Tag: questions

Course Work Review —> Eligibility Assessment Service

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I’ve been having a couple of Child Life students e-mail me asking about the pre-practicum/internship process. Since the Child Life Council (CLC) is currently restructuring this process, it can be a little confusing. Here’s what’s going on:

Up until April of this year, the process went like this: you submitted a “course work review” to the CLC – a document listing 15 child-related courses you’ve taken, 10 of which need to be approved. They would then send you back the course work review document signed, dated, and (hopefully) approved. That would then serve as your “golden ticket” to apply to practicums/internships.

However, the CLC is currently changing the system and the “new version” of the course work review – the Eligibility Assessment Service – will not be available until mid-july. This link goes more into detail about the switch & what the new version entails: {http://www.childlife.org/Certification/Getting%20Certified/CourseWorkReview.cfm}.

Interview Help

After many interviews for a practicum and an internship I’ve been able to collect quite a few interview questions. Here are some that have stood out to me:

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1. This is a common question in any interview. Pointing out your weaknesses is not a fun and easy thing to do, so I feel that it’s important to have thought these questions through prior to the interview so that you have strong answers.

2. I’ve heard this question in more than one occasion. You’re going to want to talk about past experiences with children and I feel that this question is a great window into being able to bring up some of those experiences.

3. A big part of my practicum was dedicated to developing our elevator speech (how you would describe child life to someone of they asked you in an elevator.) It’s good to have your elevator speech thought out and ready to go for interviews, yes, but also for yourself!

4. This question caught me off guard when I was first asked. It’s easy to get caught up with studying theorists, child development, and scenarios and while yes, that’s all extremely important, interviewers want to know about you as a person too!

5. Everyone’s goal for an internship or practicum (should) be to learn more about the career and gain enough experience to move on to the next step. Take some time before your interviews and create a list of goals you have that will set you apart from the obvious.

Do you think it’s better to get your masters in child life and then try to get in the field or do you think a bachelors is really enough?

That is something that is completely up to you! Personally, I think the more you know the better & I someday hope to get my Masters degree. Also, by the year 2022 it will be a requirement of the Child Life Council to have your masters degree – http://www.childlife.org/files/AcademicTFRecommendations-Website.pdf

My current college doesn’t have a major in child life or child studies. Do you think it’s too late to transfer to a college that does offer a major more closely related to a child life profession?

Well, you technically don’t need a major in child life/child studies to become a CCLS. The only thing that is required is that you take a course taught by a child life specialist and many universities offer it online (I took mine online!) Also, you will need to have 10 courses relating to children in some way – the following link will have more information. Hope this helps! Best of luck to you 🙂

http://www.childlife.org/Certification/Getting%20Certified/EligibilityRequirements.cfm

Where were you able to take your online child life class taught by a child life specialist? Were you enrolled at that school? I’m having trouble finding a class online taught by a child life specialist.

I was able to take the online child life class taught by a child life specialist, at The University of New Hampshire. I was not enrolled at that school and because I live in Florida, I had to pay out of state tuition which wasn’t too fun. However, the professor I had, Trish Cox, was amazing! I learned a great deal from that class.

Any ideas on how to decorate a teenagers hospital bedroom besides sheets and pillows? She’ll be in for a month!

Posters! The Beatles? Lebron James? Adele? The Twilight Saga?  – whatever your teen is motivated by & loves it would be an awesome idea to have something up that can provide a sense of love and comfort in their hospital room. Allow your teen to personalize their room as much as possible with permission granted from hospital staff.

Calendar. In this particular case the teen will be in the hospital for about a month so it would be an awesome idea to have a calendar up for her to be able to keep track of doctor visits, fun activities within the hospital, and to chart her progress.

A white board (if one not in room already) or a big poster. For family and friends to leave inspiring messages on when they pass by for a visit. Contact with peers is extremely important for teens and so being able to read messages from their friends after they’ve left could be very comforting for a teen in the hospital.

Bedding/Pillows/Rugs. If allowed by your nurses and doctors, bringing in these items from home will make their room more customized to their liking. Also, the smell of home will linger around them for a while making the first couple of nights in the hospital a little more comforting.

Photo frames with photos of friends. Again, maintaining peer relationships is crucial for teens and so keeping framed photos of them around is a nice touch for personalizing their room.

New things waiting for her at the hospital. Take into consideration new things that she may be encountering at the hospital. For example, perhaps an IV pole – she could take something from home to hang on it & make it her own. Maybe she would be interested in picking out her own decal for her IV bags – check out  www.littlelovemedical.com

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Image Source(s): Google.com, Target.com, Littlelovemedical.com

Just discovered your blog… It’s amazing and inspiring. Are you a child life specialist? I’m a sophomore in college and I’m getting my CDA soon. I’ve been looking into this career and I think I’m interested…. I’ve currently been looking for child related careers online but there isn’t much help… But Im really inspired by this career.

I actually am not a child life specialist (yet!) You can read a little more about me here: https://adventuresinchildlife.com/aboutme if you’re interested 🙂

I’m glad my blog was able to inspire you so much – I wish you the best of luck!

Hi! I really love your blog. :D I was just wondering if maybe you could post some more tennage-related child life stuff? Like ways for them to cope and things like that? Please and thank you! :D

I will absolutely look into posting some more teenage child life things. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂

Hi – I am wondering if you would be willing to give me an example of a situational question/answer child life interview. I know the theorists and stages and I have SO much experience working with children, but I often find it difficult to put into words in the terms of theorists as I dont generally think stages at first… Could you help me understand the perspective I should be adopting and how I can reflect my understanding in answering interview questions?

I found a great link for you that may be able to answer some of your questions: http://sites.laverne.edu/careers/files/2010/12/InterviewHandoutChildLife.pdf