Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS

Certified Child Life Specialist, Child Life Mommy, Blogger, Private Practice

Shani is a Certified Child Life Specialist and a parent of two boys. She is an energetic, compassionate leader in the child life community, who loves to fill gaps in service and think outside of the box.

She has an educational background in recreation administration and a graduate degree in child life. Shani has worked in a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit, a long-term children’s facility, and has volunteered as a bereavement facilitator at a local children’s hospital.

Shani created a child life and parenting website/blog, called ChildLifeMommy.com and uses social media to share her resources. She provides information to caregivers, child life specialists, students, educators, and pediatric clinicians.

She launched a child life private practice in her community, providing home visits, phone consultations, caregiver workshops, and support to local programs and schools. She published a children’s preparation book, “It’s Time For Your Checkup: What to Expect When Going to a Doctor Visit” and volunteers as an officer for the Sacramento chapter for California Play Therapy Association.

In her spare time, she loves to work out, mountain bike, and hike. She also enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her kids, and watching reality TV with her two puppies, Tank and Monkey.