Play is important in every child's development and when the opportunity is missed the child
would be cut off from a significant portion of childhood, which is building good relationship
and cognitive development. Paediatrics as a specialty area Is not only concerned about
growth charts or spurts of infants, children, adolescents and young adults but total
development which includes the physical, mental, emotional as well as social.
Researches have proven that play enhance children's capacity to plan, organize, get along
well with peers, relieve stress as well as control their emotions. The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) clinical report in 2007, "The power of Play” explains how playing with
peers and parents enhance children's social bonds and is key to the growing brain and body of
the child.
Abraham Maslow further supports that “almost all creativity involves purposeful play",
therefore the paediatric fraternity sees play as an integral part of children's development. In
the light of this, most paediatric units have play rooms where sick children play and this is
seen at Paediatric Department of Greater Accra Regional (Ridge) Hospital where patients
have time at the play room. Interestingly, as nurses, one of the first observational signs of
recovery for children is the willingness to play.
Parents therefore must assist children engage in purposeful physical play and avoid long
hours by TV and computer games. Indoor games such as, Lego, Ludu, Oware, 'counters ball',
enhances cognitive/brain development and enriches subjects like mathematics. Football,
Amp3, Bicycling, Hopscotch and pushing of “Cho Lorry" by toddlers, enhances balance and
muscle tone. Talents are also unearthed and developed through singing, dancing, role play,
clay craft, and painting. These and many more can be done at home amidst physical
distancing protocols.
In as much as play is important, parents must protect children from home accidents such as
falls, choking and injuries during play through close observation and coaching, ensuring
floors are dry, electrical cables are not exposed, injurious objects such as sharp objects and
broken toys are kept away.
Also, parents must see to it that they teach children to have a bath after play or wash their
hands with soap under running water and the use of hand sanitizer in-between and after play.
Authors
Mercy Aseye Bockor (BSc. Nursing, Dip. GN, RN), Portia Henampong Ameyaa (BSc.
Nursing, Dip. GN, RN)
Paediatric Nurse Residents ( R4)
Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives
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