HEALTHY HABITS
doll “patients,” to go through the motions in a fun, low-pressure setting to give kids an idea of what they can expect with their treatment. Sometimes kids get an extra special lift to their operating room, too. Thanks to the generosity of donors and law enforcement partner agencies, Rady Children’s patients are able to ride in style in remote-controlled cars. Visits from canine therapy volunteers, musicians and storytellers also help make treatments more fun. “This is shown to help reduce the physical signs of anxiety, which in turn can also help their medical treatment,” says Dr. Patel. Play can also give young patients some much-needed socialization. The playroom at Rady Children’s is a place where kids ranging from toddlers to teens can interact with other kids and families while they play with developmentally and sensory appropriate toys, games, puzzles, crafts and other fun stuff. There’s also an outdoor playground where kids can catch up and get some exercise amid sunshine and fresh air. Rady Children’s is also incorporating play into its mental health services. The Hospital has launched a new program in its psychiatric emergency room that includes therapeutic activities, like mindfulness, yoga and games that not only decrease stress and anxiety, but also teach important topics such as nutrition and social media. “It really helps kids who are coming to the emergency room for a mental health crisis to reduce their anxiety and incorporate play in a very therapeutic way,” says Dr. Patel. To support play therapy at Rady Children’s, please visit radyfoundation.org. Play allows kids to be creative and use their imagination, but also BUILDS ON A LOT OF SKILLS . – EKTA PATEL, MD, A CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST AT RADY CHILDREN’S ‘‘
PROGRAMS
The Power of Play
Rady Children’s uses play to make hospital stays more fun
IT’S NO SECRET THAT PLAYING IS FUN, but for kids, play also serves a greater purpose. Play is important for a child’s development and has physical and emotional benefits. Play is how children make sense of the world around them and how they communicate with each other and with adults. “Play is quite universal,” says Ekta Patel, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Rady Children’s. “Children, as we know, are very different, but all kids can play, and that play brings joy to them. Play allows kids to be creative and use their imagination. It allows them to learn various skills while building on physical, social, cognitive and emotional strength and development.” Play can also help kids work through anxiety and gain the confidence needed to conquer their fears. At Rady Children’s, play is an important part of a child’s treatment. A hospital stay, no matter the length, can be stressful and kids can feel like they’re not in control, says Dr. Patel. Incorporating play into their time at Rady Children’s brings a sense of normalcy and helps kids adapt to the Hospital environment. Doctors, nurses and child-life specialists are well versed in different types of play, including play therapy, a powerful tool that can help kids—especially those with a history of trauma or mental health struggles—communicate fears and anxieties that they’re unable to verbalize. Hospital staff also focuses on developmentally supportive play, which can help longer-term patients continue to build on the skills they learned prior to hospitalization. Play can also help ease little minds before a big surgery or procedure. Child-life specialists will use toys and tools, such as stethoscopes, IV bags, bandages and
8 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023
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