The Power of Play: Developmentally Appropriate Play By Your Child's Age
Play is not just an enjoyable pastime for children; it is a fundamental aspect of their growth and development. As parents, educators,...
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Our Blog
Guiding and supporting parents with information to help kids navigate life's difficult moments.
Children's Grief and the Year of Firsts
For many, there are seemingly endless questions, thoughts, and worries surrounding how to approach the year of firsts after the death of...
Explaining Mental Illness to Kids and Teens
Mental illness is an important, yet often a difficult discussion to tackle with children. Since mental health is an essential component...
Mental Health Distress of Children with Sickle Cell Disease
September marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Did you know that September is also designated by Congress as National...
Dr. Stephanie Walsh
- Sep 13
Preventing Bullying and Negative Body Image in Children with Obesity
Me: “Does your school have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying.” Caregiver: “Yes! I went down to the school, the kids are constantly...
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Aug 23
Child Life Decreases Fear and Procedure Time with Non-pharmacological Techniques
Research shows that child life specialists decrease procedure time and fear in children receiving an outpatient lab draws.
Carissa Hodgson, LCSW, OSW-C
- Aug 16
The Importance of Modeling Emotions for your Kids
It’s not just okay to cry in front of your children – it may be necessary. Show them what it looks like to FEEL.
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and Psychologist: What’s the Difference?
According to a recent study, many children and teenagers who seek help for an anxiety disorder receive medication, and not counseling (2023)
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Jul 26
Back to School Support Following a Serious Illness or New Diagnosis
Learn how to advocate for your child and support them with the transition back to school after a new diagnosis or serious illness.
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Jul 10
Supporting the Mental Health of Children with Chronic Illness
Many children living with a chronic illness face various challenges that can impact their overall well-being. Understandably, the journey...
What is Child-Centered Play?
What exactly is child-centered play, and more importantly, why does it matter? Child-Centered Play (and language) Play is the natural...
How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery
Talking and playing with your child before surgery reduces the stress and fear often associated with the hospital by helping them...
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Jun 5
Using Books to Support the Healthcare Experience of Children and the Whole Family
Children's books are a developmentally-appropriate way to explain difficult topics like cancer, grief, and emotions to a child.
5 Ways to Nurture Your Child's Mental Health
Just like the rest of the body, a child's mental health also needs to be supported and nurtured! Here we have listed 5 easy ways to do this.
7 Ways to Make Shots Easier if Your Child is Scared of Needles
Making shots "easier" does not mean the child does not have an emotional reaction, but rather, it creates an experience that encourages
Managing Academic Anxiety
During the school year children may experience feelings of anxiety from academic pressures such as testing, presentations, being called...
Toddler Temper Tantrums
What are temper tantrums and why do toddlers have them? We discuss how to manage these difficult moments and ways to support your toddler.
Encouraging Healthy Sleep Habits for Kids
Tips for helping kids with good sleep. Getting enough rest is important for mental health and well being. Help your child with good sleep.
Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC
- Mar 10
5 Tips for Parenting Kids with Food Allergy Anxiety
This article gives 5 tips for parents on how to help address and manage your child's food allergy anxiety.
Accessing Food Allergy & Allergic Disease Mental Health Support
Written by: Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC Many have heard the term food allergy, but not everyone knows what that diagnosis actually means....
Carissa Menard, CCLS
- Feb 21
Meltdowns, Tantrums, and Outbursts - The Escalation Cycle and Why Connection Comes First
Meltdowns, tantrums and outbursts, oh my! We’ve all been there! You are in the middle of Target and your child falls to the floor...
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Jan 9
For Parents: Helping Your Child Cope When You Have Cancer
In this blog post we share some ways that parents/caregivers can help a child understand and cope with a parental cancer diagnosis.
Yifan Wang, CCLS
- Nov 16, 2022
Children Grieve, Too. Let’s Talk About It.
Statistics in the United States show us that 1 in 13 children will lose a parent or sibling by the time they reach 18 years of age, and...
Carissa Menard, CCLS
- Oct 19, 2022
The Forgotten Grievers in Infant and Pregnancy Loss
We discuss ways you can include and support your child in the grieving of their expected or new baby brother or sister.
Katelyn Kieleszewski, MEd, CCLS
- Oct 6, 2022
How to Talk to Your Child About Their Mental Health
Do you struggle with knowing how to start a conversation with your child about mental health? This blog post is a guide on how to start.
Hearts Connected CCLS Team
- Sep 16, 2022
How to Talk to Your Child about Abortion
A guide to help you through tough conversations with a child that's age-appropriate and fosters compassionate thinking.
