Child Life Therapeutic Play Interventions Flashcards
6 cards from real Child Life Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Child Life Therapeutic Play Interventions flashcards as text
A child life specialist introduces medical play with real (safe) medical equipment to a 5-year-old before a blood draw. The PRIMARY therapeutic benefit of this intervention is:
Answer: Allowing the child to gain familiarity and mastery over feared objects in a safe, controlled context
Medical play allows children to explore, manipulate, and gain mastery over medical equipment in a non-threatening context, reducing fear of the unknown and building a sense of control.
Which type of play is a child engaging in when they spontaneously act out giving injections to stuffed animals after returning from a hospital visit?
Answer: Dramatic or symbolic play with processing function
Spontaneous dramatic play about medical experiences serves a processing function, allowing the child to make sense of what happened by re-enacting and controlling the narrative.
When facilitating therapeutic play with a child who has been physically abused, the child life specialist should:
Answer: Create a safe, non-directive play environment and observe the child's self-directed play themes while maintaining professional boundaries
Therapeutic play with abused children should be non-directive, allowing the child to express at their own pace in a safe environment, without pressure to disclose or re-enact trauma.
Normalization play activities in the hospital—such as arts and crafts, games, and social activities—serve the PRIMARY purpose of:
Answer: Supporting typical developmental activities and maintaining a sense of normalcy during hospitalization
Normalization activities support continued development and help children maintain a sense of their normal identity and routines despite the disruption of hospitalization.
A child life specialist selects a dollhouse with family figurines for a session with a child whose parents are going through a divorce. This choice of play material is based on the principle that:
Answer: Projective play materials allow children to express complex family dynamics and emotions that may be difficult to verbalize
Projective play materials like dollhouses and family figurines provide a safe medium for children to externalize and explore complex family situations and emotions.
Music therapy interventions in child life practice are MOST effective when they:
Answer: Are tailored to the child's preferences, developmental level, and therapeutic goals
Music-based interventions are most effective when personalized to the child's musical preferences, developmental abilities, and specific therapeutic needs.