Chestnut Tree House

Play is pivotal for developing

All children develop and learn through play. This might involve singing nursery rhymes or playing games such as hide and seek or hopscotch. The play may be quiet and creative or physical and noisy. It is diverse, like children themselves. Play encourages children to think creatively, develop their self-awareness, and interact socially. It is pivotal to a child’s development.

A few years ago, a public inquiry by Sense, found that children with complex medical needs have significantly fewer opportunities to access play and activities than their peers.

At Chestnut Tree House, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to play and have fun. And we are dedicated to making sure that all our play at the hospice is inclusive. But what does that mean?

We are all different. Being inclusive does not mean treating everyone the same; it means making adjustments that enable all children to take part, treating children fairly, and understanding their individual interests and needs.

One tip that we use at the hospice to encourage inclusive play is building relationships. By spending time with an individual, you will soon find out when they are happiest and calm, what their strengths are and what causes them difficulties. Armed with this information you can aim to reduce an individual’s anxiety and stress and spend time doing activities they enjoy.

Play is also a great opportunity for children to connect and make new friends, and where appropriate we encourage this through activity days or trips out in our local community.

We adapt play and activities so that everyone can be involved – and you can do this easily, too! For example, if your child is non-verbal and their sibling(s) or friends love to sing, why not learn a song together using Makaton? Simple tricks like this can make play more inclusive.

To find out more about inclusive play, visit chestnut.org.uk/blog