[Playing in hospital: addition to nursing care]

Playing is one of the essential activities for the physical, emotional and social development to the child. Although the recognized importance of this activity, during the hospitalization process it is little value, so it is not find out between the foreseen therapeutic actions that are preview. The goal of this paper is discuss the theory and practice principles to subsidize the utilization of play in the aid to the hospitalization children. The empiric data collection was realized through the participant observation of 11 children who were intern in a pediatric unit of a teaching hospital of State of São Paulo up country. We identify that the act to play has repercussions in the child, nurse and hospital. To the child it is not obstruct the development; help it in the understanding about what is occurring with itself and discharge fear, tension, anxiety and frustration; promote satisfaction, funny and spontaneity and allows it transforms experiences that should support inactive in active discharge. To the nurse it is a tool of intervention and a way of communication, that allows detect the uniqueness of each child. Related to the hospital, change the current view that is only a pain and suffering place.