Services

Our Services

Our certified child life specialists provide developmentally appropriate support, coping skills, and therapeutic play to our clients and families. Here are several of the areas where child life specialists can make a positive impact:

Outpatient Surgery Centers

A Certified Child Life Specialist prepares children for surgery using appropriate play and exploration as well as providing comfort to the family. Certified Child Life Specialists advocate for children’s needs and often times accompany children in the operating room until they fall asleep. Funktional Play is working with Charleston ENT.

Dentist's Offices

Whether it is the child’s first or 20th time going, a dentist office can be intimidating and scary. The noises and feelings of the dental equipment often produce high levels of anxiety and fear. Our Certified Child Life Specialists work to familiarize children with the environment and allow them to explore the equipment through play and discovery. Certified Child Life Specialists also use sensory, behavioral and cognitive coping skills during the visit in order to allow for greater success for each child at the visit.

Family Court

Certified Child Life Specialists work with attorneys, parents and families going through divorce, adoption or any other matter where a child could be exposed to stress and anxiety in an unfamiliar setting.

Adult Hospitals and Working with Children of Adult Patients

A new diagnosis (i.e. cancer, ALS, infection) or trauma (i.e. car accident, heart attack, stroke) can have a devastating and long lasting effect on a family and children. Child Life Specialists work with the caregivers to in order to help them communicate to the children what is happening. Child Life Specialists also work with the children to provide psychosocial and emotional support during this time.

Funeral Homes

While we never want this to happen to anyone close to us, some children will suffer a loss in their family, whether it’s a parent, grandparent, sibling, etc. Our Child Life Specialists help prepare the children for the funeral and help them adjust and cope with the absence of their loved one. Funktional Play is working with Stuhr’s Funeral Homes.