Play is familiar and reassuring. It's how children make sense of the world around them. In hospital, it helps children to learn and develop, and to feel less anxious. It helps them to express their feelings and worries, understand what is happening and cope with treatment. It provides an opportunity for your child to make choices so that they can have a sense of some control.
Being able to play while in hospital means that children can continue an aspect of their normal life.
Many hospitals have play specialists who can give you suggestions about how best to prepare your child.
In the ward, your healthcare team will show you the playroom or play area. There will be toys, games, craftwork, books and other activities available. There will probably be a 'medical kit' for your child to play with. Playing with real or pretend medical equipment helps children become confident with things that are usually unfamiliar to them. This can lessen feelings of fear.
What you can do:
A play specialist is a person whose qualifications may include early childhood education, teaching and extra training so that they can meet the special needs of children in hospital.
The hospital play specialist's role is to provide programmes and support for children in hospital. The play specialist may provide activities which encourage creativity, exploration and learning as well as sessions which prepare children for procedures and treatments.
Yes. The play specialist can go through a list of techniques and they can help you and your child to choose from the list and practise these before the treatment.
Find out about techniques to help your child with cancer treatment [1]
Yes. The play specialist knows how to use distraction during a treatment, and a range of other techniques. [2]
Find out how to support your child before, during and after cancer treatment [3]
Yes. You can ask the play specialist to stay with you while your child is having the treatment.
The play specialist can work with your child after the treatment to help them talk about the experience and their feelings.
The ward will have a selection of toys, games, books and other activities which you are welcome to use. It will also be comforting for your child if they can have some of their own things with them.
Read more about coping with cancer treatment and hospital [4]
All the pages in the childhood cancer section of this website [5] have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the National Child Cancer Network (NZ). Medical information is authorised by the clinical leader of the National Child Cancer Network.
This page last reviewed 10 June 2021.
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Links
[1] https://kidshealth.org.nz/techniques-help-your-child-cancer-treatment
[2] https://kidshealth.org.nz/your-child-hospital-techniques-help-treatments
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/supporting-your-child-during-and-after-cancer-treatment
[4] https://kidshealth.org.nz/tags/coping-cancer-treatment-hospital
[5] https://kidshealth.org.nz/tags/childhood-cancer
[6] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F495%3Flanguage%3Dzh-hant