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Description

Optimal healing for children in hospitals occurs when their developmental needs are considered as part of their overall treatment plan. One of the most pressing developmental needs for all children is the need to play, and this remains so even when they are confined to a hospital bed or face developmental delays or disabilities. This chapter examines the most basic components of implementing play programs in hospitals, such as the intentional creation of space for play, determining the best times for children to play, and exploring what types of play are therapeutic and possible in a hospital environment. The author presents a continuum that highlights foundational components of a therapeutic play program and explores a wide range of types of play, including examples that arise .from a variety of cultures. Child life specialists and hospital play specialists are in a unique position to improve patient experiences and health outcomes by interacting with children using their primary language: the language of play.

ISBN

9781668450680

Publication Date

2023

Publisher

IGI Global

City

Hershey, PA

Keywords

child life specialists, play, hospital settings, play therapy

Disciplines

Clinical and Medical Social Work | Pediatrics | Recreational Therapy

Comments

Chapter 2 from Handbook of Research on Play Specialism Strategies to Prevent Pediatric Hospitalization Trauma published by IGI Global.

Play's Continuum of Needs: Building Blocks for Deepening Play Opportunities in Medical Environments

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