When a kid goes to the hospital, it can be scary, overwhelming, and emotionally exhausting for both the kid and the family. The traditional hospital environment, with its sterile and often scary surroundings, increases stress and anxiety, making it tough for kids to deal with. As a hospital administrator or healthcare provider, you might be thinking, “How can I make things better for these kids?” The answer is indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers in hospitals. By adding play spaces in healthcare settings, you give kids a place to forget about their medical problems for a while and you help improve their emotional and physical well-being while they are there.
Indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers in hospitals are places where kids can go and forget about being sick for a little while. These play areas are more than just places to play. They are essential tools in reducing stress, providing physical activity, and helping kids get better while they are in the hospital.
7 Benefits of Providing Indoor Play Areas for Hospitalized Children
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Hospital stays can be tough on kids, especially when they have to have painful procedures and be stuck in the hospital away from their normal activities. A well-designed indoor playground gives kids something fun to do, so they can think about playing instead of being sick. By doing this, you can help kids feel a lot less anxious and bring a little bit of normal to an area that is anything but.
Promoting Physical Health and Fitness
Kids need to be active for lots of reasons. But, when kids are in the hospital, it’s tough for them to be active. Indoor playgrounds give kids a chance to be active safely. This helps with circulation, muscle strength, and coordination. It helps kids stay in shape, which is important for kids who will be in the hospital for a long time.
Encouraging Social Interaction
Kids who are in the hospital miss out on a lot of the social stuff that is important to their development. An indoor playground gives kids a chance to play with other kids. They can make friends and talk to other kids. This helps kids feel less alone. This helps kids feel better about being in the hospital.
Cognitive Development and Mental Stimulation
Hospitals can be monotonous environments, especially for children who are confined to their rooms for extended periods. Playgrounds designed with cognitive development in mind—featuring puzzles, interactive games, and creative play—can help stimulate children's minds. This mental engagement can support cognitive development and offer a much-needed break from the medical focus of their day-to-day life.
Aiding in Rehabilitation
Play areas can also help kids get better when they have surgery or are sick. Kids can climb, slide, and do other things that help them get better in a fun way. Customized equipment that fits how kids move can make getting better less of a job and more of something that kids enjoy doing.
Supporting Emotional Well-being
Kids show their feelings when they play. In the hospital, kids can work through what they are feeling in a safe and comfortable way. Many hospital playgrounds are designed with spaces where kids can use their imagination. This is important for kids to work through what they are feeling and be stronger. This helps kids deal with the stress of being in the hospital. This makes it easier on kids and their families.
Parental Support and Bonding
Playgrounds are also important for families. They give parents and other caregivers a place to play with their kids away from the medical stuff. This helps families stay close when things are tough. It’s important for kids and adults to have fun and be close to each other. This helps kids and parents feel better about being in the hospital. Playgrounds that are designed for families give everyone a chance to play together. This helps make things seem a little more normal for everyone.
What to Consider When Opening Your Indoor Playground or Family Entertainment Center to Sick Kids？
If you’re thinking about opening an indoor playground or family entertainment center for kids who are in the hospital, there are some very important things to consider. The number one thing is the health and safety of the children. This means you need to keep the place clean and you need to keep the place sanitary. You need to have a play area that can be sanitized on a regular basis and equipment that can be made from materials that can be cleaned and disinfected. It’s also important to have flexible options that can accommodate kids with different health conditions, including kids with weakened immune systems. This might mean having separate play zones or scheduling play sessions so that only a few kids are in the play area at any one time.
Open communication with healthcare professionals and families is also important. By understanding the specific needs of the children in your care, you can design play areas that are both safe and engaging. Working closely with medical staff ensures that the playground meets the unique requirements of hospitalized children, allowing them to play without causing harm to their health.
What Types of Play Activities Are Most Beneficial for Hospitalized Children?
Some types of play activities are especially good for kids who are in the hospital. For example, medical play can help kids process their hospital experience by letting them play doctor or nurse. This kind of play can take the mystery out of medical procedures and make them less scary. Therapeutic play, on the other hand, is about helping kids express their feelings through things like art, music, or telling stories. These activities can help kids let off steam and deal with the fact that they’re in the hospital.
Playground activities that promote gentle physical movement, like soft play areas or interactive games, are also good. They help kids stay active without putting too much strain on their bodies, making them perfect for kids who need to balance play with rest.
How Can Indoor Playgrounds Be Designed to Accommodate Children with Various Health Conditions?
Creating indoor playgrounds for kids in the hospital requires you to think about the health conditions they have and the limitations they might have. One of the most important things to think about is wheelchairs. You need to design your playground with wide pathways, ramps, and equipment that can be adapted to make sure kids who have trouble getting around can still play.
You also need to think about things that kids who have sensory issues or who get overwhelmed when they have too much going on will need. That means you need to have quiet areas, things they can touch, and lighting that can be adjusted. This way you can make your playground more inclusive for kids who have different sensory needs.
Safety is also a big deal. You need to have play areas with soft, non-toxic materials that won’t hurt kids and won’t bother kids with allergies or sensitivities. You need to have play equipment that can be adjusted for kids who have different abilities so that every kid can play at their own pace. Finally, you need to design your play area so that it can be kept clean and safe. This means you need to have good ventilation, places where kids can clean their hands, and surfaces that are easy to clean.
What Role Do Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals Play in Facilitating Play for Hospitalized Children?
Caregivers and healthcare professionals play a big role in helping kids in the hospital play. They create a safe place where kids can play without worrying about getting hurt or getting sick. Healthcare professionals often work with caregivers to help kids play. They help kids get comfortable and feel good about playing in the play area.
Caregivers and medical staff also play a big role in making sure kids play safely and at a level that is right for their health condition. In some situations, healthcare professionals might even use play as part of the treatment, using it for physical therapy or occupational therapy.
Another thing caregivers and healthcare professionals need to do is help kids learn and grow through play. By picking activities that help kids grow in their brains, hearts, and bodies, they help kids grow up even though they are sick. Plus, when parents can be part of their child’s play, it helps make the bond between parent and child stronger, which makes it easier for the whole family to be in the hospital.
Conclusion
Indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers at hospitals are more than just places for kids to play—they are a big part of a complete approach to healthcare. They help kids relax, move around, play with other kids, and learn new things, all while taking a break from the medical stuff. By thinking about how you design and use these playgrounds, hospital administrators can create places that help all kids and families feel good while they are in the hospital. This way, indoor playgrounds help kids feel better while they are in the hospital and get better faster.
Lebo Play knows how important it is for kids to play in the hospital. Our playgrounds for children’s hospitals are a great place for kids to play and be kids. Contact us today to learn more and to get a free consultation.
