example: who picks them up from school, who they stay with, who makes dinner, or how they'll talk to you if you're away.

• Identify communication preferences: Talk with your child about how they like to receive important news or updates during the day—whether they prefer to hear it right away or wait until they’re home, or whether they want all the information up front or prefer to wait and ask questions as they come up.

• Build a "safe circle." Identify trusted adults—neighbors, teachers, relatives—that your child knows they can turn to if something unexpected happens.

• Use familiar coping tools. Remind them they can still lean on familiar routines—like drawing, journaling, or cuddling with a comfort item—to bring a sense of control when things feel uncertain.

• Explore books that celebrate differences and inclusivity: Stories are a wonderful way to help children feel valued, seen, and empowered. Here’s a curated list from Annie to help you get started!

• Mighty and Bright offers visual calendars that help kids understand routines and transitions through simple, kid-friendly visuals.

• Encourage activities that build self-esteem and advocacy skills: Our SOAR program is a great place to start. It focuses on building confidence and self-awareness and teaching kids how to speak up for themselves—whom to talk to, how, and when.

• Child Life Q&A Playlist: We believe this is a great go-to resource for families, featuring expert insights on navigating the ups and downs of medical, developmental, and emotional challenges. Check the show notes for direct links to our key takeaways!

• Support Spot App: Free and accessible to most HIE families (international families -- you can still access these resources directly at HIE.Support), this app from Child Life on Call provides resources to support your child's learning differences in many facets of life. Download the app, select Hope for HIE, and enter code 048325.

• Hope for HIE’s Support Network: Connect with our Child Life Specialist, Social Worker, and Peer Support Mentors for individualized support.