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Category: Physical Health

Exploring play in hospitals in Spain, Australia and England
9 May 2023
In this article, Paulina reflects on her travels and what she has learned about Health Play Specialists and their importance to children in hospital.

Play, physical activity, and physical health
5 April 2023
How can active play help improve children's access to physical activity and their physical health?

Children’s Perspectives and Experiences of Play in Hospital
8 September 2022
In this talk, PEDAL PhD student Kelsey Graber presents their doctoral research – which seeks to investigate children’s own perspectives and experiences of play in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation was recorded on 8th September 2022 as part of the PEDAL Play Conference, an event which brought together play researchers interested in play […]

Play as Resilience, Play as Mastery: Supporting Practitioners and Families Across the UK
8 September 2022
Play is a child’s normal. Play is both a powerful means of communication, and how we understand the world that we live in. Starlight Children’s Foundation is committed to protecting the right of all children to have opportunities to play, particularly children who are seriously ill and/or engaged with the UK healthcare system on a […]

How to communicate with children, according to Health Play Specialists in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study
2 August 2022
Paulina Pérez-Duarte Mendiola

Children bouncing back: How families can use play to help children transition to post-lockdown life
6 July 2022
How can families use play to support their children as they transition to post-lockdown life?

A: Astronauts, play and COVID testing
6 July 2022
How can we use play to help children engage with the COVID-19 swab?

H: Health, hospitals, and play: The Teddy Bear Hospitals
6 July 2022
How can a playful visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital help children understand hospital care and procedures?


N: Nature and outdoor play
6 July 2022
Why is it so important for children to get outdoors to play and learn in nature?