Author: Play Wales
Date: June 2025
This information sheet explores the positive impact of play on the wellbeing of children and teenagers who experience serious illness and hospital treatment. It describes the various skilled and specialised roles of the health play workforce – such as health play specialists, health playworkers and hospital youth workers, and discusses how each role supports a therapeutic play process that helps sick children and teenagers adapt to a healthcare setting.
The information sheet explores the different health play interventions that can support children and their families in developing a better understanding of their illness and treatment. These interventions include:
- pre-admission support
- normalising play
- distraction and diversionary techniques
- post-procedural support and play.
The information sheet also explains why it is important to provide children in healthcare settings with different spaces and opportunities for play, including playrooms, spaces for older children and outdoor spaces.
