Child Life Across Continents

Tzu Yun Alice Chiu and Maryam AlBahar. Photo courtesy of Maryam AlBahar
Child Life Across Continents
Two BU Wheelock alums share how they have used their education and training as child life specialists in their home countries
Child life practice is like a journey across continents, navigating the colorful landscapes of compassion and understanding, transcending borders, cultures, and even language. Imagine us as two brave adventurers, armed with degrees from Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development’s Child Life & Family-Centered Care program, exploring child life practice in far-flung lands like Taiwan and Kuwait.
Child life specialists are the unsung heroes of pediatric healthcare, bringing joy, comfort, and empowerment to children and families navigating challenging medical experiences. From explaining medical procedures in child-friendly language to providing emotional support during hospital stays, we use therapeutic play, effective coping strategies, developmental theory, and a whole lot of heart to educate, prepare, and support children and families every step of the way. At the core of it all, we’re advocates for the children and their families, ensuring they feel understood and empowered (we like to call that patient and family-centered care). And that’s why our work is not just important—it’s absolutely essential.
Our adventure begins surrounded by a vibrant community of aspiring changemakers at BU Wheelock. Learning the child life ropes was not just about textbooks and classroom—it was a hands-on journey in real-world settings. Then, equipped with our BU diplomas and boundless enthusiasm, we dove headfirst into the challenges of bridging language gaps and navigating the maze of certification requirements.
Picture Alice—with her infectious energy—working as a child life specialist in Taiwan, where practitioners are faced with limited job opportunities and low salaries. Language barriers are another issue—words we use in English to soften scary concepts, like using pokes instead of injections, can actually be more frightening to children in her native language, Mandarin.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, Maryam discovers only one child life organization in the entire country. Local child life specialists face misunderstandings about our profession, meager compensation (far below US averages), and struggles with grasping the English language well enough to pass the certification exam or higher child life education.
But where there are challenges, there are also victories. In Taiwan, Alice has been able to do innovative work that brings child life interventions, including preparation and therapeutic play at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, signaling the potential for impactful change in pediatric care and a growing receptive healthcare team. Maryam’s journey as one of two Kuwaitis to recently obtain a master’s degree and certification in child life is setting a positive precedent for others to follow.
The Middle East region is a fertile ground for innovation and leadership in child life. Recent investments in education and training programs in Kuwait signal a brighter future for child life professionals. Specialized programs, like the master of clinical psychology with a child life track now being offered in Saudi Arabia, reflect the region’s dedication to professional advancement.
We stand poised on the brink of a new era for child life practice in Taiwan, Kuwait, and beyond. With the wind of change propelling us forward and our BU education guiding our way, we set sail into uncharted waters, determined to create a world where child life services thrive, and the joyous laughter of children resonates throughout hospital wards and playrooms across the globe. So, if you ever spot a child life specialist, now you know what we’re all about—don’t hesitate to come say hello!
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