Teach kids about their lungs and breathing with this simple and easy DIY project using loose parts. Child life specialists, this would be perfect for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis or just to teach how to take slow, deep breaths for distraction and coping. My son’s kinder program created these last week using a balloon, straw […]
Child life month is well underway! One of the fun things we set up for our patients and families so far was a child life month kick off carnival. Some of the fun activities we offered were: A medi…
Working in private practice, I don’t have access to a medical closet that is filled with supplies to teach kids about an upcoming procedure, therefore I have to get really creative with loose parts. I would encourage all child life specialists to incorporate this with patients, as it helps to deepen their thought process and gain […]
Strategies to help prepare children for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Diet, foods, drinks, ideas for entertaining children. Books before surgery.
Fingerprint charm for legacy building
During my internship, my supervisors would often challenge me to provide distraction for patients without using an iPad. I’d often shrug it off because, in the rush of getting called for a pr…
Working in private practice, I don’t have access to a medical closet that is filled with supplies to teach kids about an upcoming procedure, therefore I have to get really creative with loose parts. I would encourage all child life specialists to incorporate this with patients, as it helps to deepen their thought process and gain […]
Child life month is well underway! One of the fun things we set up for our patients and families so far was a child life month kick off carnival. Some of the fun activities we offered were: A medi…
When a student and family is grieving its helpful to have a resource to send home. Try creating grief bags that you can provide to families.
Playing out medical experiences can help chronically ill children, as well as their siblings, express fears and foster hope for recovery.
When I finally signed up to take my certification exam, I quickly became overwhelmed with what/how I had to study. The Child Life Council has a list of suggested materials for you to review before …
This visual communication fan is a great way for your students to communicate with you where they are in pain. Many of our students struggle to explain where they feel pain - or where is hurting. This visual, symbol supported fan is going to help aide with the communication barriers - and get your s...
Things for kids to do after surgery
I discovered this awesome app through a friend’s post on Facebook. After I investigated a bit, I was really excited to add this to my child life resources for the iPad. “The Human…
Putting together this practice took (and continues to take) a lot of work. But some parts were easier than others. The financial aspects were the scariest for me because they were the most foreign …
We all do better with a plan! Use this to help kids create one of their very own before their next poke.
The 12 Types of Play Infographic depicts how play is essential to all children’s development and learning. As children grow and develop, play evolves.
Jennifer shares her tips on what made the day of her toddler's surgery go more smoothly!
If there’s one quality that every child life specialist should have – it’s creativity; whether that takes the form of decor and education for the unit, arts and crafts activities …
Currently one of my favorite resources to use with my pre-op patients is this surgery prep book from Katie Mense. It’s very kid friendly (non-threatening), easy to follow, and free to downloa…
The Grief Bubble is a special workbook for children ages 6 and older who have experienced the death of someone special. The interactive format invites them to find expression for their thoughts and feelings, encouraging the exploration of their grief. A useful tool for parents, counselors, educators and other caring adults supporting children in grief.
