Specialist Play & Activities
The Claire House Play Team ensures that the babies, children and young adults supported by the hospice are given the chance to explore, imagine and express themselves through play. Whether it is during a stay for respite, preparing a child for a daunting operation or ticking off a final bucket wish, the Play Team are on hand.
Specialist Play & Activities at Claire House provides the opportunity for all babies, children and young adults at the hospice to have access to a wide variety of different stimulating play opportunities.
These forms of play can include:
- Sensory and tactile stories
- Individualised adapted arts and crafts
- Eye gaze technology
- Immersive technology
- iPad games
- Messy play
- Makaton singing
- Switch work
- Light room
- Baking
- Trips out
- Special visitors in-house to create fun experiences
These give the children the chance to smile, release emotions, feel stimulated and just have fun, which is something all children love to do.
KEY Benefits of Play Therapy
- Emotional Expression: Safe space for expressing feelings.
- Coping Mechanisms: Helps process experiences and develop coping skills.
- Resilience: Builds resilience to manage stress.
- Social Interaction: Encourages connection with others.
- Psychological Support: Provides understanding and support.
- Creative Expression: Allows for creative and enjoyable activities.
Providing Play Wherever It Is Needed
The Claire House Play Team works within the hospice, supporting children and their families during their respite stays. The team are also able to support families in hospital and at home. They work closely with other teams within the hospice to support at sibling events, young adult social weekends and baby groups.
1:1 play and group sessions
Our team offers 1:1 play sessions, making every session or stay the most enjoyable time for the child or young adult, tailoring each activity to their individual likes and interests and spending lots of time doing the things they love.
Group sessions can also take place twice a day in the hospice, encouraging socialisation and developmental play as well as fun. This can be anything from a group sensory story, a relaxation session or a visit from some very friendly alpacas.
Making memories
We are all about making lasting memories for the babies, children, young adults and families we support. During a session or stay, we will support the child or young adult to create some lovely artwork to send home for parents and families to keep. This often includes hand and footprint crafts, ceramics, cards and canvasses. We also love to take photos during the child’s stay so they have some pictures to show their family.