The Wild Life of Building Rapport When You Don’t Speak the Same Language with Morgan Livingstone

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Morgan Livingstone, about her understanding that effective support doesn't require special equipment—it requires presence, creativity, and genuine connection through play, regardless of what language you may speak.

Morgan's 28-year journey as a Certified Child Life Specialist has taken her from oncology units in Canada to remote Indigenous communities, and across continents to Kenya, Colombia, Botswana, and beyond. Her pioneering work establishing a private practice offering home-based child life services challenged traditional hospital-only models and created pathways for specialists to meet families where they are—physically, emotionally, and linguistically.

The universal language of play stands at the heart of Morgan's approach to bridging cultural divides. She shares practical strategies for connecting with children across language barriers: learning simple phrases like "open your mouth" or "hold still," using children's songs with familiar melodies, modeling play behaviors without words, and leveraging modern tools like Google Translate. These techniques create immediate bonds, as "the family's face lights up because they can see that you're trying."

Morgan emphasizes cultural humility over cultural competence, maintaining that every family has their own unique culture within their home. This perspective encourages child life specialists to approach each interaction with curiosity rather than assumption. She offers wisdom on creating inclusive environments—from selecting dolls with appropriate skin tones to establishing quiet tent spaces where children can retreat from overwhelming medical settings.

Book recommendations include: 

• "Culture, Religion, and Childbearing in a Multiracial Society: A Handbook for Health Professionals" by Judith Schott and Alix Henley
• "Caring for the World: A Guidebook to Global Health Opportunities" by Paul K. Drain, Stephen A. Huffman, Sara E. Pirtie, and Kevin Chan
• "Dead Aid: Why Aid is not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa" by Dambisa Moyo
• "The Uses of Haiti" by Paul Farmer

Whether you're a student, new professional, or seasoned specialist, Morgan's stories from pediatric healthcare's frontlines will inspire you to embrace bravery, patience, and play as universal healers. Listen now to discover how small gestures of cultural respect can transform a child's healthcare experience and why, sometimes, the wildest professional moments involve chameleons on your head during team meetings.

You can follow Morgan on Instagram at @childlifemorgan.

Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

Chapters

• 0:00 The Power of Learning Simple Phrases
• 6:47 Morgan's Journey to Global Child Life
• 17:37 Breaking Language Barriers Through Play
• 27:36 Practical Tools for Cross-Cultural Care
• 34:19 Cultural Humility in Practice
• 42:41 Advice for Child Life Specialists