Why play is one of the most powerful tools in children's healthcare
There’s something about a child’s laugh that cuts through everything. The worry, the tiredness, the endless mental load of just getting through a day. Now imagine hearing that laugh not at a birthday party or in your back garden, but in a hospital ward. That’s exactly what happened at Children’s Health Ireland last Thursday, and it’s something worth stopping to think about.
The 11th of June marked International Day of Play — officially recognised by the United Nations as a reminder that play isn’t a luxury for children, it’s a right. To mark it, Children’s Health Foundation brought that spirit directly into CHI Crumlin, gathering children, families and staff together for a day of activities, laughter and something that hospital corridors don’t always have enough of: pure, uncomplicated joy.
Play is doing more than you think
Most of us think of play as the good stuff that happens around the hard stuff. The reward after school, the way kids decompress, the noise you’re always asking them to take outside. But in a hospital setting, play is doing something far more significant. Research consistently shows that play-based interventions can reduce anxiety, improve how children cope with medical procedures, build emotional resilience and even reduce perceived pain. That’s not soft science — that’s measurable, evidence-backed impact.
For a child facing a long hospital stay or a complex treatment plan, being able to play offers something that medication simply can’t: a sense of control. A sense of being a kid, even on the hardest days.
Emma Fratangelo, Professional Lead in Healthcare Play Services at CHI, put it simply. “Play is the foundation of a child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development,” she said. “Through play, children can make sense of their world, explore new experiences, and master new skills. In a hospital setting, play is particularly important as it helps children and young people cope with illness, hospitalisation, and medical procedures while supporting their overall wellbeing and development.”
Jack and his Dad
The people behind it
What makes this work possible, day in and day out, are the health play specialists and play assistants working alongside clinical teams at CHI. Their role goes well beyond keeping children occupied. They help kids prepare for procedures, process their feelings in age-appropriate ways and build the kind of confidence that makes a frightening environment feel a little less so. They sit with children during some of the most vulnerable moments of their young lives and find ways to meet them where they are — through creativity, imagination and play.
Children’s Health Foundation has invested significantly in these services across CHI’s hospitals, funding specialist play programmes, sensory resources, equipment and child-friendly spaces that help transform what hospitalisation looks and feels like for thousands of children every year. Last year alone, CHF disbursed €5.3 million in financial support to Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres, as well as to Research Ireland and the National Children’s Research Centre.
Juliet and her Mum Gina
Why this matters to every Irish family
As a parent, the thought of your child being in hospital is one you’d rather not sit with for long. But thousands of Irish families don’t have the option of not sitting with it. Last year, thousands of sick or injured children attended Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght hospitals, as well as the urgent care centre in Connolly. Those families need to know that while their child is receiving care, someone is also making sure they still get to be a child.
Emma Fratangelo spoke warmly about the role supporters play in making that possible. “Children’s Health Foundation supporters are vital to the work we do. Fundraising supports play services across all four CHI sites — from playrooms to equipment, adolescent nights to events like International Day of Play — and we’re so grateful for their support.”
Last Thursday’s event was a celebration, yes. But it was also a reminder. That play isn’t something children do when the serious stuff is done. It is serious. It’s healing. And thanks to the work of Children’s Health Foundation and the dedicated specialists at CHI, it’s something sick children across Ireland can still access on their hardest days.
For more information about Children’s Health Foundation and how you can support their work, visit childrenshealth.ie.