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Children's health

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Original poster

Are hospital play specialists any good?

9 replies

yellowflowers · 01/03/2012 23:29

Dd screamed so much during last hospital examination next time they want a play specialist to join us and try to distract her. I don't object except surely dh and I are play specialists in that we know what she likes and what will excite or amuse her and if that didn't work then what can a stranger do that we can't?

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AnyFucker · 01/03/2012 23:31

Sometimes it takes a stranger to distract a child

These play specialists are trained to use fun and novel ways to distract a child from potentially unpleasnat procedures

You sound rather dismissive

Why wouldn't you have an open mind, it can do no harm

Sirzy · 02/03/2012 06:52

What anyfucker said.

Hopsital play specialists have training in the best ways to keep patients happy and distracted.

mintyneb · 02/03/2012 13:03

i have found them to be useful when my DD has had investigations at hospital. If she is having a new procedure done they will bring down a teddy or something similar plus a drs kit and show her in simple terms what is going to happen (she's 4.11 yo so understands a lot now).

When it comes to the procedure DH and I will be there but mainly to provide comfort and support. the play specialist will work on distracting her if they can. Sometimes distraction doesn't work and yes all a child wants is their parents but that's fine.

i would go along with the suggestion, it certainly can't do any harm. Your DD may well end up with a cuddly toy or treat or a load of stickers as a reward from the play specialist and my DD has held onto hers over the years!

bubble2bubble · 02/03/2012 14:19

It's not just about distraction - play specialists also know good ways of explaining what is happening and can also to a certain extent control the way the medical staff deal with the situation. Very often the child's hysterics is more to do with the way they are being handled and the lack of preparation than the actual procedure itself and that is not necessarily something the parent can control.
DD2 has had a few sessions with an amazing play specialist ( and yes, of course I thought I was a specialist & knew everything there was to know) and she is much, much better in hospital situations now.
One of the very basic things I learnt was that getting the child to blow bubbles beforehand actually gets them to slow down their breathing & therefore calm down - sounds obvious now but it had not occurred to me - but just one example.
dd2 is now quite proficient at taking blood samples from teddy, taking throat swabs and giving injections. While we had always done this to an extent, the play therapist did it better, and even used real needles so there were no surprises when these things happened in RL

Original poster

yellowflowers · 03/03/2012 16:50

I should have said dd is 15 months. Thank you though - that's all helpful.

OP posts:

raindroprhyme · 03/03/2012 17:03

Also parents often give off their own anxiety unconscionously when procedures are taking place and having someone else there can distract from that.

BikeRunSki · 03/03/2012 17:09

DS was 17 months old when he spent 9 days in hospital. He had a canula, which was so small it had to be changed most days, and also had to have many other tests. The play workers were amazing in distracting him, comforting him and putting him at ease when DH and I were tense and tired. Give them a chance!

incywincyspideragain · 03/03/2012 22:34

Play specialists are brilliant - I'm assuming you and/or dh were with her during last examination when she screamed? If thats the case I would suggest maybe a stranger could offer a different approach that may help keep her calmer next time, like others have said it can't hurt, see if you can talk to them before hand about what they might do and see if you think it would help (btw as a parent the play specialist was great for me too, I had someone to share the burden with and when I had run out of toys they knew where the hospitals stash was!)

cupofteaplease · 03/03/2012 22:54

I spend a LOT of time in hospital with dd3, in fact I'm here with her now. The play specialists are wonderful people As well as providing toys and distractions for older toddlers and children, they are a great source of support to my baby and I.
When she has had procedures, the play specialists are on hand to give her sucrose drops to avert her attention elsewhere. They arrange for us to access the hospital's multisensory room, and accompany us there. They have really got to know dd3 and her whole family. When we arrived last Tuesday, they had already placed her favourite musical toy and fibre optic lights in her cot.
At Christmas they persevered in taking her first ever hand prints, then took her sisters' too and made some lovely Christmas decorations with them that we'll treasure forever.
When I want to leave the ward for half an hour, one of them, providing they have time, will and sit with dd3 and read to her or sing songs whilst cuddling her. One of them even took her mountain of vomity clothes to be laundered in SCBU!
I think the play specialists are worth their weight in gold!

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