Importance of Play Flashcards
What is the role of play assistants?
Provide play opportunities for all children in hospital and offer support to parents
What is the role of play specialists?
Provide therapeutic play helping children cope with procedures
Why is play important?
Helps children learn and develop holistically
Allows the child to have fun
Helps child form their own personality and express their feelings
Why is play important in hospital?
Provides normality in an abnormal environment
Reduces stress and anxiety levels
Helps child to understand their illness, clarifies misconceptions and helps aid recovery
Reduces ill effects of hospitalisation
What are the benefits of play therapy?
Encourages child to play out their frustrations and tensions, and relive experiences they weren’t able to understand
Allows child to take back a little control
What is play preparation?
Preparing children for all procedures using simple language and preparation tools
What are the benefits of play preparation?
Encourages child to act out procedure
Helps child understand their illness and cope with the procedure
Why is providing a distraction in hospital important?
Helps children to cope with their procedures and illness
What are some methods used to distract children in hospital?
Books, iPads, noisy toys, projectors, 3D tv, relaxation techniques, guided imagery
Who are children referred to for therapeutic play?
Play specialists = work with the child using play therapy to gain their trust
Who can refer children for play?
Consultants and specialist nurses = for children who are finding a procedure difficult (i.e fear, previous trauma, misconceptions)
How are therapeutic play sessions carried out?
Play specialist will contact parent and arrange play sessions on a one to one basis
What happens in a play referral?
Build relationship and trust
Procedural play preparation using dolls/medical equipment and visit to treatment room
Introduce Ametop and Emla when required
Rehearse procedural play and talk about fears
