Child Life Therapeutic Play Interventions Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 7-year-old child is hospitalized for a tonsillectomy. The child appears withdrawn, is having trouble sleeping, and tells the nurse, 'I'm scared of the doctors.' Which therapeutic play intervention would be most appropriate for the Child Life Specialist to use first?
- Engaging the child in a board game with a volunteer.
- Providing the child with a tablet for video games.
- Using a doll and medical equipment to act out the hospital experience. (Correct answer)
- Reading a story to the child about an unrelated topic.
Correct answer: Using a doll and medical equipment to act out the hospital experience.
Using a doll and medical equipment for play allows the child to express feelings, gain a sense of mastery over the situation, and clarify misconceptions about the medical experience in a non-threatening way. This form of therapeutic play is specifically designed to help children work through anxieties related to healthcare.
Question 2: What is the primary goal of therapeutic play in a pediatric healthcare setting?
- To ensure the child remains entertained and occupied.
- To facilitate coping and emotional expression. (Correct answer)
- To accelerate the child's physical recovery process.
- To assess the child's cognitive development level.
Correct answer: To facilitate coping and emotional expression.
The fundamental purpose of therapeutic play, as facilitated by a Child Life Specialist, is to help children cope with the stress and anxiety of illness and hospitalization. It provides a safe outlet for expressing feelings, processing experiences, and developing coping mechanisms.
Question 3: Which of the following is the best example of a therapeutic play intervention designed to promote a sense of control for a school-aged child?
- Allowing the child to choose their own meal from the hospital menu.
- Having the child decorate their IV pole with stickers and ribbons. (Correct answer)
- Watching a movie of the child's choice in the playroom.
- Arranging a visit from a therapy dog.
Correct answer: Having the child decorate their IV pole with stickers and ribbons.
Decorating the IV pole is a therapeutic activity that allows the child to exert control over their immediate environment and medical equipment. This act of personalization can transform a scary object into something familiar and less threatening, thereby increasing their sense of mastery and control.
Question 4: A Child Life Specialist is working with a 5-year-old who is non-verbal and recovering from a painful procedure. The child is tearful and refusing to interact. To help the child express their feelings, the specialist might use:
- Storytelling with a happy ending.
- Developmentally appropriate recreational play with blocks.
- Expressive art activities, such as painting with different colors. (Correct answer)
- Structured board games with clear rules.
Correct answer: Expressive art activities, such as painting with different colors.
Expressive arts, like painting, provide a non-verbal medium for children to communicate complex emotions such as pain, fear, or anger that they may not be able to articulate. The choice of colors, the pressure of the brushstrokes, and the imagery created can all be powerful forms of expression.
Question 5: Therapeutic play is distinct from diversional or recreational play primarily because it:
- Is always led by a certified therapist.
- Uses only medical themes and equipment.
- Is spontaneous and unstructured.
- Has a specific goal related to coping and emotional support. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Has a specific goal related to coping and emotional support.
While diversional play aims to entertain and normalize the environment, therapeutic play is purposeful and goal-oriented. It is intentionally designed to help a child meet emotional and psychological needs related to their healthcare experience, such as expressing feelings, understanding procedures, or gaining a sense of control.
Question 6: A 10-year-old with cystic fibrosis is frequently hospitalized and expresses frustration about their treatment regimen. A Child Life Specialist wants to use a therapeutic intervention to help the child explore these feelings. Which activity would be most effective?
- Playing a competitive video game against the specialist.
- Creating a comic book where the main character has a chronic illness. (Correct answer)
- Building a complex model airplane.
- Watching a popular action movie.
Correct answer: Creating a comic book where the main character has a chronic illness.
Creating a comic book allows the child to project their own feelings and experiences onto a character, providing a safe psychological distance. This creative process facilitates the exploration and expression of complex emotions like frustration, anger, or sadness related to their chronic illness and treatments, and can help in developing coping strategies.
Child Life Therapeutic Play Interventions Questions and Answers 1
A 7-year-old child is hospitalized for a tonsillectomy.
The child appears withdrawn, is having trouble sleeping, and tells the nurse, 'I'm scared of the doctors.' Which therapeutic play intervention would be most appropriate for the Child Life Specialist to use first?