I spent an hour with them going through the whole process. I showed the child all the apparatus that would be used – the cannula, tourniquet and cold spray. I showed him the room he would be in, how he would be sitting on his mother's lap, how the tourniquet would go on, what the cold spray felt like and gave him all the names of the people involved.
Starlight
How play helps reduce children's worries, anxiety and trauma
Hamera shares a powerful story on the positive impact of play on anxiety
Every day, I see how play helps reduce children's worries, anxiety and trauma.
Play relaxes children, takes their mind off why they're in hospital and eases how the family is feeling.
Play can help cut down the time children spend in hospital. For example, play can support children not to have to be sedated if they're going for an MRI. I can prep a child so they feel calm and at ease, and then they can go home a lot sooner than if they had been sedated. This also frees up nursing time.
Once, a mother of a child with autism called to book a blood test for her seven-year-old. She was very anxious so I said she could bring her child in the day before and I would help with familiarising him with the hospital environment and meet the healthcare team.
His mother explained that they had waited three or four years to get him into hospital to have these tests because he had been so traumatised by his last experience when about ten people were holding him down.
On the day of the test when we went into the room, he sat on his mother's lap without any hesitation and was introduced to everybody. I stayed with him through the whole process talking about each step as it happened. He remained still and calm – no crying or screaming.
The blood test took ten minutes when previously it had taken one hour and with many more healthcare professionals.
We are in an area where there are a lot of children experiencing deprivation.
At home, there may not be enough playtime for many reasons: it may be that parents didn’t experience play themselves, so they might find it difficult to speak to their children about play; or it could be a large family with many children. In some families, both parents work long hours so it’s difficult to give children the time and attention they need.
I love seeing the smiles on children's faces.
When children experiencing deprivation come to hospital, we can provide playful activities for them to do throughout the day, which they thrive on. I can sometimes see that they are craving play and the attention the play team can provide – it's amazing to see how the children light up, even in their current circumstances.
It's good to know that I've made a difference – I’ve helped both the parents and the children by reducing anxieties and I’ve kept children calm for their treatment. I love seeing the smiles on children's faces.