The Pediatrics Department from Hospital Beatriz Ângelo (HBA) started this January a project to support and follow-up children during hospitalization. “N palavras coloridas e criativas” (A myriad colourful and creative words) carries out several activities with the purpose of stimulating child development and provide moments of pleasure and “normality”, in a context that is unusual for a child. The resort to playful activities and games in healthcare has proven to be have benefits, such as, for instance: Contributing to a higher sense of security of the child in hospital environment; Minimizing the anxiety of separation from parents or other caretakers; Stimulating interaction , communication and development of positive attitudes; Can be used as a means to achieve therapeutic goals . This project of HBA Pediatrics Department is coordinated by Catarina Gomes (educational psychologist), Ana Pinelas (speech therapist) and Vera Mendes (kindergarten teacher). This intervention is developed in two areas: Individualized actions , directed at children in prolonged hospitalization (initiated now in January and aiming at maintaining the child’s learning opportunities); Implementation of activities in hospitalization for all children who wish to participate (to be started in February). The activities are adapted to the age and level of development of the children . It is intended, for instance, to stimulate language, develop phonological awareness, operate notions of mathematics and promote reading, among other objectives. Among the activities developed are story reading (and exploring of the respective themes with activities of retelling, content analysis, elaboration of drawings/posters and other related works), creation of stories with visual mediums , songs , rigmaroles and tongue-twisters reading . Each month, there will be a theme and relevant dates may be approached (such as Carnival, now in February).
