Natural Play Materials as Motivator for Health Restoration in Paediatric Ward of Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

In paediatric ward, children are exposed to new environment which can exposed them to psychological and emotional stress. The paediatric ward setting in developing countries like Nigeria, seldom provides an environment that has facilities for positive distraction. Understanding the importance of play activities as a result of natural play materials, will allow facilitators to provide space and materials for play activities in the ward. This study examines the effect of natural play materials as motivator in healthcare settings on the health restoration of paediatric patients. The study was conduct at paediatric ward of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, using an observational qualitative design. The data were generated from photographic documentation of five paediatric patients for seven days. The data was analysed using deductive content analysis. The result indicates that the ward as play environment provides restoration for children, when the environment is organized to house patients with access to nature inclined elements. Such as play activities in the case of children, with quality standard of upkeep and concern. The organization of the ward to accommodate natural play activities alongside norms and protocol that provide a genuine atmosphere for restoration. This is as a result of the inherent play behavior associated with early and middle childhood children. Therefore natural play improves children ability to cope with hospitalization.