I recently had a pre-school patient be very anxious about getting an EKG. Simply explaining what an EKG is wasn’t enough for this concrete thinker, so we did some medical play! I brought in m…
I remember feeling nervous a lot during my practicum and internship because I feared not knowing exactly what to do in any given situation – what if I prep a 6-year-old for a CT Scan and they…
I'm excited to be sharing five simple, kid-approved, and inexpensive hand fidgets for students that you can easily incorporate in your own classroom come August. If you don't yet have these available in your classroom, give them a try! You may notice that some of your students will make just about anything a hand fidget-- an eraser (or all of them), a pencil, a paperclip, a toy from home..... seriously, anything. By providing these for students who need them, you are preventing additional distractions and encouraging them to use tools to help keep them focused on the task at hand. Stress Balls These are from Hobby Lobby-- use their weekly 40% off coupon to get these for around $3.50 These are the most common and lowest-impact hand fidgets. They can be found all over the place and usually in the party favor aisles in many different designs. I like to get the kind that don't bounce, because who needs that additional distraction, so these are soft foam. For the mild fidgeter or someone who prefers to occasionally squeeze something, these are perfect. They will *not* hold up over the course of the year with your extreme fidgeters! Just a warning! Coiled Keychains I love these as an "incognito" fidget. Kids can wear them on their wrist when they don't need them, and slip them into their hands when they do. These are found in any hardware store in the key department-- just remove the metal ring and you're good to go! I love that these are durable, easy to clean, and don't draw too much attention. If we're doing an activity with lots of transitions or if a student is particularly shy about coming to the Fidget Bin throughout the day, these are a great choice. Plus, if they do break, they are still perfectly functional as a fidget! Links I have similar rings in my Writing Teacher Time Bin (more info HERE), but I like this set in particular because of all of the varied texture they have. I will put two together for a student (no need for a 20-link chain!) and they can shuffle them in their hands and play with the texture all they want. They are easy to keep clean and small enough for a whole-class setting without added distraction. I let the student choose his/her two rings so they have more buy-in with using this tool. They are pretty fun! Pool Noodle Rings Definitely grab one of these when you're out and about this summer! You'll just need one (about $3) and a serrated steak knife. Cut these into 1" rings and you're all set! These aren't super durable, but their unique shape and the low price point makes them an easy tool to offer to your average fidgeter. Plus, since they aren't fun party toys like the balls mentioned above, they look more like tools (and are all the same color), so I have found these to be easier to manage in the classroom. Dryer Balls This 2-pack is from Target for a little over $5 Have an *extreme* fidgeter who destroys all of the three fidgets mentioned above? If you haven't had one recently, you will soon! I had a kiddo one year who tore apart all of the ideas above and I was left with the bits and pieces of them under his chair at the end of the day. He was a very sweet kid, so this was not malicious, but he just needed things way more durable! Dryer Balls to the rescue! Some of you may use these for their real purpose, but I find they are great for those kids who need the strongest of the strong when it comes to tools. They come in a 2-pack for about $5 (I got mine at Target when I was stocking up on clothespins) and are very easy to clean and store. Make sure you get unscented! These are meant to be thrown around in a hot dryer, so they also stand up to tons of abuse. How Do I Use Hand Fidgets in Class? I will typically offer these as an option to the class at the beginning of the year and see who actually uses them and who is just curious about them (similar to the Noise Blockers I mentioned HERE). By the end of the week, the initial excitement has waned, and then I can really focus on getting the right fidget to the fidgeter. You see that these are simple, but all very different, so some may be more preferred over others, and that's ok! I leave them in a common spot in our Fidget Bin so those kids can grab what they need and get to work. As with everything, we lay down some ground rules (keeping them out of our mouth, returning them to the bin, using them as tools, not toys, etc.) and expectations beforehand so it's not a free-for-all. The simple reminder of "Tools, not toys." has been great in ensuring their proper use throughout the year. Some kids come with preferences from years past, and I will always default to what works for them and ensure I have something that they need. No need to reinvent the wheel! And if someone is a chronic fidgeter, they can keep their fidget in their personal bin since they rely on it much more throughout the day. I'm hoping these gave you some easy ideas to get a Fidget Bin started in your own classroom this year. There are *tons* more examples of fidgets out there and several websites where you can do some shopping, but I have found these simple and (very importantly) cheap solutions have done their job very well these past few years. Favorite Fidgets Find these and many more simple and effective ideas on my Favorite Things Amazon page HERE. You can add to your stash or rotate through as the year progresses, there are so many great ideas to choose from. I'm linking up with my sweet friend, Tara, at 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It! Be sure to head over to see loads more and get incredibly inspired for your classroom next year :)
5 MYTHS ABOUT IV STARTS Needle procedures, such as blood draws and IV starts, are a necessary part of assessment and medical treatment for both children and adults. Play, medical education, role rehearsal, advocacy and coping plans are tools that child life specialists use to help children and fam
