THERAPEUTIC PLAY: COMMUNICATION KEY WITH SICK CHILD

The play which is physiological and social phenomenon helps children to learn some subjects that is not taught by others. The play that is defined as the child s work by many sources can be interrupted when the child is hospitalized and due to this situation, the children get some feelings like anger, loss of control, anxiety etc. Some game activities are organized by hospitals for children s adaptation and relaxation. As well as allowing the children entertained and relax, the play provides an environment where children can freely express their feelings. By observing the playing process of children who don t react during communication, it is possible to define the needs, problems, missing, fears, requests and personality characteristics of them. The words are symbolically transferred to equipments, objects, sounds, place and time even if there is not verbal and direct communication. At this point, therapatic play concept comes up and child health nurses uses therapatic play as a key for data acquisition and treatment in order to heal the child. In order to improve the nursing quality, child health nurses should recognize all aspects of the game and use relevant applications. In this article, it’s aims to explain the importance of play for children, therapeutic games according to age groups, the duties and responsibilities of the pediatric nurses in therapeutic plays.