Which Healthcare Careers Work with Children?

Posted on July 17, 2026July 16, 2026 by Stanbridge

Basic Overview

If you enjoy working with children, there are many healthcare careers that provide opportunities to support pediatric patients and their families. Professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants, Licensed Vocational Nurses, and Registered Nurses may work with infants, children, and adolescents in hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and community healthcare settings. The right career depends on your interests, educational goals, and the type of patient care you hope to provide.

Which Healthcare Careers Work with Children? — Occupational Therapy Assistant students practice pediatric patient care and therapeutic communication in hands-on clinical training environments that prepare them for real-world rehabilitation settings.

Why Do People Choose to Work with Children in Healthcare?

Many healthcare professionals choose careers that allow them to support children and their families during important stages of growth, development, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Some professionals enjoy helping children recover from injuries, while others appreciate focusing on developmental milestones, daily living skills, mobility, or general medical care. Because pediatric healthcare includes many specialties, students have opportunities to explore careers that align with their interests and long-term goals for helping children.

If you enjoy working with children, several healthcare professions may provide opportunities to make a meaningful difference throughout a child’s development.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists evaluate patients, develop individualized treatment plans, and help children participate more fully in everyday activities.¹

Depending on the child’s needs, Occupational Therapists may help improve:

Fine motor coordination
Sensory processing
Self-care skills
School participation
Adaptive equipment use
Daily living activities

Occupational Therapists commonly work with children experiencing developmental delays, neurological conditions, injuries, or other physical and cognitive challenges.

Because pediatric occupational therapy focuses on participation and independence, every treatment plan is individualized to the child’s goals and abilities.

Students interested in this career pathway can learn more about the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Stanbridge University.

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the supervision of Occupational Therapists to help implement treatment plans and support therapeutic activities. ²

A typical day may include helping children:

Practice dressing and grooming skills
Improve hand coordination
Participate in therapeutic play activities
Use adaptive equipment
Strengthen independence during everyday tasks

Occupational Therapy Assistants frequently work alongside Occupational Therapists in schools, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, and other pediatric healthcare settings.

Students interested in this pathway can explore the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Stanbridge University.

Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses care for patients across the lifespan, including infants, children, adolescents, and adults. ³

Pediatric Registered Nurses may:

Assess patient conditions
Monitor health status
Administer medications
Educate patients and families
Coordinate care with healthcare teams

Depending on their role, Registered Nurses may work in children’s hospitals, pediatric clinics, schools, community health organizations, and other healthcare environments.

Students interested in Registered Nursing can explore the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Stanbridge University.

Licensed Vocational Nurses

Licensed Vocational Nurses also provide patient care for children in a variety of healthcare settings.⁴

Depending on the work environment, Licensed Vocational Nurses may:

Monitor vital signs
Assist with daily patient care
Document patient information
Support treatment plans
Communicate with healthcare teams

Some Licensed Vocational Nurses work in pediatric clinics, schools, long-term care environments, or home healthcare settings that serve children and adolescents.

Students interested in vocational nursing can explore the Associate of Occupational Science in Vocational Nursing program at Stanbridge University.

Physical Therapist Assistants

Physical Therapist Assistants work under the direction and supervision of licensed Physical Therapists to help patients improve mobility and movement.⁵

When working with children, Physical Therapist Assistants may help patients:

Improve balance
Increase strength
Recover from injuries
Develop coordination
Practice walking and mobility skills
Participate in therapeutic exercise programs

Physical Therapist Assistants may work in pediatric rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, schools, outpatient facilities, and community healthcare settings.

Students interested in rehabilitation-focused careers can learn more about the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Stanbridge University.²

Where Do Pediatric Healthcare Professionals Work?

Professionals who work with children can be found in many healthcare and educational environments.

Common work settings include:

Children’s hospitals
Outpatient pediatric clinics
Schools
Early intervention programs
Rehabilitation facilities
Community health organizations
Home healthcare
Specialty medical clinics

The work environment often influences the patient population, daily responsibilities, and types of conditions healthcare professionals encounter.

What Skills Are Helpful When Working with Children?

Healthcare professionals who work with children often rely on a combination of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills.

Examples include:

Communication
Patience
Adaptability
Problem-solving
Observation
Collaboration
Creativity
Compassion

Because every child has unique needs, healthcare professionals frequently adapt their communication and interventions to support both patients and families.

What Is the Job Outlook for Pediatric Healthcare Careers?

Many careers that include opportunities to work with children are projected to experience continued employment growth in California.

According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD):

Occupational Therapist job demand is projected to grow 20.5% between 2022 and 2032.¹
Occupational Therapy Assistant job demand is projected to grow 33.3% between 2022 and 2032.¹
Physical Therapist Assistant job demand is projected to grow 41.8% between 2022 and 2032.⁵
Licensed Vocational Nurse job demand is projected to grow 17.8% between 2022 and 2032.⁴
Registered Nurse job demand is projected to grow 12.9% between 2022 and 2032.³

Because these professions serve patients across many healthcare settings, employment opportunities vary depending on specialty, employer, and geographic location.

Which Healthcare Career Is Right for You?

Working with children can be rewarding for individuals who enjoy helping others, solving problems, and supporting patient development.

Whether your interests involve rehabilitation, nursing, education, or patient care, exploring different healthcare careers can help you identify a pathway that aligns with your strengths, interests, and long-term professional goals.

Understanding each profession’s responsibilities, educational requirements, and work settings can help you make a more informed decision as you begin your healthcare journey.

You can read more about healthcare careers here: “What Should You Know Before Starting a Healthcare Career?”.

Frequently Asked Questions

What healthcare careers allow you to work with children?

Many healthcare professionals work with children, including Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Physical Therapist Assistants, physicians, speech-language pathologists, and other pediatric healthcare professionals. The work environment and patient population vary by profession.¹

What does an Occupational Therapist do for children?

Occupational Therapists evaluate children, develop individualized treatment plans, and help improve participation in everyday activities such as self-care, school tasks, play, and community activities.¹

What does a Physical Therapist Assistant do for children?

Physical Therapist Assistants work under the direction and supervision of licensed Physical Therapists to help children improve mobility, strength, balance, coordination, and functional movement. Depending on the child’s needs, they may support rehabilitation following injury, illness, surgery, or developmental conditions while helping patients achieve movement-related goals.⁵

What do nurses do for children?

Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses provide patient care for children in a variety of healthcare settings. Depending on their role, nurses may assess patient health, monitor vital signs, administer medications within their scope of practice, educate patients and families, coordinate care, and support treatment plans for pediatric patients.³ ⁴

What skills are important for healthcare professionals who work with children?

Communication, patience, adaptability, observation, teamwork, compassion, creativity, and problem-solving are all valuable skills for professionals who work with pediatric patients.

Where can I learn more about healthcare education?

Students interested in healthcare careers can explore Stanbridge University’s programs in Vocational Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapist Assistant.