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 […]

This doctor coloring page featuring tools doctors use will help your child grow familiar with some common medical instruments.

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 […]

I always find fun art and play therapy supplies at places like Goodwill, Once Upon A Child, and the dollar store. I recently came across “emoji” stickers at the dollar store with variou…

A sweet twist on worry stones for kids! These hearts are easy to make and perfect for the first day of school.

If you have a child that has trouble controlling their temper, you know exactly how hard it can be to calm them down. These 10 Sensory Hacks are perfect!

Medical preparation is a big part of a child life specialist’s job, but what happens if you don’t have the exact tools needed? You make it using loose parts! Working in private practice, I don’t have access to the nurses’ closet, so I had to be creative in making a butterfly needle this week. Here is […]

Today’s post is all about quick “grab and go” activities for kids. In the hospital, bags of crayons and activity pages are a child life staple. You can engage a kid for quite a while with paper and…

With the summer semester internship deadline this week, internship interviews are going to be in full swing here pretty soon! I thought I would dedicate a post just to internship interviews becaus…

I invite you to just take a moment and focus your attention on your heart center in your body. Imagine all of the people, pets, memories, and other significant things resting here. They are being c…

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 …

Fingerprint charm for legacy building

Make a courage jar to help encourage kids to conquer their everyday fears. A Family Dinner Book Club activity for bravery.

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…

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 […]

PlayDrMom shares how see uses dot stickers as a therapeutic tool and to create dot art in play therapy.

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted on here! I think I might have discovered Pinterest about a year ago and it was an easier way to...

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…

We all do better with a plan! Use this to help kids create one of their very own before their next poke.

The loss and bereavement lapbook will help pupils who have suffered loss. It is a practical and fun activity to do.

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.

Did you know that March 30th is National Doctor Day? I know many people don’t necessarily enjoy visiting their doctor, but no one can really deny how important a doctors work is. In honor of …

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 :)

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…

Teach your child to tackle anxiety and stress with our ultimate guide to anxiety in children. Stop feeling helpless as a parent with these detailed 12 steps!

School Counseling Crafts: 5 ways to use lunch bags in school counseling for divorce, anger management, mindfulness, giving, and grief from Mental Fills.

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that kids light up from new and unexpected kinds of play. It doesn’t have to be complex. Some of the easiest and most fun play ideas that have come to me without referencing good ‘ole Pinterest have been from just looking around and recycling empty containe

Sold and Shipped by Child's Play Inc. – Seller Info How long will I be there? Will I stay the night? Who will look after me? Reading Hospital with your child is the perfect opportunity to talk about these questions, and many more! Young children's lives are full of new experiences and these books help make them less scary. The simple conversational text and lively illustrations are carefully designed to encourage further dialogue between reader and child. Use these books as a starting point to talk to your child and help them to understand and prepare for these events, and to share any worries they may have.

Things for kids to do after surgery

Fun baby activity using things that you already have around the house. All you need is a few recyclables and q-tips. It's mindblowing how engaging this game is for 12-18 month olds!