The Child Life Program at McMaster is THE PLACE TO BE if you are interested in becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist. The coursework explores everything from child development theories and play, to grief, loss, and bereavement. The second year of the program—the internship year—is one that everyone looks forward to. The over 600 hours of clinical experience that you get during your second year is designed to get you out of the classroom and to put your well learned skills into action, working alongside seasoned professionals in the field.
The faculty are some of the kindest, most compassionate individuals, and truly care about each of their students. They take care to truly get to know you and will cater their support approach to suit your unique needs. I was encouraged to explore my diverse interests, and to push myself out of my comfort zone. The team of professors will go above and beyond for you because they share the goal of seeing you succeed. Moreover, the small cohort size lends itself to a learning environment in which you quickly and intimately get to know your fellow classmates and professors. Through class lessons, discussion boards, and seminars, we were all encouraged and felt safe to share our trials and triumphs with one another. In this way, you feel as though you have a built-in support system while navigating the program.
Due to the professional connections, I made during my time in the McMaster program, I was fortunate enough to be offered a full-time clinical position at my top choice hospital upon graduation. While it was somewhat intimidating to walk into such a demanding role from the get-go, I knew that the rigorous and well-rounded training I received while at Mac had thoroughly prepared me to tackle the workforce and begin my career as a Child Life Specialist.
In the two years of this program, you will grow more as a learner, as a professional, and as a person than you imagined. When you leave McMaster, you can feel confident that you have the skills, knowledge, and professional experience to enter a clinical setting and make a positive, long-lasting impact on the lives of children and families.
Wren Puckett – MSc. Stream 1 Student – Class of 2022
I would highly recommend the CLPPC program to anyone pursuing child life! My experience in the program prepared me to enter the field with a strong academic and clinical foundation, prepared to serve diverse populations. The academic courses prepared me for clinical internship with confidence and learning alongside stream 2 Certified Child Life Specialists was an invaluable opportunity. The faculty works hard to provide you with an exceptional clinical experience and by completing two internships you learn about providing care in a variety of settings and with various populations before entering the field.
The faculty are thoughtful and knowledgeable, and truly provided the best foundation I could have hoped for. The CLPPC program introduced me to an incredible community of child life specialists who I am so grateful to work and learn alongside!
Jessica Innell – MSc. Stream 1 Student – Class of 2022
There are not enough words to describe how wonderful the CCLS program is and how incredible the faculty are! My experience in the program was full of diverse learning, opportunities for collaboration, skill development, networking possibilities, personal growth and an abundance of enjoyment.
The faculty are thoughtful and purposeful in their approach to teaching and are full of compassion, respect for every student and their unique needs, and heart! I had the opportunity to enthusiastically explore my interests while simultaneously being encouraged and challenged to examine additional areas of child life and pediatric psychosocial care. I developed friendships and a community of support that I know will last a lifetime and it’s all thanks to the CCLS program and the strong and passionate group of leaders who create the true and indescribable magic of the program!
Melissa Dodora – MSc. Stream 1 Student – Class of 2021
I enrolled in Stream 2 to refine my child life clinical skills and increase my working knowledge of best practices that is evidence-based. During the course work, I discovered my passion for research. The graduate program helped open the door for a role at the Research Institute coordinating patient and family engagement in research. I now work closely with patients and families ensuring their perspectives are consulted during the research process.
Kim Courtney – MSc. Stream 2 Student – Class of 2022
If you are interested in becoming a child specialist, the Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care (CLPPC) program is an ideal road to take. Each course is specially designed to broaden your level of knowledge in the many aspects of the child life field, and help you to grow as an individual and professional. With the program being small, I admired how a sense of community builds by having fellow students who have various life experiences and were encouraged to share, and each faculty comes with personal work experience in the child life field and were willing to share their glory moments but also their hard learned lessons. The faculty truly are phenomenal, throughout the entire program each member is regularly available and goes over the top in an effort to support each individual student. Their goal honestly is to help us succeed.
As a hands-on learner myself, this program was perfect for me with the collaborative work we do with fellow students, but most of all the 720 internship hours we spend on the front line working side-by-side with child life professionals learning from their personal experience as well as implementing the knowledge and tools learned throughout the program.
I truly am grateful for having the opportunity to pursue the CLPPC program which lined me up for an amazing job opportunity working in a children’s hospital emergency department. Every day in my job I am applying the abundance of knowledge and tools learned throughout the program for example, when I am assessing patients and family members so I can provide age appropriate interventions that encourages smiling and laughter to normalize the hospital environment that helps to lower anxiety levels, I often teach children about upcoming procedures through medical play so they understand what will happen, or offer distractions during procedures and/or teach coping strategies that they can use throughout their lives.
I cannot say thank you enough for everything the CLPPC has to offer!
Matt Hunter – MSc. Stream 1 Student – Class of 2021