Medical Play
The Child Life Specialists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center use medical play to help put children and teens at ease about upcoming tests or procedures. Medical play involves real medical equipment and / or toys.
Here are some examples and tips for engaging in age-appropriate medical play with your child. For infants and small children, each activity must be supervised by an adult.
Toddler | Preschool | School Age l Teens
Toddler
- Fisher-Price" medical equipment
- Painting with pudding using syringes, mouth sponges, gauze, etc.
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Preschool
- Collage making -- collect Band-Aids, gauze, IV tubing, thermometers, cotton balls and / or tongue depressers to create a picture
- Painting with pudding using syringes, mouth sponges, gauze, etc.
- Fisher-Price" medical equipment
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School Age
Collage making
Syringe painting
Body outline dolls -- blank cloth dolls children can "play" doctor with while manipulating medical equipment / procedures. They may draw a face to express emotions.
Finger casting
Hospital bingo
Medical
mobiles -- use hospital items to create a mobile
Puppet play
Tour the hospital
Preparation photo books
Hospitalopoly -- revise a Monopoly" game by changing cards / squares to incorporate the areas within the hospital you are visiting.
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Teens
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