Last week I had the opportunity to facilitate both an issue specific and an open-ended play activity with a small group of participants during class time. The issue specific activity that I facilitated was syringe spin art, which surrounded the issue of medical implement desensitization with a main focus on syringes as the stressor. The open-ended play activity that I facilitated was wax paper painting, which involved participants using squeeze bottles full of tempera paint, wax paper, and construction paper in almost any way they wished to. In my opinion, and to my surprise, these activities went extremely well and appeared to be quite fun for my participants. My participants got lost in their projects and were either silent while intensely
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The syringe spin art activity was a type of informal medical play, which allowed for an expressive medically related art activity that involved medical implements in a non-threatening way as a medium for expression. This issue-specific play activity had a therapeutic goal to promote coping with medical experiences through familiarization with medical equipment. Therefore, I could see this play activity falling under all 3 theoretical categories of play, educational, recreation, and therapeutic, depending of where the child decided to take this play activity when they are in control. Syringe spin art could be considered educational play because the play could be aiding in educating the child on the uses of syringes in a nonthreatening environment, depending on the questions he or she asks about the medical equipment. This play activity could be considered therapeutic play because the play could be opening communication and emotional expression. Syringe spin art could also be considered recreational play because the play could be an outlet and be allowing for freedom. The wax paper painting activity was carefully chosen to promote true child-directed play through the promotion of choice, independence, and autonomy. This open-ended activity had no predetermined end product and could be taken anywhere by the participant. This play activity could be considered therapeutic play because the …show more content…
For the syringe spin art activity, I would also suggest including more medical implements that are appropriate to the patient and the activity. For example, if a patient has to receive eye drops every day that makes them uncomfortable, use eyedroppers instead of syringes to add the paint to the paper plate. I also believe that a way to extend the play would be to make syringe spin art a 1 adult: 1 child activity when possible. For the wax paper painting activity, I would recommend having the wax paper all pre-cut to avoid any tearing or rushing of the activity. An interesting idea that I had while watching my small group participate in these activities would be to switch each activities purpose. As in using the syringes with the wax paper painting to create another type of medical implement desensitization play and using squeeze bottles instead of the syringes to create spin art. I find it interesting that each activity is so versatile and adaptable. Overall, there were very limited adjustments that needed to be made. Most of the suggestions here are not necessary but just modifications that I observed and found interesting enough to
The syringe spin art activity was a type of informal medical play, which allowed for an expressive medically related art activity that involved medical implements in a non-threatening way as a medium for expression. This issue-specific play activity had a therapeutic goal to promote coping with medical experiences through familiarization with medical equipment. Therefore, I could see this play activity falling under all 3 theoretical categories of play, educational, recreation, and therapeutic, depending of where the child decided to take this play activity when they are in control. Syringe spin art could be considered educational play because the play could be aiding in educating the child on the uses of syringes in a nonthreatening environment, depending on the questions he or she asks about the medical equipment. This play activity could be considered therapeutic play because the play could be opening communication and emotional expression. Syringe spin art could also be considered recreational play because the play could be an outlet and be allowing for freedom. The wax paper painting activity was carefully chosen to promote true child-directed play through the promotion of choice, independence, and autonomy. This open-ended activity had no predetermined end product and could be taken anywhere by the participant. This play activity could be considered therapeutic play because the …show more content…
For the syringe spin art activity, I would also suggest including more medical implements that are appropriate to the patient and the activity. For example, if a patient has to receive eye drops every day that makes them uncomfortable, use eyedroppers instead of syringes to add the paint to the paper plate. I also believe that a way to extend the play would be to make syringe spin art a 1 adult: 1 child activity when possible. For the wax paper painting activity, I would recommend having the wax paper all pre-cut to avoid any tearing or rushing of the activity. An interesting idea that I had while watching my small group participate in these activities would be to switch each activities purpose. As in using the syringes with the wax paper painting to create another type of medical implement desensitization play and using squeeze bottles instead of the syringes to create spin art. I find it interesting that each activity is so versatile and adaptable. Overall, there were very limited adjustments that needed to be made. Most of the suggestions here are not necessary but just modifications that I observed and found interesting enough to