Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support Podcast Por Katie Taylor CCLS arte de portada

Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support

Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support

De: Katie Taylor CCLS
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 Stories, Hope, Healing and Help for Parents Navigating Illness and Healthcare with Their Children *Top 15% Globally Ranked Podcast* Katie Taylor has been a child life specialist for almost 15 years and has one mission: to ensure that any parent who has a child with medical needs has access to other parents who have walked through the path before. With over 200+ diagnoses covered in this podcast, Katie interviews parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories in safe, supportive discussions with a child life specialist. Navigating life with a child who is sick can feel isolating, and this podcast offers parents a sense of connection. Hosted by Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist who provides evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions to help promote positive coping with hospitalization and illness.2025 Child Life On Call® Crianza y Familias Enfermedades Físicas Higiene y Vida Saludable Relaciones
Episodios
  • How to Talk with Kids About Disasters, Illness, and Other Tough Topics

    How to Talk with Kids About Disasters, Illness, and Other Tough Topics
    Jul 9 2025

    In the wake of recent flooding in Central Texas, Katie Taylor—child life specialist and mom—pauses the regularly scheduled episode to speak directly to parents navigating uncertainty and grief. Whether you're facing a natural disaster, a scary news event, illness, or another tough moment, Katie offers a compassionate and practical framework to help guide difficult conversations with your child.

    Drawing from both her professional experience and personal moments with her own daughter, Katie walks you through a 5-step process to ensure these talks are grounded in safety, emotional connection, and honest, age-appropriate communication.

    Questions, media or collaborations? Reach out to us at hello@childlifeoncall.com

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • Why regulating yourself is the first step to supporting your child

    • How to assess what your child knows or believes about an event (and correct misconceptions)

    • Strategies for explaining complex topics in clear, simple ways

    • How to validate emotional reactions, even when you don’t have all the answers

    • The importance of ending with a bonding activity to reinforce connection and security

    Katie’s 5-Step Framework:

    1. Regulate yourself

    2. Assess what your child knows

    3. Explain complex information simply

    4. Validate their emotions and responses

    5. Close with connection and bonding

    🤝 Resources Mentioned:

    🔗 Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) – Supporting families and professionals during crisis situations: https://www.childlifedisasterrelief.org
    📚 Flooding & Crisis Resource Hub for Parents and CCLS: https://childlifeoncall.com/hillcountryfloods

    • [00:00] – Welcome & why this episode matters right now (Texas flooding)

    • [01:00] – The emotional toll on parents and the importance of self-regulation

    • [02:00] – Personal reflection: Katie shares how she coped this weekend

    • [03:00] – Step 1: Why regulating yourself is step one in helping your child

    • [04:00] – Step 2: Two ways tough conversations begin (reactive vs. planned)

    • [05:00] – Creating a safe environment: timing, tone, and physical comfort

    • [06:00] – Step 3: Assessing what your child knows and clearing up misconceptions

    • [07:00] – Example: When Katie’s daughter feared the pool would flood their home

    • [08:00] – How to explain complex topics like weather in simple, honest language

    • [09:00] – Step 4: Reading your child’s cues and inviting collaboration

    • [10:00] – When kids ask heartbreaking questions (e.g. “Did kids die?”)

    • [11:00] – Validating your child’s emotions and offering honest responses

    • [12:00] – Step 5: How to close the conversation with a bonding moment

    • [13:00] – Simple ideas: drawing together, taking a walk, or reading a book

    • [14:00] – What to do when you don’t have the answers to their questions

    • [15:00] – Why the message of safety, love, and presence matters most

    • [16:00] – Acknowledging the incredible work of Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR)

    • [17:00] – Where to find resources: childlifeoncall.com/hillcountryfloods

    • [18:00] – Final encouragement: You can do this—and your words matter less than your presence
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    14 m
  • When your Child is Diagnosed with Leukemia: Wisdom from a Cancer Parent (260)- Laura's Story

