Play has served as a way for children to express their emotions and reactions, especially when confronting stressful situations such as medical trauma, and as such, it allows children to have control of their experience (Nabors et al., 2013). Medical play is maybe more familiar in pediatric medical settings offered by child life specialists. However, medical play is also provided in the early childhood setting where is mostly seen in the dramatic play area. Regardless of the context, medical play can serve as a vehicle for children to cope with stressful medical experiences and attain control through the creation of stories with positive outcomes.

While child life is now considered well established in healthcare facilities, there are many other settings, situations, and populations where a child can experience stress and trauma and are not limited to this traditional settings. Through the update of the mission and vision, the Child Life Council was able to recognize that a variety of other populations can benefit from the field and work of child life (Child Life Council, 2002). These populations include all areas where children and families find themselves coping with challenging or overwhelming situations, and focus on communities where children and families may be dealing with traumatic life events, or are adjusting to new life experiences.

Many of us may not be familiar with the child life profession. Child life specialists work primarily in healthcare settings where children and families are served focusing on their emotional and developmental needs of children as opposed to the physical needs. Child life programs have evolved and have spread to non-hospital settings such as schools, early intervention, camps, foster care, and pediatric dental clinics, among other areas.