Child Life

When children are hospitalized, they face new experiences in an unfamiliar environment. The child life department strives to meet the emotional and psychosocial needs of hospitalized children by providing therapeutic play activities to help ease the stresses of hospitalization.

Through play activities, children are encouraged to communicate their feelings of fear, frustration and anger in a nonthreatening playroom setting. Dayton Children's has play areas designed and equipped to provide opportunities for physical, emotional, social and intellectual skills development. Child life specialists have bachelor's degrees in child development.

Services We Offer

Therapeutic play activities
Support and diversion during medical procedures at the hospital
Special events and holiday celebrations for hospitalized children and their families
Laptops with wireless internet may be used in activity room or at bedside
Paw Prints (pet therapy program)
Children's Clown Crew (clown visitation program)

Meet Our Team

Manager: Karen Muller, BS, CCLS

Locations

Dayton Children's - Main Campus

Stay Connected

Upcoming Events

A fun-filled event that features a morning mimosa social hour, silent auction, raffles, bake sale, champagne luncheon and live dollar auction.

TWIG 24 Heart and Hand Luncheon

Autism education sessions are designed to provide up to date information to parents of children affected by autism spectrum disorders.

Autism Education Session

Is your child riding safely? Get your child's car seat checked at one of Dayton Children's monthly car seat checks. Seats checked by appointment only. Call the Family Resource Center at 937-641-3700 for more information or to make an appointment.

Car Seat Safety Check