Child Life at Vermont Children's

What is a Child Life Specialist?

The role of a child life specialist is to focus on the psychosocial needs of children and families in the healthcare setting.  Child life strives to empower children with knowledge and equip them with coping strategies so that they may face potential stressors with understanding and confidence.  Additionally, child life promotes healthy growth and development for children who are hospitalized by normalizing their environment and providing opportunities for play.  Child life specialists are educators, coaches, cheerleaders, friends, and advocates.

Our Specialists

The Vermont Children’s Hospital and Fletcher Allen Health Care has eight Child Life Specialists:

Donations to Child Life

Child life also organizes any donations to the Vermont Children’s Hospital.  We have provided a wish list that is updated seasonally (as our needs are always changing!).  If you would like to donate to the Vermont Children’s Hospital please call 802-847-7831 to speak to a child life specialist about how to coordinate a donation

Thank you so much for thinking about our children at Vermont Children’s Hospital.  A hospital can be an overwhelming place for children, but child life specialists help to navigate the uncertainty with a helping hand.  By donating to Vermont Children’s Hospital you are helping to ensure that children have the opportunity to still be children, despite their medical needs.  On behalf of our patients and their families, we thank you for your kindness!