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Chils Life specialist with child
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Child Life

Child Life Specialists at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital focus on meeting the emotional and developmental needs of children who are in a health care setting.
24hour-plane Contact our Child Life Program
  • Our Services
  • Preparing your child for a visit
  • Child Life Internship and Fellowship Information
  • Child Life Wish List

For a child, the excessive anxiety and stress related to illness, separation from family during hospitalization, and medical encounters can be emotionally damaging and interfere with the child's response to medical treatment and care. Major interruptions in a child's life can invite dependency and erode self-esteem and may jeopardize the child's growth and development.

Child Life Program Goals

Children and adolescents are human beings with feelings, rights and special needs. We treat the total child and family, while respecting each as an individual. Our program goals include:

  • Minimizing stress to promote optimal response to medical treatment and care.
  • Promoting a sense of mastery and understanding of medical experiences.
  • Providing opportunities for building independent behavior and retaining self-esteem.
  • Providing for continuation of normal daily activities so as not to interfere with appropriate growth and development.
  • Offering therapeutic activities and opportunities for creativity and self-expression.
  • Providing supportive relationships for patients and families.
  • Facilitating communication between medical personnel, the patient and the family.
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  • Your Child's Visit
    • Patient Resources
      • How to prepare for your child's visit
        • Coming to your appointment
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        • Child Life Internship and Fellowship Information
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      • Create or Read a Patient Blog
      • Educational Services
      • Get to know MyChart
      • Guest and Concierge Services
      • Interpretation and Translation Services
      • Office of the Patient Experience
        • Patient Relations Specialists
      • Pediatric Clinical Trials
      • Social Services
      • Telephone Numbers at UI Health Care
        • Integrated Call Center
    • Services and Amenities at Stead Family Children's Hospital
      • Driving Directions and Parking
      • Places to Eat
        • Guest Meal Room Service
        • Bread Garden Cafe - Gerdin Family Lobby
        • Gerdin Family Lobby CafĂ©
        • Patient Room Service at Stead Family Children's Hospital
      • Fourth Floor Salon
      • Janice and Bruce Ellig Children's Library
      • Kaleidoscope Gift Shop
      • Medical Museum
      • Play Spaces
      • Project Art
        • Artwork inside Stead Family Children's Hospital
        • Online Gallery
      • Safety Store
    • Billing, Insurance, and Financial Assistance
      • Financial Counseling Services
        • Financing Assistance for Children's Health Care
      • Financial and Billing Assistance
        • Billing Checklist
        • How to Read Your Bill
        • Options and Steps for Paying your Bill
        • Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
        • Billing for Hospital-Based Clinics
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Billing, Insurance, and Records
      • Insurance Coverages and Patient Registration
        • UI Health Care Insurance Contract List
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Patients
        • Medicare Coverage
      • Medical Records Request
        • Medical record privacy and adolescent patients
    • Visitor Resources
      • Places to Stay in the Iowa City Area
        • Overnight Stay for Guests
        • Ronald McDonald House and Hope Lodge
      • Send a gift
      • Visitor Parking Pass Booklet
      • Visitor guidelines, screenings, and restrictions
        • No Tobacco Use
Child Life TV is on channel 114

To access our shows on tablets: Entertainment > Hospital Channels > Child Life and Children's Library Channel or

Channel 114 on the Parent TV

Email [email protected] to share artwork, give feedback, or choose the next activity!

Internship and Fellowship Opportunities

Interested in an internship or fellowship with our Child Life team? 

Learn about the qualifications and how to apply

Services Provided by Child Life Staff

The Child Life program provides services to all pediatric patients and their family members throughout the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital as well as outpatients seen in the pediatric specialty clinic.  A non-threatening playroom environment enables children to continue normal social interactions and participate in activities designed to encourage developmentally appropriate play and expression of feelings.

Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers

Child Life’s focus includes time spent:

  • Nurturing
  • Responding to physical needs
  • Overcoming fear of separation
  • Encouraging normal development through play
Siblings and adult caregivers with:

Child Life provides them with:

  • Education on how to continue to nurture and play with the child throughout their illness
  • Peer support groups
  • Grief and bereavement support
  • Materials for diversion and comfort
School-age and adolescent patients

Will receive a wide variety of services to meet their unique needs including:

  • Preparing for, and support during, medical procedures
  • Medical play
  • Group and one-on-one activities including art, crafts, cooking, and games
  • Celebrations of important life events
  • Gymnasium and game room activities
  • Social support
  • Returning to school programs

Child Life Videos

From the kids at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to all of our friends and supporters: Thank you.

From the kids at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to all of our friends and supporters: Thank you.
  • Hawkeye Wave 2019
  • Aidan gets to go home for the first time
  • Medical Play
  • Guided Imagery for Healing
  • Chair Yoga Flow
Child Life Wish List
This wish list was created by the Child Life Program with specific items to bring joy to patients at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Items have been carefully selected for each age group. These items will be given to patients to promote normalcy, socialization, and expression.
Look at the items that will benefit our pediatric patients at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital

Locations and Offices

Child Life Program
1-319-356-4469
[email protected]
Resource Office
Exterior photo of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
In Stead Family Children's Hospital
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

Related Health Topics


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Children spend a lot more time on screens than parents and doctors realize, that's up to seven or eight hours a day." Pediatrician Miriam Gardner, MD,...
Screentime photo
Talking to children and teens about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
March 21, 2020
During these uncertain times, it can be difficult to know what to say to children and teens. Our Child Life team has some tips for helping your childr...

Patient Stories

Meet Kid Captain Bridgette Bissell
July 28, 2021
Bridgette and her twin sister, Madeline, were born prematurely, each weighing 1.5 pounds at birth. Madeline died shortly after they were born. Bridget...
Child Life creates a home within the Stead Family Children’s Hospital
May 17, 2021
Patients in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital have been isolated in the hospital since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Child Life makes sure those kid...
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Related News


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Meet the facility dogs of University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital
August 29, 2023
Corrin, Nacho, Emily, and Aly
New camping-themed child life initiative makes MRI and CT scans less intimidating for young patients
March 31, 2023
The child life team at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is working to make the MRI and CT scan process safer, easier, and less inti...
Child life specialist Kristen Rooney helps prepare a pediatric patient for an MRI using a Lego model of a machine on Friday, February 24, 2023. Patient consent on file.

Educational Resources

Preparing for Your Child’s Visit
Preparing your child for a CT scan
How to Get Your Child Ready for Surgery
Helping Your Child Take Medicine
Distraction in Action: for health care providers
Using Lidocaine L.M.X.4 for needle pain
Helping your child during medical procedures
General tips for Distraction
Tips for Distraction in Action Tool
Helping your child with a needle stick
Stead Family Children's Hospital

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

1-888-573-5437
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