Action for Sick Children (Scotland) has found that allowing children to familiarise themselves with hospital equipment helps lessen the stress and anxiety of suddenly finding themselves in hospital. The charity's hospital playboxes contain safe medical equipment, mini uniforms, and toys and books about hospitals along with an information video, teacher's notes and information for parents.
Statistically every child has a 50 per cent chance of being admitted to hospital before they reach the age of seven, and more than half will be emergency admissions. Action for Sick Children has 22 playboxes in Scotland and during a year they are loaned out for an average of two weeks to more than 15,000 children in playgroups, nurseries and primary schools. The playboxes give parents and early years workers the opportunity to talk about hospitals in a casual way before children are faced with an emergency situation at a time of anxiety.
Action for Sick Children national co-ordinator Lesley Clemenson said, 'We know from experience that these playboxes greatly benefit the children who use them, opening up the difficult subject of hospitalisation and health care when they are in familiar surroundings.
'A playleader told us that one little boy who was admitted to hospital the week after the playbox had been used in his playgroup, had coped well because of hands-on experience of real medical equipment. He was consequently less anxious.
'We also know how therapeutic the playbox can be after children have been in hospital, giving them the opportunity to explore their feelings and ask questions. The playboxes are a vital part of our work not only because they directly benefit the children, but also because they enable us to distribute information to parents to help them cope better if their child is taken ill.'
Further information is available from Action for Sick Children (Scotland), 15 Smith's Place, Edinburgh EH6 8NT (0131 553 6553).