Although Child Life in Hospitals has been written primarily for the child-life worker, certain parts of the book will be of interest to the general-health professional. Other sections will be of particular interest to those who want to start or expand a childlife program.
Of general interest are the early chapters, which present a scholarly discussion of our current understanding of the reactions of children to hospitalization, the importance of play to the hospitalized child, and the role of parents in patient care.
Of perhaps more limited appeal—at first glance—are such sections as those on the child-life worker's relationships with other professionals, and advocacy and concern for the environment. However, the very straightforward comments, criticisms, and suggestions detailed in "Coping With Resistance to Child Life Programming" and the different perspective offered in "From the Child's Point of View" are well worth a few extra minutes to any pediatrics practitioner.
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