Edgewood College Child Life Week 2024
As part of the “Materials and Methods of Play” course at Edgewood College, my cohort and I collaboratively organized a week-long series of events in recognition of Child Life Week. The initiative aimed to raise awareness and educate the campus community—including students, faculty, and staff—about the Child Life profession, its core principles, and the therapeutic value of play in pediatric healthcare settings.
Child Life Week Kick-Off
To launch Child Life Week, we hosted an informational booth in the main dining hall at Edgewood College intending to raise awareness and educate fellow students and faculty about the Child Life profession. To encourage engagement, we incorporated an interactive trivia wheel with prizes, offering participants an enjoyable way to learn key facts about Child Life services. Additionally, we featured medical play equipment and teaching dolls to highlight the therapeutic role of medical play in helping children cope with healthcare experiences.
Cohort Community Building and Self-Care Event
As part of our Child Life Week programming at Edgewood College, we hosted a self-care evening open to all students, both within and outside of the Child Life program. In coordination with campus facilities and a certified yoga instructor, we organized a guided yoga session focused on relaxation and mindfulness. Following the session, we facilitated a creative journaling activity where participants decorated their own journals as a tool for reflection and self-expression. The event promoted the importance of self-care and emotional wellness among future helping professionals and the broader student community.
Professional Development and Education
As part of our Child Life Week programming, we hosted a Child Life Jeopardy Night designed to reinforce and expand knowledge of Child Life concepts and child development within our cohort. This interactive and educational event provided an engaging opportunity for students to review key topics in a collaborative setting. To enhance participation and create a welcoming atmosphere, we offered snacks and awarded prizes to encourage friendly competition and peer engagement.
To support professional development within our cohort, we organized a resume workshop focused on refining application materials for internships and future career opportunities. In collaboration with two faculty members from the department, we offered individualized resume reviews and constructive feedback tailored to Child Life-specific roles. To foster a welcoming environment and encourage participation, we also provided a build-your-own trail mix bar to promote community building and peer connection.
Theraputic Activities Event
We organized an event aimed at educating the Edgewood College community about the role of play in Child Life practice. Through a variety of interactive stations, we demonstrated how Child Life Specialists use play as a therapeutic tool to support pediatric patients. Activities were intentionally designed to promote normalization, teach deep breathing and coping strategies, and introduce medical play. This event served to raise awareness of the Child Life profession while highlighting the developmental and emotional benefits of play in healthcare settings.
Art Supply Drive
As part of Child Life Week, we organized an art supply drive to support Safe Harbor, a local child advocacy center. In preparation for the event, we collaborated directly with Safe Harbor staff to identify their specific needs and determine the most effective ways to provide support. The drive aimed to collect developmentally appropriate art materials to enhance the center’s ability to offer creative and therapeutic outlets for the children they serve.
