Three Questions with Carey Lawing, Child Life Specialist

What does a day at the Institute look like for you as a Child Life Specialist?
Every day at the Institute looks a little different for me and my role here. In the mornings, I always check my schedule for patients who are starting treatment or ending treatment and for the patients and families who are here for the very first time at consultation. My primary goal is to support our patients and families through the major milestones of treatment here. This often starts with providing developmentally appropriate education and preparation for treatment and assessing how kids will cope with the experience. This allows me to determine what kind of support each child will need to be successful throughout treatment. I follow our kids until their last day, providing additional support when needed.

What is one of your go-to methods for helping a child feel less scared on their first day of treatment?
My primary focus on a child’s first day of treatment is providing them with as many appropriate choices as possible. This often includes encouraging them to decide what kind of music they want to listen to, if they want to bring a personal comfort item from home, and where in the lobby they want their caregivers to sit and wait for them. I focus on taking one step at a time and celebrate each success along the way.

Why are holiday celebrations and events so important for the children here for treatment?
Many of our families travel away from home for their child to receive treatment with us. This makes celebrating the holidays much more important. Celebrating the holidays can help bring back a small fraction of normalcy during a time when many of our children and their families are experiencing changes in routine and homesickness. I have always felt that one of the most important parts of my job is allowing kids to just be kids as much as possible.