Playright Children's Play Association - Hospital Play at Tseung Kwan O Hospital

It is natural for children to be afraid when they have to visit the hospital for treatment or examination; to help ease their anxiety, Playright Children's Play Association has introduced the hospital play service at Tseung Kwan O Hospital. 9-year old Kun is one of the beneficiaries.

Kun has been suffering from migraines and therefore needed an MRI examination. The doctor had to give him an intravenous injection in case Kun needs to be sedated during the examination. Kun refused to let the doctor do it because that reminded him of a bad experience. It was then decided that the Hospital Play Specialist (HPS) came in to talk to Kun.

The HPS first showed him a mini MRI machine, explained to him how it works, and played the sound of the machine in operation. He also asked the child to imagine himself being an astronaut, and led him to understand that the spaceship sounded like the MRI machine.

By this time, Kun was much more relaxed and the HPS made a game-board to mimic Kun’s hospital ‘journey’, to assure the child that the HPS’s going to be with him all the way. They also made a paper doll to represent Kun, and a mini MRI machine out of a paper cup, and Kun wrote on it ‘brave’ and ‘I won over the MRI’ to show that he’s not afraid anymore.

Kun’s MRI examination went smoothly, to the delight of his father and members of the medical team; the case also shows how the hospital play service helps make it a better experience for children in the hospital and their families.