Child Life Program in Orlando
The Child Life Department at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida helps children and families cope with medical treatment, diagnosis, and hospitalization through play, preparation, education and self-expression.
How to Request a Child Life Visit
To request a visit from a child life specialist during an inpatient stay or an outpatient appointment, please email Interim Supervisor of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy, Gloria Leyva.
To request a pre-surgery tour for your child with a child life specialist, please email Jamie Ruggiero.
- About Child Life
- Get Involved
- Donations
- Meet the Team
- Students
What We Do
Child Life specialists are child development experts who help ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children in health care settings and other challenging environments. We promote effective coping through play, self-expressive activities, and age-appropriate medical preparation and education. Our areas of focus include:
Play & Self-Expressive Activities
A child’s job is to play. We encourage children to play, whether at bedside or in our play and teen spaces within the hospital. We use art, music and creative therapies to promote your child’s development.
Play Spaces for Children & Teens
Kids of all ages want to explore, play, and laugh, no matter where they are — even in the hospital. Often a child’s choices are limited in the hospital setting, but not at Nemours.
As a hospital built by families, for families, Nemours Children's Hospital is a bright, inviting place where cozy reading nooks are carved into walls, interactive games provide fun and learning experiences, and special spaces and activities — especially designed for kids — enhance creative play and expression.
Hospital Play Spaces are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Our spaces are fun places made for patients and families to escape the stressors of the hospital. These spaces are safe zones where kids can find normal play activities away from medical procedures, equipment and exams.
You can find a play space here:
- Third Floor Teen Space: for adolescents ages 12 years and older
- Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Floor Play Space: for children of all ages, geared toward 12 years and younger
Please note that patients, siblings and visitors under 12 must be accompanied by an adult while they play.
Medical Play
Our Child Life specialists use real and pretend medical equipment to give your child a chance to play through medical experiences by sharing feelings, concerns and fears.
Preparation
It’s natural for a child to be anxious about a hospital or clinic visit, but it helps to know what to expect. We help explain procedures and surgery using your child’s five senses and medical materials.
Coping and Distraction
During medical procedures, Child Life specialists offer a variety of tools to re-direct your child’s attention to decrease anxiety and increase cooperation. Techniques may include relaxation, deep breathing and guided imagery. We also help your child — and family — draw on your own coping strengths.
Emotional Support
Our Child Life specialists provide psychosocial support to help your child cope with health care experiences and work through feelings such as fear, anger, sadness or guilt.
Programming
Enjoyment — like a good laugh — is an important part of healing. We organize a variety of activities and events for kids of all ages, including visits from special guests and small group or one-on-one activities in our play spaces.
Bereavement
Child Life specialists offer comfort, support and memorial activities for families when needed.
Creative Arts Therapy
Music therapy and art therapy are based on science and are safe. At Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida, we have board-certified music and art therapists to visit patients and meet their individual needs. Learn More
Therapeutic Gaming
We have a pediatric gaming technology specialist funded by Child’s Play Charity who creates gaming and technology experiences for patients. In addition, they help educate clinicians on the importance of gaming as a tool for patient distraction and coping. Virtual reality, augmented reality and traditional gaming are used to get patients out of bed and moving daily while hospitalized.
School Program
Our School Program provides patients with sense of normalcy and structure during their hospital stay. Our hospital teacher can provide individualized instruction and communicate with your child’s school and help with return-to-school planning. Learn More
Our Child Life specialists are trained to understand the different ways children deal with stress, fear, confusion, anger, guilt and sadness. We will develop coping strategies specific to your child’s individual needs, and will also provide parents, siblings and other family members with information, support and guidance when necessary
Contact Us
For general inquiries and questions regarding student education, please contact:
Gloria Leyva, MS, CCLS
Interim Supervisor of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy
(407) 567-3419
gloria.leyva@nemours.org
For questions regarding donations and special events, please email:
nchflprograms@nemours.org
Please allow 48-72 hours for all inquiries due to the volume we receive.
Hours
Monday–Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.