EDN4417

Play and education in a paediatric setting

Mr R Greaves

8 points - 3 hours per week - First semester - Peninsula

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should understand the theory and practice of therapeutic play; be aware of the possible effects of ill health on children's educational growth and development; be able to use play in paediatric settings; be able to assist children and parents in understanding the effects of paediatric hospitalisation.

Synopsis This subject has been designed to introduce early childhood teachers to the importance of play for children who are to be admitted to hospital, who are in hospital or who need guided play to reduce the trauma of their hospital experience. The subject will examine medical play, diversionary play and unstructured play used in paediatric settings, drawing upon the experiences of practitioners in the field and the wide range of supporting literature published by the Association for the Welfare of Child Health (Australia) and Action for Sick Children (UK). Students will be expected to undertake supervised limited additional field experience in the paediatric unit at the Mornington Peninsula Community Hospital, Frankston.

Assessment Written (500 and 1500 words): 50% - Literature review essay (3000 words): 50%

Recommended texts

Children in Hospital Journal of the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital
International Play Journal
Email and Internet connection to the AWCH library at the University of Western Sydney, Nepean

Back to the 1999 Education Handbook