Hospitalized children often cope with pain, separation, and an unfamiliar environment. Their vulnerability demands a highly specialized team of professionals. Arguably, one of the most integral members of a children's hospital team is the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

According to the Child Life Council, the main role of the CCLS is to improve the child's ability to understand stressful healthcare and life experiences, by fostering an environment that offers both emotional and developmental growth opportunities. Since a child's welfare directly depends on the wellbeing of the entire family, the CCLS also provides parents, siblings and extended family members with information, support and guidance. Becoming a CCLS requires a university degree, covering topics on human growth and development, psychology, and counseling; it may also require an internship within a hospital for sick children.

Play activities are universal across cultures and essential to human development. More specifically, the CCLS supports children through the use of "therapeutic play" activities. These include; encouraging the child to work through their emotional issues by having them re-enact their accident using toy cars, stuffed animals and/or dolls; teaching the child about an upcoming procedure by allowing them to touch and feel some of the equipment; demonstrating a procedure on a stuffed toy, or using dolls and props to help explain the child's diagnoses.

Children who work with a CCLS tend to show fewer physical signs of fear; such as sweaty palms or an elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Therapeutic play is not only about supporting the child emotionally and psychologically, it can also be used to strengthen the child physically. For instance, taking deep breaths to blow bubbles can help strengthen a child's respiratory status. The benefits of working with the CCLS are measurable. The American Academy of Pediatrics (September 2006) recognizes that child life services improve pediatric care. Employing a CCLS may also contribute to shorter hospitalization periods and a decreased use of pain medications.

Children's hospital websites are often proud to highlight the CCLS role within their organization. For example, within one Texas area children's hospital the CCLS prepares children for tests, surgeries and other procedures; provides information and education surrounding the child's diagnosis; helps develop children's hospital policies and uses teaching dolls, stuffed animals and medical equipment as a way of preparing and educating the child. The CCLS also supports the child's siblings and helps children prepare for school re-entry.

These services are not unique to hospitalized children. The trend toward outpatient services has led many facilities to develop Child Life positions within their outpatient clinics. When possible the CCLS conducts pre-admission tours of the hospital; thereby facilitating the child's subsequent admission. In 2003, one Dallas area children's hospital began receiving funds from a charitable organization, to fund a "Child Life Assistant" within their outpatient setting. Their Child Life Assistant creates some much needed distraction, through educational activities, such as individual and group games. The CCLS role allows for continuity of care for families that are returning to the children's hospital outpatient clinic week after week.

Parents and children come to view the CCLS as a "safe" person, who is well equipped to provide emotional, cognitive and developmental support. This level of focus is what makes a children's hospital unique. Nation wide, children's hospitals have found this position to be instrumental in helping to decrease fear and anxiety amongst all family members.