Play is an integral part of growth in children whose significance goes beyond mere recreation and passage of time. Among the fundamental significances of play is the facilitation of physiological, social and psychological development amongst children. The physical aspect entails inter alia the exercising of muscles, limbs and other body parts to enable them to develop better and remains in a good state (Dowling, 2014) . Pushing the body to its limits as happens in physical play also enables multiple body organs to develop properly. Similarly, play provides a learning process, mainly from a practical perspective that enhances development. Finally, play also enables children to interact with one another which enables and enhances social growth. When children are in a hospital, so much focus may be placed upon their well-being from a health perspective to the extent that the fundamental importance of growth is forgotten. It is for this reason that children’s hospitals, more so the ones where children remain in for a long duration should invest in proper play facilities. The kind of play necessary for the all-round growth of children has not only to be carefully planned and set but also backed by the requisite play paraphernalia.
Background
Cognitive growth
“A large baby” is a common but derogatory epithet used to describe a grown-up whose behavior, character or personality resembles that of a child. This epithet lays credence to the concept that albeit the brain matter of a child and a grown up may be similar, the mind of an adult differs exponentially from that of a child (Bjorklund, 2013) . The process of growth in mind and mental processes from a child into a grown-up occurs gradually and is referred to as cognitive growth. Research shows that the brain of a child is genetically programmed as a learning device. Through interaction with the environment, the brain will develop a process of learning and learn simultaneously. This means that at any one time during the process of growth, the mind is gradually improving its learning processes, even as it learns. This is, therefore, an extremely complicated process thus a child needs all possible help along the way (Bjorklund, 2013) . To speed up this process, several important games that engender both fun and learning have been developed and ought, therefore, to be included in the program.
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Physical Growth
This refers to the rounded physiological development of a child which takes a combination of proper nutrition and also exercises. Research has led to the realization that exercises are not just a matter of keeping the body fit (Tremblay, 2015) . In some circumstances, exercises can indeed be a matter of life and death. Being physically fit is also a very important element of well-being , more so for a growing child. Finally, well-rounded growth also means growing at an appropriate rate, which includes avoidance of obesity and also ensuring that all body parts grow and a reasonably even pace. From the perspective of life and death, several body muscles are fundamental to life, including intercostal muscles and the muscles responsible for the movement of the diagram (Tremblay, 2015) . For a child who is admitted to the hospital for a long time, lack or normal activity can limit the growth of such muscles inhibiting growth. Exercising all body muscles is still important for proper growth of the child, more so when the child isn’t living a life full of normal activities.
Social and Emotional Growth
This is secondary but still extremely important elements of growth for a child. Social growth relates to the ability to properly interact with others . The word proper under the circumstances means not only being able to interact but also able to have the character that makes others want to interact with an individual (Telles et al. , 2013) . Emotional growth, on the other hand, entails the ability to comprehend the requisite feelings for every situation. Further, proper emotional growth entails the ability to express and control these emotions . Finally, it also includes the ability to understand when to control emotions as well we when to express them. Social and emotional acumen can seldom be taught but can be learned through practical application (Telles et al. , 2013) . In this regard, play plays an integral learning role.
Why Have Two Different Play Groups
There is a complex relationship between play and learning for children. One extremity is where learning is dominant with play being only meant thereto . This mainly happens amongst older children such as teenagers and young adults. The other extreme is all play, with learning being a mere consequence of the playing process (Dowling, 2014) . This mainly happens to infants and toddlers who may not expressly comprehend the learning process. The children envisaged in this project fall between the ages of three and ten and are therefore in between the two extremities. Their learning process will, therefore combine play and learning but at different levels. For the younger children, there is a need to include more learning than play. Similarly, with the older children, there is need to include more learning than play. Further, from a practical perspective, some games will require more concentration than others, something that differs exponentially between a three-year-old and a ten-year-old. Some games may also be dangerous for younger children but completely safe for the older ones (Dowling, 2014) . The totality of the above forms the rationale for dividing the children into an early childhood group and a middle childhood group.
Types of Games to Be Invested In Alongside Necessary Paraphernalia
Musical Chairs
Musical chairs is a common game that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages and can be placed either outdoors or indoors. The only props necessary are a set of normal chairs and some space, making it very economical. It entails a set of chairs, placed in a circle with spaces between them. Normally, there will be one less chair than the number of players involved. The players will sing as they move in circles around the chairs then suddenly sit at the end of the song (Hoffman, 2013) . Statistically, one person will be left standing and hence eliminated, with the game continuing until only one player remains. From a cognitive perspective, musical chairs enable a child to develop the ability to focus, anticipate and have fast reflexes. This is because it is the person who least expects the end of the song who stands the highest chance of being left standing. Having to react quickly, yet accurately helps hone reflexes. With the game being playable by all ages, the children can also include their parents within the game thus enabling closer interaction. From a physical growth perspective, this game is about movement, sometimes fast in a circle as well as a rapid effort to seat. This exercises both muscles and body organs, boosting growth and reducing chances of developing obesity. Finally, from a social and emotional perspective, this is a contact game that has all the players in the same place, a fact that encourages interaction amongst the children. From an emotional perspective, it is extremely competitive which will result in excitement, joy, and disappointment in equal measure. Learning to be graceful and magnanimous in victory as well as learning to be brave in the face of losses are among the important emotional lessons that can be learned . Finally, musical chairs is a very involving game that will take the minds of the children away from their ailments. Further, it entails chairs, a common furniture at home and school, and has nothing to do with items kindred to sickness or hospitals. This means that it will provide a means of escape for the children, albeit temporarily from the reality of being stuck in the hospital hence assisting in the coping process.
