The Child Life Specialist is an integral part of the healthcare team. As a multidisciplinary team member, specialists collaborate with nurses, physicians, parents, social workers and teachers to provide quality care. Inpatient Child Life Specialists are available to provide developmentally appropriate procedural/illness teaching and accompaniment to procedures, in addition to bedside and playroom activities. Specialists use their child development expertise to help a family cope with a stay in the hospital.

Preparatory Play
Through hands-on experiences with real medical equipment, Child Life Specialists educate children about different aspects of their hospitalization, particularly upcoming treatments and procedures. Preparation for surgery and special tests is done by offering focused educational play activities and relaxation techniques.

Procedural Support
Child Life Specialists are available to support children during difficult procedures by using relaxation and distraction techniques.

Group Activities
Daily weekday activity groups held in the activity rooms help youngsters socialize with peers and serve to normalize the hospital experience.

Bedside Activities
Child Life Specialists work closely with children who are confined to bed. These specialists asses each child's needs for appropriate activities and experiences, and design programs to meet those needs.

Creative Arts Therapies
The Creative Arts Therapies are offered to patients with an interest in the arts as a form of expression and developmental growth. Creative arts therapists work closely with the unit child life specialists to coordinate and collaborate . Examples of the creative arts are: Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Video Therapy/ Videographer in residence. Attention to the developmental needs of patients from the youngest child through teenagers encourage creativity and give additional avenues for expression and coping.

Educational Services
Patients in grades K-12 are eligible for school instruction taught by a certified teacher. Students who attend school in New York City are instructed by New York City department of education teachers, students who live outside of New York City are instructed by Education Inc, a hospital approved tutoring program.

The Zone ( read more )
The Zone is a state-of the-art environment that offers a range of activities and opportunities that meet the special needs of children coping with illness and hospitalization. 

KidZone TV ( read more )
Mount Sinai's KidZone TV is the first live, interactive Broadcast Studio in a Children's Hospital in the world which produces live programming at least twice a day for pediatric patients throughout the hospital who are restricted to their hospital rooms.

Family Resource Center and Medical Librarian ( read more )
The Family Resource Center is a comfortable place created especially for the families of pediatric inpatients. It contains information, in print and online, about health and parenting. Families may check e-mail, get help with internet searching, or simply have a cup of coffee or tea and relax.

Pediatric Chaplaincy Program
Our pediatric chaplain is available to meet with any patient or family member, regardless of faith or religious backgrounds.  The chaplain is here to offer spiritual care through prayer conversation and emotional support.  

Knitting Program
Our knitting consultant is available two days a week to visit a patient or parent who has an interest in knitting. Knitting can be a relaxing, distracting activity that enables you to create while you de-stress.

Massage Therapist
The Massage Therapy Program focuses on providing comfort to caregivers of the pediatric inpatient population. Caregivers are referred by their Child Life Specialist to receive a therapeutic massage with a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist. Massage Therapy is a method of using therapeutic hand pressures applied to specific muscle groups to help relax body tension and quiet the mind. It gives caregivers a chance to take a deep breath, de-stress, and re-energize their own abilities to care for themselves and their hospitalized children. Massages are given in the Zone's Quiet Room where recipients remain fully dressed as they sit comfortably in a special chair designed to support their head, arms, and body. If parents do not feel comfortable leaving their child's bedside, an in-room session is happily provided.

The Andrew Baeumler Pediatric Technology and Computer Program ( read more )
The Child Life Department strives to bring today's technologies to our pediatric populations in order to maintain and promote what is now a normal, expected level of connectivity for the families we serve.

Meditation/ Yoga/ Infant Massage instructors
Meditation services are available to help patients and parents learn to use the power of their imaginations to help relax and take a "mind break".

Pet Assisted Therapy
After clearance from the physician, children may have the opportunity to cuddle with a specially-trained pet therapy dog.

Special Activities/ Events/ Entertainers
Special activities include parties for holidays and birthdays. We also have parties just for fun!

Digital Movie Network
A special service enables Child Life to present dozens of films edited for family viewing on Channel 100 (English) and Channel 101 (Spanish) all day long. Schedules are posted in all patient rooms and pediatric activity areas. The current schedule is also available for download here.

Volunteers and Child Life Interns ( read more )
Interns and Volunteers are an important part of Child Life at Mount Sinai. Please visit our
Intern and Volunteer page for more information!