Wonder Box: Using Interactive, and Imaginative Play as a Coping Mechanism for the Medically Complex Child and their Family.

Description

This creative project aims to explore how interactive bonding and imaginative play can be used as a potential coping mechanism for both children with chronic illness as well as their families. Research has shown that parents of children with chronic

This creative project aims to explore how interactive bonding and imaginative play can be used as a potential coping mechanism for both children with chronic illness as well as their families. Research has shown that parents of children with chronic illness have higher psychological and emotional stress. They face the obstacles of long hospital stays, financial burdens, and fear of losing their loved one. Parents can also place blame on themselves for their child’s illness and wonder what they could have done to prevent the situation. Most parents dream of having a healthy, happy baby, so when their child has an unexpected illness, it can be emotionally overwhelming, and make it harder to connect with the child. It can also strain a relationship between a husband and wife. In addition, it was found that parent stress could hinder a child's ability to cope with their illness, affect their confidence, as well as their social and emotional development. Therapeutic play has been commonly used in pediatric hospital settings. Therapeutic play allows one to express their feelings, it provides a creative space for engagement that serves as a distraction from the medical world, and it enhances development. The hope of this study is to find a way to use creative play and “artmaking” to create a safe, fun, and open space for the child and caregivers to connect and identify their emotions. The study is ongoing, so this paper will provide the process of the research.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent