Play and the Hospitalized Child

Question 1

Why is play important?

Answer 1

• Play helps children make sense of their world
• children must have the opportunity to play during stressful situations and in the healthcare setting, play allows children to exert power and make choices
• Core to the child life practice is the specialist’s ability to guide children through the many dimensions and processes of play according to their developmental needs.

Question 2

Concepts of Play: Play is…

Answer 2

enjoyment
Development
Learning
Therapy

Question 3

Non-directive play therapy

Answer 3

environment where child is accepted, therapist communicates warmth and acceptance, gives child permission to lead. CHILDREN HAVE WITHIN THEMSELVES THE ABILITY TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

Question 4

ACLP Statement on Therapeutic Play

Answer 4

• Therapeutic play focuses on the process of play as a mechanism for mastering developmental milestones and critical events such as hospitalization.
• Therapeutic play can be directive or non-directive!

Question 5

Therapeutic play typically consists of at least one of the following types of activities:

Answer 5

1. The encouragement of emotional expression (eg. re-enactment of experiences through doll play)
2. Instructional play to educate children about medical experiences
3. Physiologically enhancing play (eg. blowing bubbles to improve breathing, scavenger hunt to encourage ambulation, Wii)

Question 6

Health Care Play: Why is it important?

Answer 6

Children typically engage in health care play to facilitate information processing and mastery related to health care experiences.

Question 7

Definition- Expressive Play

Answer 7

Enables children to express feelings and energy in an acceptable, pleasurable, and physical manner. Can also be soothing or relaxing

Question 8

Physical Expressive Actives are good for?

Answer 8

good for children who has expressed anger, children who are isolated, school-agers, inappropriate displays of emotions

Question 9

Physical Expressive Actives Examples

Answer 9

• Target shooting with syringes
• Throwing wet sponges, balls, or paper towels
• Paper wad/ball fights
• Velcro dart board
• Punching activity (pillow or lunch bags)
• Pounding/banging activity (hammering, whac-a-mole)
• Throwing activities

Question 10

Creative Art Expressive Activities are good for?

Answer 10

children who need help expressing emotions

Question 11

Creative Art Expressive Activities examples

Answer 11

§ Syringe Painting
§ Messy activities
§ Body tracing
§ Graffiti potters
§ Drawings/stories
§ Hospital books
§ Progressive stories/drawings
§ All about me posters

Question 12

define- Familiarization Play

Answer 12

Offers opportunities to freely explore, manipulate, and play with health-related objects in a non-threatening, pleasurable context. It can help reduce children’s fears of the hospital and medical equipment. Toy materials or real. Can be art related as well.

Question 13

Familiarization Play: examples

Answer 13

§ Collage with medical materials
§ Painting with Sponge tooth cleaners
§ Worry Warrior/Person out of a urine cup
§ Water play (bulb syringe, syringe, drains, medicine cups, catheters)
§ Plaster finger casts
§ Medical equipment manipulation
§ Surgical mask creations
§ IV Pole/Traction/Crutches decorating

Question 14

Medical Play allows:

Answer 14

• Expression of feelings and concerns
  
  • Become familiar and comfortable with health care equipment and procedures
  • Increase understanding of health care experiences
  • Learn and practice new ways of coping with distressing or painful experiences
    Reenact health care experiences

Question 15

Define- Dramatic Play

Answer 15

• Spontaneous and guided role play that focuses on health care themes and often includes medical equipment. Allows for reenactment of previous health care procedures.

Question 16

Components of dramatic play include:

Answer 16

○ Familiarization
○ Rehearsal of helpful behaviors
○ Education about upcoming procedures.

Question 17

Playing “for” Children

Answer 17

• Some children are too ill, disabled, weak, or traumatized to play, but they must be given the opportunity to play!
  
  • This gives the child choices and control as they direct the play.
  • Puppets, family figures, personalized dolls, creative art activities, window painting, decorating patient rooms, expressive medical play

Question 18

Communicating during Medical Play

Answer 18

• Reflect child’s comments
  
  • Clarify comments when necessary
  • Encourage child to elaborate or talk about their feelings or concerns
  • Continually assess child’s knowledge and understanding
  • Ask questions
  • Reinforce factual information