Play is an essential therapeutic tool in psychosocial care where it allows a child to have control and normalcy. Play provides a child with a safe way to explore their fears, hopes and experiences. The child at play is a child, not a patient. Health workers can visualize a child at play and understand the Childs feelings especially what the child cannot verbalize. The child can express feelings through play. Play offers a comfort zone and distracts the child from pain and despair. i think we have to think like children to understand this.
In order to implement this kind of play it is important to tailor the type of play to the Childs level of enthusiasm so as to not upset them or for them to seem forced in engaging in an activity that does not benefit them.
Sometimes in our workplace we do not always have exciting stuff so we blow up gloves and draw faces on them and play volley ball with the kids. For the smaller kids peek a boo works with few stuffed toys work. Bigger kids appreciate video games in our playroom and coloring. Structured therapeutic play with our OT therapists are relatively positive. Some kids may not play everyday and that’s okay so we must judge them and allow them a safe non judging space.
