A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist

As part of our "A Day in the Life" series, we met Mika McLane-Bowes, a Child Life Specialist at Maimonides Infants & Children's Hospital (MICH). We shadowed Mika throughout her shift as she engaged pediatric patients in medical play and recreational activities. Mika tailors her approach to each patient and family, ultimately playing a significant role in their experience and understanding of their treatment.

For more information about MICH, please visit:

For more information about Child Life & Creative Arts at Maimonides,
please visit:

[MaimonidesMedicalCenter]

According to the Child Life Council, you must complete a bachelor's degree, 10 college-level courses in child life or a related subject, a minimum of 480 hours of child life clinical experience under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, and an exam. Mika also received a Masters Degree in Art Therapy and is a licensed art therapist, though those qualifications are not required to be a Child Life Specialist. More information is available at Child Life Council website.

[EPKFilmsproductions]

I had a heart transplant at 12 weeks old, I'm 28 now and I really want to become a child life specialist. My dream job.

[starwarsoriginal]

I’m definitely becoming a child life specialist

[MaimonidesMedicalCenter]

Mika works in our pediatric unit at the Maimonides Infants & Children's Hospital.

[elideaquino]

I have a bachelor in Bilingual EC-6 and I’m planning on completing my masters ins educational diagnostics. I want to work in hospital but will my background qualify me to become a child life specialist? Thank you!

[LexiSliva]

what kind of education do you need to be a child life specialist

[caseymeyer]

Working on my degree for this dream job.

[CRDennison]

if any body has guastions just ask me i have had 6 surgerys

[krystalsanford]

Texas Children hospital I was in the hospital for Times at the hospital doctor fix me and make