    When your Child is Diagnosed with Leukemia: Wisdom from a Cancer Parent (260)- Laura's Story
    Jun 25 2025
    When Laura's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, her world stopped. What followed was a powerful journey through fear, resilience, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree—a lifelong educator and now author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook—opens up about the most terrifying day of her life, how she transformed pain into purpose, and why parent-to-parent support is critical in the childhood cancer community. Her reflections are raw, heartfelt, and offer wisdom for every parent facing a medical diagnosis with their child. 🗝️ 5 Key Topics in This Episode: Diagnosis day & emotional impact Finding empowerment through peer support Practical coping strategies for parents Giving kids agency during treatment Long-term reflection, gratitude & growth ⏱️ Timestamps with Details: 00:00] Introduction to Child Life On Call + meeting Laura Katie welcomes listeners and introduces Laura, an educator and mother of three, who shares her personal journey through her daughter’s cancer diagnosis. [02:00] Life before diagnosis and early warning signs Laura describes her daughter Cecilia’s vibrant personality and the subtle symptoms—like fatigue and pallor—that signaled something was wrong. [04:30] Diagnosis day: from classroom to clinic Laura recounts the moment she received the devastating call while teaching choir class and the whirlwind that followed as her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. [06:30] The emotional toll and the beginning of advocacy Facing fear and uncertainty, Laura begins to advocate for her daughter’s care while navigating the shock and grief that comes with diagnosis. [07:45] Camp experience and the danger of living “in cancer” Laura reflects on a pivotal moment at a childhood cancer camp where she recognized the importance of not letting cancer define her family’s entire future. [09:00] Collaborating with doctors + writing the handbook Inspired by the gaps in communication, Laura begins collaborating with her care team and eventually writes The Cancer Parent’s Handbook to empower other families. [11:45] The moment she knew she had to advocate fiercely After a doctor’s offhand comment about potential cognitive decline, Laura took matters into her own hands and became a determined voice for her daughter’s future. [14:00] Giving children power during treatment Laura explains how offering simple choices helped her daughter feel more in control and less fearful during difficult medical procedures. [16:30] Coping skills and caring for the caregiver She shares the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and creating a support system to survive the marathon of long-term treatment. [21:00] Practical ways to normalize medical trauma Through routines, honest conversations, and using Child Life services, Laura found ways to help her daughter feel safe and empowered during medical care. [26:00] Empowerment through routine and consistency By incorporating rituals like bike rides and post-procedure treats, Laura created a sense of predictability that helped her daughter manage weekly treatments. [28:00] The unexpected gifts of reflection and gratitude Laura opens up about how practices like gratitude journaling helped her find peace and moments of beauty during even the darkest days. [30:00] About The Cancer Parent’s Handbook + where to get it Laura shares her motivation for writing the book and how it’s now available for parents everywhere seeking guidance through their own childhood cancer journey. 📚 Resources from Laura: 📖 The Cancer Parent’s Handbook Website 🛒 Purchase the Cancer Parent Handbook here! 🌍 Follow the CancerParentHandbook on Instagram 🙌 Help Us Grow & Stay Connected If this episode touched your heart or helped you feel more prepared on your cancer parenting journey, we’d be so grateful if you could: 🌟 Rate and review the Child Life On Call Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more parents and professionals find these powerful stories. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode filled with guidance, support, and hope. 📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it today. 🎈 For more resources on supporting children through medical experiences — including expert articles and downloadable tools — visit ChildLifeOnCall.com. 📲Download the SupportSpot App today for Child Life Tools in your pocket 🌟Interested in sharing your story? Reach out to lyndsey@childlifeoncall.com Together, we’re making child life support more accessible to families everywhere. The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a ...
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    35 m
  • Navigating Childhood Loss Through Storytelling (259)-B.R.'s Story

    Navigating Childhood Loss Through Storytelling (259)-B.R.'s Story
    Jun 18 2025
    This episode is dedicated to Katie’s dear friend Joe, who recently passed away, leaving behind his wife and two young sons. Joe’s story reminds us to live in alignment with our purpose and to cherish the people we love. In this heartfelt episode of the Child Life On Call podcast, Katie Taylor speaks with B.R. Duray, an author, filmmaker, and storyteller whose debut children's book, The Mood Swing, is rooted in his experience of losing his father at the age of 10. With it being Father’s Day this past weekend, this conversation takes on even deeper meaning. B.R. shares how grief has shaped his creative life, the ways it resurfaces during important life moments, and how his book can help both children and adults find healing together. Whether you're a parent, a grieving adult, or a healthcare provider, this episode provides validation, comfort, and hope. 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: ✅ Grief grants both pain and power B.R. explains how losing his dad gave him heightened emotional sensitivity and a creative voice to express and process those feelings. ✅ Grief resurfaces in different stages of life He shares how emotions from his childhood resurfaced 20 years later during his engagement, reinforcing that grief evolves with us. ✅ Reading about grief helps parents, too Though The Mood Swing was written for children, it often evokes emotional responses from adults who find healing in its message. ✅ The Mood Swing originated as a film The story began as a poem and animated concept, but eventually took form as a children’s book—and later inspired a short film. ✅ Parents can model healthy grief Katie and B.R. discuss how parents showing emotions in front of children teaches them it’s safe to feel and process grief together. 📍Episode Highlights: ⏱️ [3:00] – Katie dedicates the episode to her late friend Joe and reflects on how his life reminds us to live with purpose. ⏱️ [4:00] – B.R. shares how his father’s death shaped his creativity and opened his heart to telling meaningful stories. ⏱️ [10:30] – Discussion around how grief reemerges during milestones like engagements and weddings. ⏱️ [16:30] – The story behind The Mood Swing, how it began as a movie concept, and why B.R. shifted to a book format for a deeper connection. ⏱️ [22:00] – B.R. reflects on the emotional reactions he’s received from adults who have read The Mood Swing and how grief connects us all. ⏱️ [24:00] – Katie and B.R. talk about the importance of parents being open with their grief in front of children to foster healthy emotional expression. 📘 About The Mood Swing The Mood Swing follows Peter, a young boy navigating the highs and lows of emotion on a magical swing that helps him find balance through physical sensation and presence. Inspired by B.R.'s childhood grief, the book supports kids through big emotions without directly referencing death—making it a versatile tool for many types of emotional challenges. 🌐 Resources & Links from today’s episode: Buy The Mood Swing on Amazon Visit moodswing-media.com – View the book trailer, film, or donate a copy 📲 Stay Connected: Follow @childlifeoncall on Instagram Subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform Share this episode with a friend, parent, or provider who needs it today The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Child Life On Call Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Child Life On Call. Child Life On Call does not endorse any specific medical treatments, procedures, or opinions shared in the podcast. If you or your child are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that Child Life On Call and its affiliates are not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.
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    29 m
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