This report was commissioned by the Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight) and conducted by PEDAL. Starlight are the national charity for children’s play in healthcare, supporting children to experience the power of play to boost their wellbeing and resilience during illness.
Starlight and PEDAL share a passion for improving children’s healthcare and for the importance of play in children’s lives. After our successful joint symposium in 2023, we wanted to explore what more we could do together to shine a light on this important area of children’s healthcare. This new literature review is the result.
In this review, we explore the connection between play and children’s health in healthcare contexts. We synthesise 127 studies across 29 countries to highlight the role of play in promoting children’s holistic health and wellbeing in healthcare environments.
We identify five key domains where play contributes to health in healthcare settings:
- Reducing stress and discomfort during medical procedures
- Helping children express and manage emotions
- Fostering dignity and agency
- Building connection and belonging
- Preserving children’s sense of childhood.
At the time of completion of this review, the UK government is consulting on its policy for health and healthcare ahead of launching a new 10-year health plan for England. Adrian Voce, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Starlight, said: “with the government promising to create the healthiest generation of children ever, as part of its new long term health plan, this compelling evidence of the benefits of play to children’s healthcare is very timely. We encourage ministers and NHS leaders to make health play teams an integral part of paediatric care.”
By championing play throughout policy, strategy, and practice, we can ensure that healthcare systems support children as whole persons, addressing their developmental and psychological needs alongside their physical health.
Playing with Children’s Health? A scoping review of recent literature on play and children’s health
Read the full report here