Hospital Play Therapy
What is Play Therapy?
Play is an integral part of a child’s life. From birth play helps children to learn, to relate to others and to have fun. Play can enhance a children’s development physically, emotionally, intellectually and linguistically. When children or adolescents are admitted to hospital they are at their most vulnerable. They are not only unwell, but they are also separated from their friends, family and familiar surroundings which may lead to increased stress.Play Therapy can really make a difference. It allows children to express their concerns whilst in hospital. Play Therapists facilitate an understanding of the hospital experience, and educate patients in adopting coping strategies to assist them with this.
Play Therapy in hospital can:
- help children regain confidence and self esteem;
- provide a safe outlet for feelings of frustration and anger;
- enhance the children’s understanding of their treatment and illness;
- serve as a diversion to keep a child’s mind off pain and medical procedures;
- assist healing and rehabilitation;
- allow children to participate in familiar activities that they would normally engage in at home, kindergarten or school;
- reassure the child that his/her body is still functioning