Course Testimonials

  • RN Review 5/5 Stars

    Katie provided great information and examples of how to use strategies. She had a good energy level.

  • RN Review 5/5 Stars

    My favorite part of the course was how Katie broke everything down by age and ways to apply learning by their development.

  • RN Review, 5/5 Stars

    The downloads were great and something I'll start using today!

Instructor

Certified Child Life Specialist

Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor is a certified child life specialist, podcast host and CEO + Founder Child Life On Call. With the expertise of a child life specialist and the heart of a momma, Katie's passion is supporting parents, kids and the care team with the tools they deserve so they can go from overwhelmed to empowered during medical situations. With over a decade of in-hospital experience, Katie has helped hundreds of families cope with and navigate challenging life events. Katie graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and has studied and worked at facilities like Children's National Medical Center, Inova Children's Hospital, Dell Children's Medical Center and in a leadership role at St. David's Children's Hospital. She is now the CEO and Founder of Child Life On Call LLC.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome

    2. How to use this course

    3. What is a child life specialist?

    4. Pre-Course Survey

    5. [Research Moment] Psychological Considerations in Pediatric Chronic Illness: Case Examples

    1. Introduction to Step 1

    2. General Tenets

    3. Possible Medical Stressors

    4. Silence is Golden.

    1. Introduction to Step 2

    2. Infant Development

    3. [Download] Infant Stim Cards

    4. Toddler Development

    5. Pre-School Development:

    6. Pre-School: Part 2

    7. School Age Development:

    8. Adolescent

    9. [Download] Developmental Handout for Parents

    1. Introduction to Step 3

    2. Factors to Consider

    3. Targeting the Caregiver + Assessment

    4. Acknowledging Pain

    5. One Voice

    6. How to Prepare Kids for Procedures

    7. [Model Video] How to prepare a child for a shot

    8. [Blog] Tips to Help a Patient Cope with a Fear of Needles

    9. [Blog] Preparation

    10. [Download] Therapeutic Activity: 5 Senses Preparation

    11. [Download] How to Prepare a Child for Shots + Vaccines

    1. Introduction to Step 4 + Language Considerations

    2. Children with Sensory Needs

    3. Asking the caregiver: Sensory Considerations

    4. [Download] All About Me

    5. [Download] Parent Resource: Autism Spectrum Disorder

    6. [Download] Parent Resource: Special Needs

    1. Post-Course Survey

    2. Closing notes and last minute tips

    3. Disclosure

About this course

  • $149.99
  • 41 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify common psychosocial stressors experienced by children, teens, and caregivers in pediatric healthcare settings.

  • Describe developmentally appropriate communication and preparation strategies for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents.

  • Apply family-centered coping strategies to support children during painful, stressful, or unfamiliar medical experiences.

  • Recognize sensory, developmental, and communication considerations that may affect a child’s healthcare experience.

  • Use caregiver assessment and patient-centered language to improve preparation, cooperation, and coping during pediatric care.

Identified Practice Gap and Educational Need

Pediatric healthcare providers are often highly trained in clinical procedures, but many receive limited formal education in developmentally appropriate preparation, psychosocial assessment, caregiver coaching, and child-centered coping support. This gap can leave children and families feeling distressed, unprepared, or unable to participate fully in care. This course addresses that gap by teaching practical, evidence-informed strategies clinicians can use to improve communication, preparation, coping, and family-centered care during pediatric medical experiences.