Which explains the importance of involving a hospitalized preschooler in therapeutic play?
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When your child is hospitalized, your main concern as a parent is making sure she receives whatever treatment is necessary to get her physically healthy again. Show
But hospitalization can disrupt a child's mental health and development as well. That's where child life specialists come in. A child life specialist's job is to support children and their families through difficult health challenges. One of the ways that a child life specialist can best connect with children is through play therapy. As its name implies, play therapy uses fun activities to teach children how to cope with difficult situations and express their emotions in a healthy way, the Association for Play Therapy explains. Here are 5 ways a child life specialist uses play therapy to help sick kids cope. 1. Addressing Developmental NeedsA child life specialist receives specific training and certification in the developmental needs of children, the Child Life Council (CLC) explains. According to the CLC, this understanding and experience allows them to help by:
Also see: 3 Things You Should Know About Child Life Specialists Because child life specialists understand kids' developmental needs, they can tailor play therapy activities to those needs, a May 2014 Pediatrics article says. For instance, older children usually enjoy activities that provide them with a sense of mastery and accomplishment, so video games tend to be a good option for them. 2. Learning Through PlayAny child will tell you that he likes to play because it's fun. But what he may be unable to express is that he is also learning in the process. According to the Association for Play Therapy, play therapy helps children:
3. Coping With The Hospital ExperienceChild life specialists use play therapy to help kids at all stages of diagnosis and treatment. Source: Pediatrics, May 2014 For example, a child life specialist may use a doll to show a child where the doctors will operate on him, and what equipment will be used during and after the procedure. Or a child life specialist may help a child who is recovering from treatment express her feelings by putting on a puppet show that features a character who has gone through a similar experience. 4. Maintaining A Sense Of NormalcyChildren who are hospitalized may be upset not only because they're not feeling well, but also because their normal routine has been disrupted. In addition to encouraging kids to express how they are coping with their experiences, play therapy helps them just continue to be kids, the Pediatrics article says. This can be comforting for kids, and it can also help them stay on par with their peers developmentally. 5. Improving Physical Health Through Stress ReductionThe Pediatrics article explains play therapy that reduces a child's stress and anxiety can also impact his physical health by decreasing:
The article also points out that infants and toddlers”who are still developing their sense of mobility and motor skills”can benefit from play therapy that encourages exploration and movement. Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center's Child Life Specialists can help your child during hospitalization. It’s no secret that children love to play, but is play actually about more than having fun? Though children engage in play simply because they enjoy it, play is also vital for healthy childhood development. Through play, children develop skills, learn how to express themselves, and develop coping
mechanisms. Play therapy has become a common practice in childcare. It can be particularly beneficial to young people who are in hospitals, as it can be difficult for children to understand or articulate their emotions about the problems they face. Play can help children adapt to a hospital environment and allow them to express their emotions about their healthcare experiences in a relaxed, comfortable setting. What Is Play Therapy?Play therapy uses play as a way to facilitate cognitive and social development, promote physical and emotional well being and encourage children to express their feelings about their situation. Children can work through what they’re dealing with by having fun. Therapy activities differ based on the age of a person. There are activities designed for babies up to 1-year-old, toddlers from 1 to 3 years old, preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old and school-aged children. Music, drawing, dance, storytelling, drama, and working with clay might all be part of play therapy. How does play therapy help children in a hospital setting? It provides children with coping strategies they can apply to circumstances in their life that they can’t change. The therapy may also help children in a hospital setting feel more positively about the future, or even help with the healing process by reducing stress of operations and medical tests. Medical play is also a common form of play therapy in hospitals and can be helpful for adults to observe, as they can learn about how the child is feeling and what their fears or misconceptions are. Healthcare professionals and caregivers can then use this information to aid children in dealing with their health-related experiences. Different Types of Play in the Healthcare SettingThere are three different types of play — diversional, developmental, and therapeutic.
What are the benefits of the different types of therapeutic play in hospitals?
