"Mommy, I'm scared." Nothing affects a parent like those three little words. They send the most seasoned mom and dad into a tither, searching for ways to calm their child's fears. Often, a reassuring hug or a soft-spoken word will do the trick. But sometimes, a hug is not enough and the words aren't convincing, especially when Mom and Dad are scared, too.

Every day, children throughout the world are subjected to uncomfortable medical testing and painful procedures. Though these acts are mostly life-improving and often life-saving, it is hard to help children understand why they have to go through it. Fortunately, most support and education does not rest solely on the parents.

After Judith Turner of Sandy, Utah, scheduled her 3-year-old daughter for surgery, she made an appointment with the hospital's Child Life department. The first meeting ended up being a group hospital tour. It was also the first time the Turners met Carolyn, a child life specialist.

According to Sharon M. McLeod, director of child life and recreational therapy at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, "Child life specialists are health care professionals who use play and education interventions to reduce the stress of health care experiences and help children and families cope."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.