Table 1 Examples of the Hospital Play Interventions
From: Play interventions to reduce anxiety and negative emotions in hospitalized children
Type of Play | Objectives | Activities | |
|---|---|---|---|
Preparation Play | • To increase children’s understanding of medical procedures • To give children a sense of control over threatening events and help to clarify their misconceptions | Go through every step of a medical procedure using different instruments, such as tailor-made pretend medical dolls, procedural orientation books, real medical equipment, and miniature medical equipment |
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Medical Play | • To facilitate children’s expression of their concerns and feelings related to hospitalization • To familiarize children with the hospital environment and routine medical procedures • To facilitate children’s expression of their feelings and emotions related to hospitalization | •Provide various real and/or toy medical equipment (e.g. stethoscope, syringe without needles, bandages, medical cup, gloves, mask, nurse’s cap, dressing pack, etc.) during children’s hospitalization • Get children involved in different kinds of expressive play activities (e.g. painting, singing, dancing, journaling, sand play, puppets, etc.), and encourage them to share or express their feelings |
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Distraction Play | • To reduce the anxiety of children undergoing medical procedures | Provide interesting games and toys (e.g. blowing bubbles, pop-up books, puppets, computer games, music, video, sensory toys, relaxation techniques, etc.) to distract children’s attention from medical procedures |
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Developmental Play | • To promote optimum psychosocial development and prevent regression among hospitalized children | Involve children in appropriate play activities (e.g. toys, board games, story books, arts and crafts play, etc.) according to their ages and abilities |
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