These activities can be incorporated into play therapy to make children happier and give them the tools to handle emotionally difficult situations. Children can also utilize indoor play environments. Indoor play environments provide all the benefits of play, without being affected by weather conditions. Play Therapy and Coping MechanismsHospitals can be a difficult environment for children, so play therapy can help children cope better with traumatic experiences. For example, dancing may be an effective coping mechanism for children. Dancing, combined with music, can give children and adults an opportunity to have fun together. Dancing is also a physical activity that encourages the release of endorphins to help improve a child’s mood. Many children also use a toy, such as a stuffed animal, to cope during medical procedures. A child may carry a teddy bear while getting a vaccine or when having blood drawn. They may also want to snuggle with a stuffed animal during overnight stays. Most children seem to benefit from 30 minutes of daily play therapy. Two 30-minute sessions of play therapy have been shown to decrease children’s fear. For many children, it’s easier to express their feelings and thoughts through activities than through words. By being able to express themselves in a fun, safe environment, they’ll be better able to cope with difficult circumstances. Benefits of Play in a HospitalThe benefits of indoor play in a hospital vary based on the age group the play therapy targets.
Soft Play Indoor Play Ideas for HospitalsSo what products should hospitals and healthcare facilities include for children? Soft Play offers several products that can be used during play therapy in a healthcare setting. Our products are easy to clean, educational, durable and customizable. Our play equipment can be designed to suit the dimensions of any area or to complement your theme, and they can facilitate play during play therapy in the healthcare setting. You can select from a variety of indoor play options, including: 1. CONTAINED PLAY TOWERSOur contained play tower systems can be used for more than keeping kids busy while in a waiting room at the doctor’s office — they can also facilitate play therapy. Kids enjoy climbing and exploring, and our play towers allow them to play on bridges, slides, nets and interact with various play features. Our play towers are customizable, so they can be designed to fit the needs of your target age group and space. Our sizes include:
Components of play towers include:
Children can access a play tower easily and place their shoes in cubbies. Play towers also provide amble visibility for watchful parents and caretakers. How can play towers be useful in play therapy? These towers provide children with a place to engage in active play, which reduces their stress and anxiety. When a child is dealing with an illness, they’re prone to feel stressed and anxious, especially in a hospital setting, so giving them a place to play can help them cope with those feelings. 2. PLAYSOFTTM INDOOR PLAY AREASOur PlaysoftTM indoor play areas are also a great play equipment option for indoor play in a hospital. Our foam sculptures are highly customizable and can suit any space or theme. Our products are sculpted from foam and coated with a durable, rubber-like substance to keep the equipment soft. Our finish materials are also naturally antibacterial, so kids have a safer, and more sanitary place to play. Features of our foam play equipment include:
What are the benefits of including a custom soft play area in your facility? Among hospitals, architects and manufacturers, soft playground equipment is quickly becoming the preferred choice for several reasons:
FIND A PLAY ENVIRONMENT FROM Soft PlaySoft Play understands the importance of play in a hospital setting. Children’s hospital playgrounds can be an excellent place for children to interact and have fun. Contact us to learn more and for a free consultation. Which rational would the nurse provide for using therapeutic play in a hospitalized preschooler quizlet?Rationale 1: Therapeutic play is a means of anxiety reduction in the hospitalized child. Allowing the child to play with safe medical equipment is an age-appropriate method through which the child can express her feelings, thereby reducing anxiety.
What type of play is especially helpful for a child who is hospitalized to express their anger and fear?Therapeutic play is effective in reducing children's anxiety and fears from the time of hospital admission to the post-operative period or hospital discharge (22, 23, 24), achieving self-expression (25), cooperation during painful procedures, and willingness to return to the hospital to continue their treatment (24).
Which type of play should the nurse encourage for a preschoolWhich type of play should the nurse encourage for a preschool-age child that is hospitalized? Preschool-age children have active imaginations and dressing up to play house would be an appropriate play activity for the nurse to encourage.
Which ageWhich age-appropriate fear would the nurse anticipate in a hospitalized preschooler? Fear of mutilation and intrusive procedures is most common at this age because of fantasies and active imagination.
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