[AT WORK]
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Geila Fukumitsu >> Imagine walking through the hallway of a children's ward in a hospital and hearing children laughing. As you approach the direction of bliss, you see youngsters playing with colorful toys and blowing bubbles and older children huddled around an art activity in deep concentration. On the other side of this table is a child intently drawing while in another area of this room a little girl is playing with a doll. Health care worker
Geila Fukumitsu stumbled onto a
dream job playing with childrenThis this is no ordinary playroom. This is the Child Life Activity Room where I work as a child life coordinator at Kaiser Permanente.
A closer looks reveals that the child blowing bubbles is actually following an individualized respiratory program to aid in recovery from surgery. The children sitting at the table are playing with common medical supplies in an art activity to identify and discuss experiences and feelings associated with the implements. The child is drawing his rendition of the hospital while the little girl is playing "nurse" to her doll as she arranges medical supplies in a specific sequence that only comes from experience.
Obviously, there is more than just play taking place. Children are working through their concerns in therapeutic recreation. As a child life coordinator, I organize play to help children and families cope with hospitalization.
I actually stumbled upon this profession. While working as a call-in ward clerk at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, I noticed a person playing games and having fun with children in the Activity Room on the Pediatrics Unit. I thought to myself, "Is she getting paid to do that? I want a job like that!" As I learned more about what the Activity Room person really did, I realized there was more to it than just fun and games. It required a bachelor's degree, an internship and certification.
After five years of working in this field, I feel I've made a difference in the lives of children.
At Work is a weekly feature that shows and tells what people do for a living in their own words. Send comments and submissions to: business@starbulletin.com