How child life specialists ease kids into surgery

When you learn that your child needs to have a medical procedure or surgery, you may be unsure how to handle it. Fortunately, there are healthcare professionals to help ease fears and guide families through each step of the surgery process. At Endeavor Health, they are called certified child life specialists.
    
Endeavor Health’s Child Life team provides developmentally appropriate preparation, emotional support and coping strategies to children and their caregivers so they can navigate healthcare experiences.

Certified child life specialists are experts in child development who use preparation, play, education and other evidence-based strategies to help children better understand medical procedures, manage stress and maintain a sense of normalcy while they are at the hospital.

Alexis Cavanaugh, MD, pediatric gastroenterologist and medical director of the Pediatric Feeding Clinic at Endeavor Health in Naperville, relies on Endeavor Health child life specialists to alleviate the fears of young patients, parents and caregivers about upcoming procedures, such as a colonoscopy or endoscopy.

A colonoscopy is used to look inside the colon to understand issues like constipation, stomach pain or blood in the stool. An upper endoscopy checks the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine for tears, polyps, swelling, infection, proper function and other issues. Both are done under anesthesia, so the child is asleep and won’t feel or remember the procedure.

“These procedures may sound scary at first, but helping kids make sense of what’s ahead by using our Child Life program turns uncertainty into something they can handle,” Dr. Cavanaugh said.

How does the program work?

Conversations at home

Ideally, the preparation for procedures starts at home with parent-to-child conversations.

“Parents who feel confident pass that emotion onto their kids,” said Katelyn Beyer, CCLS, Child Life Program Coordinator at Endeavor Health. “For child life specialists and the doctors who rely on their help, this foundation matters just as much as the procedure itself.”

Beyer recommends saying something to your child like: “You’ll get special ‘sleep medicine’ or ‘anesthesia medicine’ (for older kids), and while you’re asleep, the doctors will use a tiny, flexible camera shaped like a noodle to take pictures inside your tummy/stomach to help figure out why it’s been hurting/uncomfortable. The anesthesia medicine makes it so you won’t feel, see, hear or remember anything during your procedure. When your procedure is finished, they will turn the sleep medicine off, and you will see a nurse and your parent/caregiver. You will also get to eat a popsicle!”

Assessment

Next comes an assessment. Certified child life specialists begin by assessing a child’s developmental level, previous medical experiences and current understanding. Children often show us how much information they want or need — some kids ask many questions, while others benefit from one step at a time or reassurance through play.

“Every child is different, and our goal is to meet them where they are,” said Beyer. “We use visual tools, simple/honest and child-friendly language, and hands-on learning to help them feel prepared and emotionally safe.”

Supportive tools

Visual prep books are one tool used to help prepare children for what they will see and do. These books include photos of real hospital spaces — such as the check-in area, pre-op room, gowning process, anesthesia mask and operating room — paired with kid-friendly explanations. These resources help children feel more familiar with the environment and allow time for questions before the experience begins.

Child life specialists also incorporate play and coping strategies, like offering distraction items, validating worries, or allowing choices to help reduce anxiety and support emotional regulation. For example, children might choose a stuffed animal to hug during vital signs or use a distraction item, like bubbles or a light spinner, in the hallway.

Sometimes children stay in the hospital after surgery for monitoring or recovery. Child life specialists continue to support children through these transitions — helping explain post-op procedures, offering familiar routines, and creating moments of comfort.

“A surgery or procedure is a big deal but is necessary to properly treat many conditions or situations in pediatrics,” Dr. Cavanaugh said. “With the right support, a procedure can also be a moment of strength and bravery for our patients. That is such a win in supporting children through milestones in life, including if this is their first procedure or if they have already been through testing.”

Tips for parents at home

Here are some additional at-home tips for parents:

• Use clear, gentle language. Say something like: “The doctors want to take a close look inside your belly to see why it’s been hurting. You’ll get special medicine that will help your body sleep and you won’t feel anything while it’s happening.”
• Let your child have a voice. Even small choices — like which pajamas to wear, what toy from home to bring or what show to watch after — can create a sense of control.
• Stick to familiar routines. Maintain bedtime and mealtime rhythms whenever possible. Predictability lowers anxiety.
• Practice the unknown. Use books, videos and medical play with a stuffed animal to walk through the experience. Visuals help children understand and feel more prepared.
• Validate their feelings. It’s okay for kids to feel nervous, frustrated or confused. Let them know they’re not alone and you’ll be with them every step of the way.
• Fear is completely normal. Children may worry about things like getting poked, being separated from their parents or not waking up after anesthesia. These are big feelings, and the best way to help is through preparation, honesty and emotional safety.
• Set clear expectations. Kids feel more secure when they know what’s going to happen, when it will occur and who will be with them. Let them know things like: “We’ll go to the hospital together, then you’ll meet a team of nurses and doctors who will answer any questions you may have and help you feel comfortable safe during your procedure.
• Offer real choices. Even small decisions can help kids feel more in control. Let them pick what arm to use for vital signs or choose a distraction like music or a favorite video or decide whether they want to count or close their eyes as they fall asleep.
• Give them permission to express feelings. You can say: “It’s okay to feel nervous. I’m here for you, and you are safe. It’s okay to feel worried, and thank you for telling me. The doctors and nurses are going to take good care of you.”

Be honest at their level. If you don’t know how to answer a question, it’s okay to say: “That’s a good question. Let me find the right answer for you.” Honesty builds trust and keeps your child feeling safe.

If your child is scheduled for a test or procedure and you'd like further support, ask your child’s doctor for a referral to a child life specialist.