A model child life program for hospitalized children between the ages of 3 and 13 was systematically developed and tested on a large number of stress, coping, adjustment, and surgical recovery variables. The results indicated that children who participated in the experimental program (N = 68) scored significantly better on 18 of the 21 outcome variables than did control children (N = 160) who did not participate in a full child life program. As in previous research and within the limitations of a quasiexperimental design, the results suggest that this type of systematic child life care has a significant, positive impact on hospitalized children.