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Child Life Internships

Home Education Student Programs Child Life Program Internships
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Internship opportunities

We offer two 15-week internships during the fall, spring and summer. Our internship program is accredited by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

As a child life intern, you’ll work directly with our certified child life specialists to care for patients at Marshfield Medical Center, a 250-bed tertiary care teaching hospital and Level II trauma center. You’ll do rotations throughout Marshfield Children’s, including at our clinics and outpatient surgery center, and with our radiology department.

Internship positions are filled for summer 2026.   


What to expect as a child life intern 

Your internship will include a variety of readings, weekly focus papers, observations and projects. We ask you to keep daily logs for your weekly summaries. 

Logs should include:

  • Procedural observations
  • Step-by-step descriptions of your activities
  • Analysis of your observations and performance
  • Comments about your assigned readings

Your supervisor will also guide you through various projects, meetings, case studies, trainings and assessments.


What does it mean to be ACLP accredited?

This accreditation means our internships meet the standards set by the ACLP. Our children’s hospital is one of three locations in Wisconsin with accredited child life internships. 

Program information

Mission and objectives

We use evidence-based practices to minimize stressful healthcare events while optimizing coping and healing for infants, children, adolescents and families. 

Our child life program embraces the value of play as we work to enhance the growth and development of infants, children, and adolescents through assessment, intervention, prevention, advocacy and education.

During your time as an intern, you’ll help us fulfill our mission by assisting with child life services expressive therapies. 


Internship objectives
  • To understand and implement theories related to child development
  • To become familiar with child life and/or recreation therapy professions
  • To display appropriate leadership skills
  • To gain knowledge of child development and growth
  • To interact with others one-on-one and in group settings
  • To become acquainted with the needs of pediatric patients and to recognize creative and flexible programming
  • To gain knowledge of assessment, intervention and documentation across the age spectrum
  • To gain an understanding of the effects of stress and trauma on children and adolescent behavior and development
  • To become familiar with written literature regarding children and medical settings
  • To delegate responsibilities and oversee the work of volunteers and lower-level students
  • To gain an ability to plan, organize, coordinate, implement and evaluate a planned activity and recognize its value
  • To identify strengths and weaknesses to improve through further education and experiences
  • To begin the transition from a student to a professional
  • To gain basic knowledge of the organization and administration of child life and expressive therapies
  • To gain experience as an advocate and spokesperson for children and families
  • To gain experience preparing children for hospitalization, surgery and other medical procedures
  • To learn about other medical professionals and provide education on the role of child life specialists
  • To gain a professional attitude and grow in maturity and judgment
  • To gain experience working independently and as a team member to meet the psychosocial needs of children and adolescents
  • To understand the importance and role of play with pediatric patients

Prerequisites

If you are a therapeutic recreation student, you must be eligible for both the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) certification exam and the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam.

Please note, a medical terminology course and a child and adolescent development course is required. Completion of these courses should be included on your transcript.


Required reading

Prior to your internship, read the following books:

  • “Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice” by Richard H. Thompson and Gene Stanford
  • “Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals: A Clinical Practice Manual From the ACCH Child Life Research Project” by Laura Gaynard et al.
  • “Meeting Children’s Psychosocial Needs Across the Health-Care Continuum” by Judy A. Rollins, Rosmary Bolig and Carmel C. Mahan
  • “The Handbook of Child Life: A Guide for Pediatric Psychosocial Care” by Richard H. Thompson

Highly suggested additional books:

  • “A Child in Pain: What Health Professionals Can Do to Help” by Leora Kuttner
  • “The Pips of Child Life: The Middle Years of Play Programs in Hospitals” by Joan C. Turner and Civita A. Brown

Application

We only accept interns affiliated with a college or university child life program.

To apply for our internship program, email your completed Internship Readiness Common Application and a PDF of your resume to childlife@marshfieldclinic.org.

The email subject line should state the internship session, spring, summer or fall, and the year. All application materials must be received before midnight of the deadline for consideration.

Due to unresolved contract negotiations, we are unable to accept students from the University of Missouri or Missouri State University.


Application deadlines

We offer early application to our Wisconsin child life programs. If our internship spots are filled, we will not conduct interviews following ACLP timelines and will post a notice.


Early application deadlines
  • Fall: February 13, 2026
  • Spring: August 7, 2026
  • Summer: December 7, 2026

Interviews

After applications are reviewed, 10 candidates will be contacted for a virtual interview. If you are offered an internship and accept, you will need to complete the health work requirements and a background check.

We will need an affiliation agreement/contract with your college/university if one is not already established.