Wanted: Experienced specialist who is willing to work with young children in the health field. Must have a college degree which will include: specialized education in hospital settings, knowledge of children's development, and the ability to work with families in stressful situations.   Experience is essential!

    How can all this be accomplished on a college program? At Appalachian State Universiry's Department of Family
and Consumer Sciences, Child Life students receive this essential experience through lab experiences with young
children, through practicum experiences in hospital settings, and finally through a 400 to 600 hour internship in
major teaching hospitals with experienced Child Life Specialists.

    Child Life is a new field for Child Development majors. Child Life Specialists work with children who
must spend lengthy periods in the hospital. The Child Life Specialist is part of the collaborative team of nurses,
doctors, social workers, school teachers, respiratory therapists, physical therapists. occupational therapists, and
dieticians who help children and families cope with the stress of extended hospital stays.

    Child Life specialists strive to meet the emotional and psychosocial needs of their young patients while
helping to provide normal activities to fin their days. They also provide a valuable service of helping children
understand. through play, the medical procedures that they must experience.

      During the past five summers 23 Child Development majors got the opportunity to work with leaders in
Child Life in across the country doing everything from helping children prepare for one day surgery to providing
normal play experiences for children in long term care in the bone marrow and oncology
units.