PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
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Project | 01 | Individual's Master Project
"Central to Bank Street’s focus on integrating theory with practice is the Integrative Master’s Project. As the culminating project for a Bank Street degree, the IMP is designed to be a significant, academically rigorous body of work that demonstrates the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to work. It is intended to further professional growth through inquiry, reflection and integration."
Child life professionals, work with many different people groups, diverse cultures, and a multitude of languages. Creating a space to hear a patient or family member means giving them a voice in their language. Children’s literature, signs, and documents only in English restricts a patient from participating in their own healthcare, it restricts their choice, and sends a message that their voice does not matter. As part of research, a Meet and Greet Assessment book was created as a Language Assistant when phone and electronic systems are unavailable.
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Project | 02 | Feelings Charts
Feeling charts help to scaffold a child's ability to identify and express an emotion. For children who are non-verbal or slow to warm it aids as a communication tool. Charts can be adapted specific to the child i.e. a favorite cartoon or toy.
The following feeling charts were created in conjunction with an Individual's Masters Project. Creating feeling charts in different languages provides opportunity for patient to have a voice in the treatment process. It links with the value of patient and family centered care.
Project | 03 | Adaptive Art Activity
Adaptive Therapy is creating an activity specific to the developmental and physical needs of the patient. Often this links with plan of care with other members of the interdisciplinary team such as physical and occupational therapists.
Patient was a school aged child, developmentally appropriate play was provided as normalization and distraction during treatment. Because of limited mobility play was adapted to provide opportunity for choices, empowerment, and mastery. Plan of care was to create a ramp for matchbox cars to race down. Using loose parts i.e. candy land board and portable activity tray table, a ramp was created in viewing of patient. Two colors of construction paper, four colors of paint, large handled brushes, and 6 cars were brought as part of play to provide opportunity for choice, play, and self expression. Patient painted cars on his own and then directed where to line them on the paper. In each step a method of child centered play and language was used to encourage play and to let the child lead.
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Project | 04 | Loose Parts Project
Loose parts also known as open ended materials can be utilized in medical education, procedural preparation, and play. Using what is available to think outside the box to help scaffold therapeutic intervention.
Arty the Arrdvark utilizes household and hospital equipment to create a creative therapeutic art intervention. It promotes:
Self Expression
Medical Education of Asthma and the Body
Mastery of Diagnosis
Building of Coping Strategies
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Project | 05 | Social Emotional Story
Social Emotional Stories/ Books are an intervention used to help children understand situations, problems, and the world around them. It can be used to provide behavior modifications, build skills, and to support development. Often included in the story is a situation, accompanied by feelings, and healthy coping strategies.
This story was created for a preschool aged child who was moving with his family. It was created to help aid transition and as a talking point to process feelings. The slides shown are excerpts.