Play and toys and hospitalised children

Abstract

A hospitalised child is above all a child. While it is true that hospitalisation gives them the characteristic features that make them into patients, we cannot forget that we are talking about a child, of whatever age. Despite play among hospitalised children being a subject arousing the interest and recognition of professionals from various disciplines (paediatrics. psychalogy, education and medicine), there continues to be a major void in our hospitals, especially with regard to the freer and more pleasurable aspects of play. It is not treaed as one of the child's basic needs.