A unique role has emerged in the healthcare industry that combines the compassion of patient care with the creativity of child development. Child Life Specialists (CLS) are the unsung heroes who support children and their families through the most challenging times of their lives. One of those amazing heroes is Becca Greer, a CLS at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We had the honor of chatting with her not only to gain insights into this remarkable profession but also to understand why it might be an appealing career choice for Generation Z.
Becca’s journey as a CLS has been filled with moments of trust, empathy, and resilience. As she puts it, “A CLS is invited into a child and family’s life during one of their most traumatic times and gains their trust.” Becca shared the intricacies of her role with us, from helping children understand and cope with their diagnoses to using innovative tools to help them express their emotions and normalize aspects of their treatment. She also sheds light on the educational path to becoming a CLS, including the necessary degrees, certifications, and work experience.
Check out our full interview with Becca Greer below.
Can you explain what a Child Life Specialist (CLS) is and what your role entails on a daily basis?
Becca Greer: A Child Life Specialist is a healthcare provider who helps a child diagnosed with an illness or injury understand and cope with their treatment. Child Life Specialists are employed by hospitals and work directly with children who are being treated there, as well as their families. Our responsibilities include helping children understand how their health issues and treatment may affect them, explaining procedures in an age-appropriate way, and providing distraction during these procedures. We also teach children effective coping strategies, including self-expression, play, and education.
Each day as a child life specialist looks very different. I start my day by attending psychosocial rounds where each patient’s medical history, coping needs, and plan for the day are discussed. During this time, I assess who to prioritize and who is a high need for the day. I check in with nurses and then begin my day providing procedural support, education for a new diagnosis, sibling support, or normative play, depending on the needs of the day.
I may see every patient each day, or I might have a patient who needs a little more support and spend a larger amount of time with them. It all depends on my patients’ needs and acuity of medical status.
What are the educational and certification requirements to become a CLS? Can you describe your career path?
Becca Greer: Becoming a Child Life Specialist requires obtaining at least a bachelor’s degree. Some schools offer a degree in child life specifically, but many Child Life Specialists study psychology, child development, or education. Many Child Life Specialists choose to further their education with a master’s degree, which is what I did. In addition to studying a relevant field, Child Life Specialists must receive certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals through an exam and 600 hours of on-the-job experience through a fellowship or internship.
Personally, I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia College and State University. Then I went to graduate school at East Carolina University, where I received a master’s degree in human development and family sciences, specializing in child life.
Receiving hands-on experience at children’s hospitals was also an important part of my training. During the summer, between the first and second year of graduate school, I completed a 180-hour practicum at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Upon graduation, I completed a 600-hour internship at Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas. After my internship, I sat for the Child Life Certification Exam and was then eligible to apply for jobs. I began my career at the Emergency Department at Children’s of Alabama. And in 2017, I joined Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where I work today.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist rather than becoming a nurse or doctor?
Becca Greer: I always knew I wanted to help and work with children, but the idea of being a nurse or doctor never appealed to me – I didn’t want to be the one poking them or giving medicine. I knew that as a child life specialist, I could still help with overall coping, procedures, and medical care without having to be directly involved as a nurse or doctor.
I first learned about child life during college. I volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Macon, Georgia, and learned about the role of Child Life Specialists through a family that shared about it with me. Once I heard about this profession, it was like a lightbulb went off, and I knew this was the job I wanted to pursue. I then researched to understand what qualifications I needed and started on my Child Life journey. Each specialist has their own path of how they learned about the profession. And I love to hear each person’s personal journey.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job in helping pediatric patients and their families?
Becca Greer: I find so many aspects of my job rewarding. It is truly a privilege to be invited into a child and family’s life during one of the most traumatic times and to feel so trusted by parents and children.
One aspect I find truly rewarding is educating children about their diagnosis. Most children have only heard of the word cancer in relation to adults. So, providing education at developmentally appropriate levels allows kids to understand their diagnosis and feel empowered to take some control back in a situation that may feel impossible to navigate.
Of course, the most challenging part of my career is knowing that not all patients survive their cancer diagnosis. Still, it is very rewarding to be invited into rooms during this difficult time and continue to provide care to the patient. When this happens, I also work directly with the patient’s siblings to provide grief education. This is an immensely challenging part of my job, but also one of the most rewarding parts, because I feel like I am making a difference every day.
Can you share a few specific examples of how you educate and empower children to understand and cope with their medical treatments?
Becca Greer: Play is how all children conceptualize and make sense of the world, and children who are in treatment for cancer are no exception. Medical play helps patients understand medical procedures and emotionally prepare themselves in advance. Acting out an aspect of treatment children dislike, like taking medicine, helps them become more comfortable and normalizes it.
Many children are information-seeking and cope best when given all the information. As Child Life Specialists, we break down medical jargon into developmentally appropriate language given a patient’s age to help them best understand.
For example, when explaining a new cancer diagnosis, I would use different words with a three-year-old than I would with an eighteen-year-old. I may say to a three-year-old with leukemia, “Your blood is sick, and we need medicine to make it healthy again.” I feel that allowing a patient to understand the reason for hospital admission, pokes and medication helps to empower them and overall helps with compliance with medical treatment and care.
As a CLS, what tools, techniques, and activities do you use to help normalize the hospital experience for young patients?