Magic Moves by Educational Insights
This is a game mainly limited to the younger children group and is based on a proprietary device. Known as the magic move wand. The device is small, hand held and movable which makes the game capable of being played outdoors in fair weather and indoors at any time. It has a combination of 90 different commands and 26 music tunes (Hoffman, 2013) . Once activated the wand will give the user different fun commands such as commands to match, dance, walk or seat. It will also incorporate tunes for continuous activities such as dancing, walking, and matching. The wand also has a colored lighting that goes with the music to capture and hold the concentration of the children. From a cognitive perspective, acting upon command entails a combination of being able to hear and interpret commands then perform them, which is an integral path of cognitive growth. Secondly, the effort to dance, walk or march in line with a musical tune also enhances cognitive growth. Many of the commands also include physical activity which will cause the children to move body parts as a form of exercise thus improving physical growth. The children’s family can be co-opted into the came as guides as they assist and correct the child during the playing of the game thus enabling interaction. Ninety commands are too many for a child to be right all the time or even a majority of the time. Yet the game is simple enough for the child to be right some of the time. Being right and wrong in front of peers and grown-ups will give the child an opportunity to encounter different emotions and learn to cope with them. This will enhance emotional and social growth for the children. The play will also create an easy and readily available means of entertainment for the children that can be used at any time, thus enabling them to cope better with being hospitalized for a long time at such a tender age.
Playhouses
Playhouses would be an ideal way to bring an imaginary form of home to the children’s hospital, thus providing an almost real mental escape for the children. Whereas this may be among the larger investments that the hospital will make, its returns are worthy of the high costs involved (Hoffman, 2013). The investment includes the purchasing of the prefabricated playhouses as well as the cost of a large indoor space or roofed outdoor space to erect them. Playhouses can be defined as minute representations of any real life building used by humans in a normal setting. They can be built to represent schools, homes, shopping centers, vehicles and many other items. Some playhouses can be made in a small version for the younger group as well as a larger version for the older group (Hoffman, 2013) . In most cases, playing using playhouses involves roles playing. When depicting school, some of the children can interchangeably play teachers, students, and other school roles. At home, they can play grown-ups as well as children, and in the shopping mall, they will play vendors and purchasers of goods and services. Among the most important learning areas for the play house relates to social growth. This is because playhouses are more about the interaction between children than using the houses themselves which only act as props. The interaction will also enable emotional growth due to the arising issues during the interaction. Cognitive growth is also an important learning element as the children learn the different parts played by different members of the society. Physical growth will also be involved in the muscle movement as children move into and around the playhouses. The siblings of the children can also participate in the games during visits with the parents acting as instructors thus enabling family interaction. Finally, playhouses enable children to feel as if they are part of the world outside the hospital for the duration of the game, which enables children to cope better with being stuck at the hospital.
Swings, Slides & Climbing Frames
This set of games has a higher focus in physical activity, something that will be in very short supply within a hospital setting. Swings, slide and climbing frames are extremely common playing furniture which can be found almost in any school and children’s play setting (Hoffman, 2013) . There being extremely common is a testament to their significance to children. This is naturally outdoor playing tools of a fixed nature and will come at a considerable but mainly one-time cost for the hospital. The climbing frame and slide will provide an immense physical activity for the younger children while, the older ones will exercise physically by pushing one another on the swings. This will bolster physical growth. Climbing will also involve different techniques and scenarios which will encourage cognitive growth. Further, there will be a lot of interaction in the playfield thus bolstering emotional and social growth. Parents and siblings can also participate when they come visiting, thus providing a family event that will make an elongated hospital stay easier for the children.
Conclusion
It is unfair and unfortunate for children to be held up for elongated durations in hospitals but this reality that cannot escape by the children involved. Play, is a primary and integral part of growth for children, as shown above. Thus the proviso of play places and tools is fundamental. Further, the play is also an important learning tool which enables cognitive, emotional and social growth. Finally, the physical activates involved in play aids physical growth for the children. The proviso of play for children is important to ensure that sickness does not deny them the opportunity to be children. The investment made towards the hospital play space and paraphernalia may be steep but extremely necessary to give the children a chance to have as normal as childhood as possible in spite of the circumstances.
References
HOFFMAN, A. (2013, November 12). 8 Great Toys That Help With Cognitive Development - Friendship Circle - Special Needs Blog. Retrieved July 26, 2017, from http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/02/25/8-great-toys-that-help-with-cognitive-development/
Tremblay, M. S., Gray, C., Babcock, S., Barnes, J., Bradstreet, C. C., Carr, D., & Herrington, S. (2015). Position statement on active outdoor play. International journal of environmental research and public health, 12(6), 6475-6505
Bjorklund, D. F. (Ed.). (2013). Children's strategies: Contemporary views of cognitive development . New York: Psychology Press
Telles, S., Singh, N., Bhardwaj, A. K., Kumar, A., & Balkrishna, A. (2013). Effect of yoga or physical exercise on physical, cognitive and emotional measures in children: a randomized controlled trial. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health , 7 (1), 37
Dowling, M. (2014). Young children's personal, social and emotional development . Thousand Oaks. CA: Sage
