ABSTRACT
Play is children's way of making sense of the world, of integrating thought and feeling, while concurrently causing action on the world and bending reality to fulfill needs. Play has been cited in the literature on the effects of hospitalization since the 1930s as important to hospitalized children for stimulation, diversion, and mastery. Conditions for play to occur vary from provision of toys to elaborate play and activity programs with professional staff whose primary concern is the psychosocial, recreational, and educational needs of hospitalized, and frequently outpatient, children and their families. Types of materials utilized expectations for the level of and form of participation, and the role of the adult varies dependent on the ages of children as well as limitations imposed by the intensity of children's illnesses or physical restrictions. However, there are many outpatient programs in which free play, hospital play, and activities are the most frequent elements.