Amanda Eide
- Aug 8, 2022
5 Parenting Hacks for Blissful Back-To-School Mornings
5 tips for parents and caregivers as you help your child transition back to school for a new year.
Jaylin Alexander-Bradford
- Aug 3, 2022
Easy Grounding and Calming Exercises for Kids
Grounding exercises are helpful to help kids manage anxious thoughts and worries and promote calmness.
Helen Griffin
- Jul 15, 2022
How to Successfully Set Limits on Screen Time for Kids
Kids should have limits when it comes to screen time. Here are some recommendations to help you start limiting the amount of screen time.
Helen Griffin
- Jul 13, 2022
The Bright Side of Screen Time
In this blog post, we talk about the benefits of screen time.
Helen Griffin
- Jul 11, 2022
Children and the Risks of Screen Time
We discuss how much screen time is reasonable and several ways that you can help your child develop healthy screen habits.
MaKaylie Peterkin, MS, CCLS
- Jun 21, 2022
Helping kids navigate medical experiences through play
Healthcare experiences can be challenging for children of all ages. Using medical play is a great way to help kids process and learn.
Jaylin Alexander-Bradford
- Jun 19, 2022
Raising Race Conscious Children
One way we can change the course of inequality against Black children is to intentionally make efforts to raise race-conscious children.
Jeela Tavakoli, CCLS
- May 17, 2022
Toxic Positivity and The Power of Negative Feelings
Toxic positivity can invalidate ones emotions. Recognizing and rephrasing provides alternative support that validates a child's feelings.
Anna Fowler, MS, CCLS
- Apr 18, 2022
How to help your child with immunizations
How to help your kids with immunizations
Carissa Menard, CCLS
- Apr 7, 2022
Raising Awareness and Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Healthcare Settings
April is Autism Acceptance Month and observes the rise in individuals diagnosed with ASD and the impact ASD has on a family.
MaKaylie Peterkin, MS, CCLS
- Mar 17, 2022
Parenting Tip for Kids Scared of Going to the Doctor
What to bring to the appointment for a smoother visit Does your child become easily overwhelmed or over stimulated by a visit to their...
Anna Fowler, MS, CCLS
- Mar 7, 2022
How to Help Children Cope with Ongoing Tension in World
How to Help Children Cope with Ongoing Tension in World
Katy Williams
- Feb 10, 2022
Teaching Kids Self-Love
Teaching children about self-love is important to start at an early age. In this blog post we provide an activity idea for self-love!
Carissa Menard
- Feb 10, 2022
Helping Kids Who Are Anxious About The Dentist
Research shows that child life specialists can help anxious kids through dental experiences to promote healthy oral hygiene.
Carissa Menard, CCLS
- Jan 11, 2022
The Truth About Pain
Pain is something everyone experiences, but few understand! Pain is a warning system meant to protect you, but it does not always mean...
Carissa Menard, CCLS
- Dec 6, 2021
Finding Hope in the Holidays
The holidays are a very special time of year, but the holidays can also be a very painful time of year for many. Maybe your family has...
Katy Williams
- Nov 29, 2021
5 Benefits of Telehealth for Mental Health Care
Though telehealth has been around for many years, many organizations have only offered virtual services since the pandemic began. As the...
Carissa Menard
- Nov 11, 2021
What is a child life specialist?
Child life specialists helping parents talk to children
Carissa Menard
- Oct 20, 2021
Tools for Coping and How to Use Them
How child life specialists can help teach coping skills effectively, examples of coping tools.
MaKaylie Peterkin, MS, CCLS
- Sep 8, 2021
Sickle Cell Awareness Month
This blog post gives an overview of Sickle Cell Disease, how child life specialists can help patients with a sickle cell diagnosis.
Anna Fowler, MS, CCLS
- Aug 16, 2021
COVID-19 Resources Revisited
A list of resources to help children and families cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heather Eudy,BS
- Jul 28, 2021
Taking Fear And Pain Out Of Shots For Kids
As child life specialists, we support many children who have a fear of needles. This can make injections, port accesses, IV placements,...
Molly Wilson, CCLS, MSW
- Apr 9, 2021
Sibling Considerations
As an organization of child life specialists, we recognize that siblings can often be affected by their brother or sister’s health care...
Molly Wilson, CCLS, MSW
- Dec 19, 2020
Dealing with Holiday Stress in the Weirdest Holiday Season Ever
-Dr. Ann L. Contrucci, M.D., FAAP With the seeming endlessness of the pandemic, “COVID fatigue” IS real and IS not going away anytime...
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