Effectiveness of Therapeutic Play on Anxiety Among Children with Terminally Ill Conditions
Therapeutic play is a form of intervention that uses play as a medium to help children cope with stressful situations, such as hospitalization, illness, death, and grief. Therapeutic play can facilitate expression, coping, and mastery, and address the child’s need to express feelings, solve problems, and work through or resolve conflicts or distress (Brown, 2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers). Therapeutic play can also enhance the child’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development, as well as their sense of well-being and quality of life (Delvecchio et al., 2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers).
Therapeutic play can take various forms, such as structured or unstructured play, individual or group play, verbal or non-verbal play, and creative arts or games. Some examples of therapeutic play techniques are:
– Medical play: This involves using medical equipment or dolls to help the child understand and prepare for medical procedures, reduce fear and anxiety, and increase cooperation and compliance (Bootcamp, 2020).
– Pretend play: This involves using imagination and fantasy to create scenarios that allow the child to explore different roles, feelings, and perspectives, as well as to express their wishes, fears, and hopes (Delvecchio et al., 2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers).
– Art therapy: This involves using various materials and media to create artworks that reflect the child’s inner world, emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Art therapy can also help the child communicate non-verbally, cope with trauma, and enhance self-esteem and creativity (Brown, 2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers).
– Music therapy: This involves using music to stimulate the child’s auditory, sensory, motor, and emotional responses. Music therapy can also help the child relax, cope with pain, express feelings, and improve mood and social skills (Brown, 2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers).
The effectiveness of therapeutic play on anxiety among children with terminally ill conditions has been supported by several studies. For instance,
– A systematic review by MDPI (2020) found that play therapy can reduce anxiety levels in hospitalized children with various diagnoses or reasons for hospitalization. The review also found that play therapy can improve the child’s coping skills, self-esteem, social interactions, and adjustment to the hospital environment.
– A study by Delvecchio et al. (2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers) found that hospitalized children who engaged in pretend play showed lower state anxiety than non-hospitalized children. The study also found that hospitalized children who engaged in pretend play showed higher cognitive scores than non-hospitalized children, indicating better problem-solving and planning abilities.
– A study by Brown (2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers) found that creative arts therapies can help terminally ill children cope with illness, death, and grief. The study also found that creative arts therapies can provide opportunities for the child to express their feelings, memories, and wishes; to create a legacy; and to find meaning and hope.
In conclusion, therapeutic play is an effective intervention for reducing anxiety and enhancing coping among children with terminally ill conditions. Therapeutic play can also improve the child’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Therapeutic play should be tailored to the child’s developmental level, preferences, needs, and goals. Therapeutic play should also involve the collaboration of health professionals, parents, caregivers, and peers.
References
– Bootcamp. (2020). Providing play therapy to reduce anxiety and fear. Retrieved from https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/reducing-anxiety-and-fear-pre-and-post-medical-treatments-through-play-therapy-acbd8c3a2a43
– Brown C.D. (2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers). Homework help – write my nursing thesis Therapeutic Play and Creative Arts: Helping Children Cope with Illness,
Death,and Grief. In: Goldman A., Hain R., Liben S. (eds) Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children. Oxford University Press.
– Delvecchio E., Salcuni S., Lis A., Germani A., & Di Riso D. (2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers). Hospitalized Children: Anxiety,
Coping Strategies,and Pretend Play. Frontiers in Public Health 7:250.
– MDPI. (2020). Play Therapy as an Intervention in Hospitalized Children: A Systematic Review.
Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/3/239
