Children’s Health Scotland provides workshops, presentations and taster sessions on using stories and health-related play to support any child or young person with their right to the best possible health. All our activities discuss exercising rights in relation to: information, participation, engagement, education, play and being respected with a particular focus on the UNCRC and the EACH Charter.
More than just a chance to have fun, play is serious business when it comes to a child’s health. Story play and health-related play can help children physically, mentally and emotionally and is crucial to their healthy development and happiness.
Health-related play strategies are used to support children and young people in the understanding of their medical conditions and treatments, and to adopt life styles changes that are required to manage long-term conditions. One of the best ways for children to stay both physically and mentally healthy is through access to play experiences. Story play and health-related play can help children and young people:
- Prepare for treatment.
- Explore and express feelings/fears.
- Develop practical skills.
- Improve creative thinking.
- Increase their knowledge and understanding.
Play is also a tool that can be used to gain informed consent from children and young people. It can continue to be used as the child and young person’s condition either improves or deteriorates, their cognition develops, they transition to adult services or to end of life. This workshop will look at story play and health-related play, discussing more about a child’s right to play which is fundamental to their health and wellbeing. It will focus on putting the child at the centre and how, by using play, you can give children the right to be heard and understood and to express their feelings.
If you would like to talk to us about health-related play then please give us a call on 0131 553 6553 or email us at enquiries@childrenshealthscotland.org.
