Medical Play Day for Pediatric Patients - Nebraska Medicine

Summary

In celebration of Child Life Month, children engage in medical play to demystify medical procedures and equipment. Child Life specialists facilitate this interactive learning, allowing kids to explore medical supplies and discuss their experiences with peers. This play-based approach helps children better understand and normalize their medical journeys, fostering resilience and reducing fear.

Takeaways

• 🎈 It's Child Life Month, a time to celebrate and focus on children's health and well-being.
• 👶 Medical play is being used as a way to engage children and help them understand medical procedures.
• 🤔 Child Life specialists recognize the importance of play in educating children about medical concepts.
• 👩‍⚕️ Kids are given dolls in hospital gowns to simulate medical scenarios and reduce fear.
• 🧼 Medical supplies are available for children to explore and understand their own bodies and conditions.
• 👫 Children can interact with peers who might be experiencing similar medical situations.
• 🧠 Medical play helps children identify and express their fears and misconceptions about medical procedures.
• 🔍 As children grow, their fears and understanding of medical terms like 'NG tube' and 'CT scan' evolve.
• 🌟 It's crucial to allow children to play out medical scenarios to normalize their experiences.
• 💡 Medical play is a valuable tool for children to learn and cope with their health conditions.

Q & A

What is the purpose of celebrating Child Life Month?

Child Life Month is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of child life specialists and the role they play in helping children understand and cope with medical experiences through play.

How does medical play help children?

Medical play allows children to explore and express their feelings about medical procedures and conditions in a safe and controlled environment, which can help alleviate fears and misconceptions.

What do children do during medical play sessions?

During medical play sessions, children are given dolls in hospital gowns and access to medical supplies. They can then act out scenarios related to their own medical experiences or those they are curious about.

Why is it important for children to identify with their peers during medical play?

Identifying with peers during medical play helps children feel less isolated and more understood. It allows them to share experiences and learn from one another, which can be comforting and informative.

How does medical play cater to children of different ages and with different experiences?

Medical play is adaptable to children of various ages and experiences. It allows them to engage with the activities at their own pace and level of understanding, whether they are familiar with medical procedures or not.

How can medical play help children who have had negative medical experiences?

Medical play provides a therapeutic outlet for children to process and re-enact negative experiences in a controlled setting, which can help them to overcome fears and develop a better understanding of their medical care.

What is the significance of children being able to discuss their medical experiences with their peers?

Discussing medical experiences with peers can help children normalize their own situations, reduce stigma, and gain emotional support, which is crucial for their mental and emotional well-being.

How does medical play help children understand complex medical terms and procedures?

Through medical play, children can learn about complex medical terms and procedures in a relatable and engaging way, making these concepts less intimidating and more understandable.

Why is it essential to allow medical play sessions to occur as children grow older?

As children grow, their fears and understanding of medical procedures may change. Allowing medical play sessions to occur helps them to continually process and adapt to these changes.

How does medical play help children relate their experiences to their everyday life?

Medical play helps children integrate their medical experiences into their everyday life by allowing them to act out scenarios and recognize that these experiences are a part of their normal life.

What is the role of child life specialists in facilitating medical play?

Child life specialists guide and facilitate medical play, ensuring that the activities are both educational and therapeutic, helping children to better understand and cope with their medical experiences.