Using Children Play as Therapy

To play is every child's universal right. Children have the right to rest, to be included in play and participate in age appropriate recreational activities. The experience of children and young people in playing affects their psycho-physical development. Playing contributes to the development of childhood friendships and enables children to learn and develop various roles in life [1]. Lack of play due to illness and treatments may result in a negative influence on the child's development. There has been a significant change in viewing the importance of play and its influence on developing motor, cognitive and psycho-social skills of the child in pediatrics [2]. Playtime and free time are often seen as the same area of activity because the border between them is not clearly defined. Most experts find playing to be a sideline of treatments and rehabilitation, and as such, do not have a special significance in health care.