Becca Greer: One tool I use often is My Special Aflac Duck, a robotic companion that is given free of charge to children in treatment for cancer, as well as sickle cell disease. Because My Special Aflac Duck comes with accessories like a stethoscope, syringe and port-a-cath, I utilize the duck for medical play often by demonstrating the procedures the child will be getting on the duck. I also help children understand why it’s important to take their medications by having them “feed” their duck medicine.
I also find that My Special Aflac Duck is useful for emotional expression, especially with children who are younger and have a harder time verbalizing their emotions. The duck comes with seven “feeling cards” that represent different emotions and, when they’re tapped against the duck, make it respond in different ways. Not only does this help children express how they’re feeling in the moment, but we also use it to role-play scenarios like staying in the hospital, undergoing different procedures, and taking medicine. This helps us make an appropriate plan to promote positive coping in advance of children’s treatment.
How do you build trust and rapport with pediatric patients who may be scared or resistant to medical care?
Becca Greer: The hospital can be a scary and overwhelming place overall, so I do my best to build quick rapport with patients to help develop trust. Sometimes, I may enter the room for the first time with something fun and small, like a stuffed animal, or once I am in the room, I may point out different things in the patient’s room that may be important to them and try to relate.
It is always an easy way to build trust and rapport when you talk about a patient’s favorite Paw Patrol character or favorite athlete. Once that rapport is built, I remind patients that my job is to help make the hospital less scary and that I will be the one explaining the procedures and helping them through the admission.
What advice would you give to Gen Z students who are interested in a healthcare career but aren’t sure if nursing or medicine is the right path for them?
Becca Greer: It’s amazing to see so many members of Gen Z are interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. I would highly recommend a career in child life to anyone interested in the medical side of the healthcare profession but doesn’t want to be the one performing the actual procedures. As Child Life Specialists, we are involved in supporting every procedure a patient has, but our focus is on providing education and emotional support.
I can honestly say I get home from work every day knowing I made a difference in a child’s life, which is rewarding enough in itself. I love this career and would recommend it to anyone who wants to make a positive difference and work with children.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work and the ways you support pediatric patients and their families?
Becca Greer: During the pandemic, we had to shift the way we practice and provide patient care completely. We switched many interventions to virtual and had to find creative ways to continue to provide care through digital platforms.
One of the interventions I utilized was letter writing with patients. I would write a letter and then provide a blank envelope, stickers, and paper to the patient under the door. We created a “mailbox” and would write back and forth. This helped me stay connected to my patients until we were cleared to go back into patient rooms. We are always finding ways to be more creative, and the pandemic was no exception!
Can you share a memorable or heartwarming story about the difference you’ve made in a child’s life through your work as a CLS?
Becca Greer: A few months ago, I had a very anxious 12-year-old who came in with a new diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. At her initial diagnosis, she was appropriately angry at the situation and the diagnosis and had a difficult time processing it.
Once I introduced services, I explained that I could be someone to help her process those emotions. I first provided diagnosis education and explained that this diagnosis was not her fault and not a result of anything she did wrong. She started opening up to me and sharing her feelings of anger. We completed many therapeutic activities about self-image once she started losing her hair.
After a week of consistent education and support, she stated that she wanted to embrace her diagnosis and not let it define her. She became an advocate for others going through treatment and was a role model to newly diagnosed patients at the clinic. She felt brave enough to attend camp with friends who had a similar diagnosis and eventually rang the bell to signify the end of treatment!
At the end of treatment, she told me that she would not be where she is today without the support of a Child Life Specialist during those first few weeks. To me, this meant the world. I love to empower children to take on their diagnosis and feel in control. She really is a warrior!
What are some of the unique challenges or considerations when working with pediatric patients of different ages, from infants to teenagers?
Becca Greer: The most important thing to consider when working with multiple age groups is remembering that each age group may have different fears or misconceptions regarding the hospital due to the developmental stage they are in.
As Child Life Specialists, we are trained in development and able to help each different age group navigate the stressors that can be associated with the hospital. It is important to remember that each child copes differently, and no two children are exactly the same.
What do you wish more people understood about the vital role Child Life Specialists play within the healthcare system?
Becca Greer: I wish more people understood the level of education Child Life Specialists receive to make it look like we are “just playing” in the hospital. We are trained to make play educational and to help kids cope through play. We pick specific toys to help with achieving milestones and specific distraction toys for procedures based on development and sensory needs.
It may seem like we are just “playing,” but in reality, we are doing so much more. I believe child life is essential in any pediatric healthcare system to promote overall coping and well-being in the hospital. If a child understands a procedure, they may cope better with it, which in turn decreases the amount of sedation a child may need. The overall impact of child life goes further than what meets the eye.
Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart?
Becca Greer: At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the parking deck has a sign that I look at daily to remind myself of the work I am doing. On the way in, the sign says, “You will make a difference in the life of a child,” and on the way out, it says, “Today you made a difference in the life of a child.” I believe that no matter how big or small, a Child Life Specialist makes an impact, which is what keeps me coming back day after day.
Emily Sprinkle, also known as Emma Loggins, is a designer, marketer, blogger, and speaker. She is the Editor-In-Chief for Women's Business Daily where she pulls from her experience as the CEO and Director of Strategy for Excite Creative Studios, where she specializes in web development, UI/UX design, social media marketing, and overall strategy for her clients.
Emily has also written for CNN, Autotrader, The Guardian, and is also the Editor-In-Chief for the geek lifestyle site FanBolt.com
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