Surgery can feel overwhelming and stressful for children and families, especially when they don’t know what to expect. Children’s Minnesota child life specialists are here to help! Our child life specialist team can help make the experience easier by teaching kids what to expect in ways they can understand. Through play, hands-on activities and simple explanations, they help kids become more comfortable with the surgery process.
When children know what to expect, they often feel more confident and less afraid. Child life specialists may help a child decorate their anesthesia mask, practice with medical equipment or learn about surgery using kid-friendly words. These activities help children feel more prepared and give them a sense of control. Our child life team also helps parents and caregivers feel informed and ready to support their child every step of the way.
Learn more about surgery at Children’s Minnesota.
We’re excited to introduce you to Sydney Weaver, a child life specialist at Children’s Minnesota. Sydney has been in her role for the last 10 years and currently works in our surgery center in Minnetonka, where she supports children and families throughout their surgical experience.
Get to know Sydney in her own words
Tell us about your role.
As a child life specialist in the surgery center, my role is to promote positive coping for children, adolescents and their families as they navigate the surgical experience. Walking into the surgery center or hospital can often feel stressful or intimidating for pediatric patients and their families.
My job is to help ease that stress and help children feel more prepared for surgery by providing age-appropriate education and preparation about what to expect, offering procedural support through a variety of coping methods, and creating opportunities for play, emotional expression and adjustment to the medical environment. Through these interventions, I help children and families feel more comfortable, informed, and empowered throughout their surgery or healthcare journey.
What do you love about your role?
There is so much I love about my role! I love helping children turn something that feels scary and overwhelming into something they can manage with confidence.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing a child walk into our surgery center feeling visibly worried, but after child life support, they walk confidently into the operating room, maybe even with a smile on their face. Seeing a child go from fearful and uncertain to assured and empowered is one of the most meaningful parts of being a child life specialist. I love to help patients and families tap into their strengths and build on the superpowers they already have when things feel especially challenging.
What do you want patients, families and staff to know about the work you do?
Everything has a purpose
I want patients, families and staff to know that everything we do has a purpose. While some of the things we do seem like playing and the moments may look simple, they are intentional interventions designed to help children feel safe, build trust and develop positive coping skills. For example, when we blow bubbles during an exam or search in an eye spy book throughout a procedure, we’re not just distracting a child in the moment. We’re helping them learn that medical experiences do not always have to feel overwhelming or scary.
Preparation matters
In addition, preparation matters. When kids know what to expect, are offered appropriate choices and are given opportunities to practice coping skills and gain a sense of mastery and control, they are often much more confident and successful during medical experiences. This can reduce anxiety for both the child and their family and help create a more positive healthcare experience.
Lasting impact beyond the present moment
This impact can then extend beyond the present moment. These positive experiences can shape how children and adolescents approach future healthcare encounters, helping them build confidence, trust and resilience that will hopefully benefit them for years to come.
What do you think makes kids remarkable?
Kids have a way of approaching the world with wonder and asking questions that remind us to slow down and see things from a different perspective. I am constantly amazed by their ability to find joy, creativity and play in the midst of difficult circumstances. Kids are incredibly resilient, strong and brave, and I am so lucky to work with them every day!
