Working with Children at CHM
Working with Children
at Children’s Hospital of Michigan
CHM Child Life Services Department
Detroit Medical Center©
May, 2007
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Working with Children at CHM
Confidentiality
• Ask only the information from children and families
that you need (Are you able to come to the
playroom? Can you have juice?)
• It is not appropriate to ask about diagnosis
• Keep all information offered to you as confidential
in and out of the hospital
• You are to act as an advocate for children and
families – support their privacy
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Working with Children at CHM
Promote Independence Of Children
• Children in the hospital are often still able to
perform tasks for themselves; help children only
when necessary
• Encourage children to continue to develop and
explore their capabilities
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Working with Children at CHM
Approach Children Gently
• Children are wary of strangers, especially in the
hospital
• Approach children with gentleness; rapid or
aggressive movement may non-verbally
communicate danger to children
• Younger children may be especially wary of
strangers
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Working with Children at CHM
Language Use With Children
• Younger children often interpret works literally:
• “I’m going to draw your blood.”
• “See you later.”
• Talking with staff or other volunteers about your
personal life in the presence of children is
inappropriate
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Working with Children at CHM
Speak Softly
• Tone of voice is as important
when communicating with a
young child as the words you
speak
• Address children in a soft
manner conveying a feeling of
warmth and security
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Working with Children at CHM
Bend Down To The Child’s Level
• Bend or squat down so that your head is level with
the child’s head with whom you are communicating
• This will reduce threat engendered by height and
facilitate communication with children
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Working with Children at CHM
DO NOT Make Promises That Cannot Be Kept
• You may be tempted to make promises of returning,
or playing a game later, etc.:
• Circumstances may change causing you to unintentionally
break your promise and disappoint a child
• Avoid making even the simplest promises
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Working with Children at CHM
DO NOT Offer Children Choices That Are Not Available
• Phrases such as the following are unfair to children
because they offer an apparent choice where none
exists:
• “Is it alright to stop playing now?”
• “We have to close the playroom, okay?”
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Working with Children at CHM
Be Positive With Choices
• When limitations must be placed, state them
positively by offering an alternative action:
• Instead of saying, “Don’t walk with scissors in your
hand.”; say, “Place the scissors on the table if you
need to get up to get something else.”
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Working with Children at CHM
Be Aware Of All Children
• Be aware of the needs of all children in a group,
ensuring that they are all involved in meaningful
activities/play:
• You may be tempted to become highly involved in an
activity with one child or a small group; however, you
must facilitate opportunities for all children to play with
other children
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Working with Children at CHM
DO NOT Be Concerned With Messiness
• DO NOT be concerned with constantly cleaning up
after the children; instead encourage them to tidy
one activity up before moving on to another:
• Children engaged in play will often be messy
• Accidents will occur, handle the situation calmly and
avoid making comments that children could interpret as
scolding
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Working with Children at CHM
Encourage Parent And Sibling Participation
• This is a family-centered care hospital and as such
we strive to facilitate family relationships during
hospitalization
• Encourage parents and siblings to participate in
activities with their children
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Working with Children at CHM
Prepare Children For The End Of Activities
• Prepare children for the end of activities with
phrases like the following:
• “It’s almost time to close the playroom.”
• “I can play one more game with you and then I need to go
play with another child.”
• DO NOT offer children choices if none exist
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Working with Children at CHM
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