Abstract
This chapter is a case study of a Japanese boy who was born premature and needed to inject hormones for growth. The boy was rejecting the everyday injections which caused damage to the family relationship, especially the mother and child. As a hospital play specialist, the author started individual play sessions to help the child. First, the aim of these sessions was to prepare the child so that he could self-inject. But as the session went on, it was clear that the boy had been traumatized at a very early age and many misunderstandings were the cause of the rejection. Play contributed the main role for the boy to understand what happened while his stay in hospital and to present his true feelings towards his treatment and how he looked about himself. Readers will understand that play has helped him to be resilient.
TopThree Approaches To Play
Hospital play specialists carry in their title the word “play.” Therefore, it is impossible to underestimate the meaning of play not just for children but for human beings. The author believes play has an essential role in life itself. Therefore, play is a universal function that has been passed down through history. But play can be easily underestimated especially in a medical setting. Japanese hospitals can still be a hierarchical place where a strong sense of control towards children and families is required. Accordingly, the author had to persuade the authorities that sick children needed to play, and three approaches were taken. What follows describes the author’s first-hand experiences in this respect.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Distraction Therapy: A technique used by a hospital play specialist when a child is experiencing pain or fear during treatment.
Hospital Play Specialist: A trained professional who carries out hospital play within a paediatric team.
Kocchi-no-sekai: A Japanese term used by Dr. Yano Shoji to refer to the world of reality.
Acchi-no-sekai: A Japanese term used by Dr. Yano Shoji to refer to the spiritual world of children’s play.
Home Visit: A way to provide special play for sick children who are receiving treatment at home. A hospital play specialist will visit the child at their home and usually provide play preparation and post-procedural play.
Hospital Play: Hospital play is play to help sick children. It encompasses therapeutic and normal play, play preparation, distraction therapy, post-procedural play, individual play and sibling support.
Play Preparation: The most recognisable approach to play offered to a sick child by a play specialist. In being given appropriate information about a procedure by means of an appropriate method, the child gains understanding and takes back control.
Rinshou kyouikugaku (Clinical Pedagogy): A method for dealing directly with the physical and mental wounds that hinder growth, wherein such wounds are healed and spirituality is restored. In viewing human existence holistically, it aims to ensure that a person’s humanity, in being fully utilised, is not undermined.