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Developmental Support for Sick Children through Play in Japan's ECEC System: A Comparison with Hospital Play
Narumi Kihara1, Tomoko Yamamoto2
1Department of Child Development, Faculty of Humanities, Saitama-Gakuen University, 1510 Kizoro, Kawaguchi 3330831, Japan. na0719ru@i.softbank.jp.
Insights
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) workers and hospital play specialists (HPSs) both support sick children
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Development
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Early childhood education and care (ECEC) workers and hospital play specialists (HPSs) both play crucial roles in supporting the development of sick children through play.
- While both professions aim to support children's play and manage anxiety, their specific roles and approaches differ.
- Respecting children's autonomy is a shared principle in supporting their development during illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the distinct and overlapping roles of ECEC workers and HPSs in supporting sick children's development.
- To emphasize the importance of respecting children's autonomy in play-based interventions.
- To explore how ECEC characteristics can be leveraged for comprehensive support of sick children's play, integrating it into daily life.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of professional roles and responsibilities.
- Review of play-based support strategies in healthcare and educational settings.
- Exploration of ECEC principles for application in pediatric care.
Main Results:
- ECEC workers and HPSs share a common goal of supporting sick children's development via play and respecting autonomy.
- Distinct roles emerge in managing anxiety and environmental adaptations for play.
- ECEC workers can enhance support by integrating play into daily routines and leveraging ECEC principles.
Conclusions:
- ECEC workers should utilize ECEC characteristics to comprehensively support sick children's play participation within their daily lives.
- Collaboration between ECEC workers and HPSs is vital for advancing holistic support systems for sick children.
- Further interprofessional cooperation can optimize developmental support for hospitalized children.
Abstract:
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) workers and hospital play specialists (HPSs) share a role in supporting the development of sick children through play while respecting their autonomy. On the other hand, in supporting children's play, managing their anxiety, and making environmental arrangements for them, ECEC workers and HPSs play different roles. When supporting the development of sick children, the former should respect their autonomy and make the most of the characteristics of ECEC as a measure to comprehensively support their participation in play, including it in their daily lives. ECEC workers are also expected to contribute to the further development of comprehensive support by promoting collaboration and cooperation with various professionals, including HPSs.