Child Life Certification Practice Test 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Hospitalization can have significant psychological and developmental effects on a child, particularly concerning the skills they have recently acquired. According to Anna Freud, hospitalization often requires children to temporarily yield some or all of the skills they have learned. This is understood in the context of stress, separation from familiar environments, and the challenges of adapting to a hospital setting where routines and expectations differ greatly from home.

When children face the unfamiliar circumstances of hospitalization, their ability to utilize previously learned skills can be compromised. They may be focused on coping with the stress of illness and the hospital environment, which can lead to a regression in skills. For example, a child who has recently learned to use the toilet independently may revert to earlier behaviors, such as bedwetting, due to the anxiety and change in routine associated with being hospitalized.

By recognizing that hospitalization requires children to yield their skills temporarily, it highlights the importance of providing supportive interventions. Child life specialists and caregivers play a crucial role in creating a nurturing environment that allows for the stabilization of emotional needs, enabling children to not only recover but ultimately regain their previously acquired skills once they return to a more typical setting.