I am doing an interesting research on illness and hospitalized
children. I would like to know what kinds of activities, such as play
or appropriate toys, do the medical experts usually use for providing
emotional needs of the hospitalized child in between age 3-12. And how
these activities will be adapted for the child with limitations, such
as bedrest, restraints? 5 examples should be enough.

Greetings!  I found many interesting examples from professionals as
well as a first-person point-of-view in an article about a toy store
owner who was bedridden with polio when he was young.  A portion of
the article:

"He traces his fascination with toys, especially miniatures, to this
time. His parents brought a handful of soldiers to him in the
hospital, and he invented battles on the bedspread. 'If you're
bedridden,' he says, 'the only thing you can do is play with small
things.' He also began developing his skill as an artist, starting
with paint-by-numbers kits, then painting and drawing free-hand."

Although he is not a medical expert, I believe his personal experience
carries as much weight as what an expert might have decided for him. 
So, I count "playing with small things" or miniature toys, to be
theraputic for a bedridden child.  The paint-by-number is a good idea,
too.

I found many references to books: story books, activity books,
coloring books and picture books as referenced by parents who had a
child in the hospital.  The younger childred were read to and the
older ones read themselves.  I also located an "expert" testimonial
concerning a Mandala Coloring book:

"Magic Mandala Coloring Book is ideal for medical centers, especially
their departments of occupational therapy, rehabilitation and social
services. This book would also be an asset in halfway houses for
mentally challenged adults and in assisted-living nursing homes. In
addition, it would be of special benefit to stroke patients, trauma
survivors, the chronically ill and bedridden, and to children with
Down's Syndrome."
---KAREN SIGEL, MD, INTERNIST 

From an article about JesterBot, a toy for severely physically
limited/immobilized children:

"If the money men don't yet believe in JesterBot, some in the medical
community certainly do. Dr. Katharine Alter, a pediatric physiatrist
(a specialist in rehabilitation for children) at the Mt. Washington
Pediatric Hospital in Cheverly, Md., and one of Kalonji's primary
doctors, sees the robot as a major advance in a type of therapy that
often leaves children bored and unwilling to exercise.

"The main goal is to get these kids to be independent, so they can
learn to control those muscles," says Alter, who is also on
AnthroTronix's advisory board. "One of the problems we have in therapy
is that kids really just want to play, explore their environment, and
learn. JesterBot engages children, motivates them, helps them retrain
their muscles. I have to deal with children on their level, and with
JesterBot, there's less resentment of a therapist, an adult, telling
them what to do."

The article "Play Therapy: An Overview - Part 1" explained many
different toy categoiries for various emotion treatment including
scary, agressive and expressive.  For instance, some of the toy types
described for "scary" were dinosaurs, insects and dragons to be used
to help the child to act out their fears.

The Western Pennslyvania Hospital Foundation web site referenced
hand-held games in an article about young burn victims:

"ACBC helps children with burns get well
Physical therapy is often needed after a burn injury - but it can be
painful, and children with burns sometimes have trouble doing
prescribed exercises. ACBC helps by providing every child with an
appropriate toy to use as an exercise aid. A shiny new tricycle can
make leg exercises fun, or a hand-held video game can provide
distraction during painful hand exercises. ACBC’s Aid to Young Burn
Victims program funds the purchase of these special toys. Through
play, therapy goals can be met."

I also found the Children's Memorial Hospital 2002 Wish List for toy
donations.  I would expect these would not be published by them if any
of these were unsuitable for hospitalized children and would include
items for immobilized children as well:

Infants (0-18 Months) 
Activity Centers (attachable to crib)
Baby blocks
Balls - large rubber, koosh
Basketball games
Books - cardboard or vinyl
Bubbles
Cassette tape players (portable)
Crib links
Crib mirrors (non-breakable)
Duplo blocks
Infant seats
Mobiles - plastic, washable 
Music boxes, musical radios
Pop-up Pals
Push toys, carts
Puzzles - simple
Rattles
Shape sorters
Stacking rings, cubes, cups
Strike-A-Ball
Teething rings
Toy telephones

Toddler/Preschool  (18 months-4 years) 
Blocks
Boppee Pillows
Bowling set
Bubble tumblers (non-spill)
Cassette tape players (portable)
Dressing dolls
Duplo-Legos
Farm animals
Fire truck with people
Flashlight
Games - age appropriate
Infant dolls - all ethnicities, both genders
Kickstart Gyms 
Linking toys
Little People sets
Matchbox cars
Musical toys, instruments
Nerf Ball games
Play food and kitchen toys
Play medical kit
Play-doh
Pop-up books
Puzzles of 10 pieces or less (not wood)
See'n'Say
Shape sorter
Stacking toys
Strike-A-Ball
Toy binoculars
Toy cars, other wheel toys
Toy garage, house, farm
Toy phones
Toy tool sets

School Age (5-12 years) 
Activity books (Where's Waldo, Eye Spy)
Beads and jewelry making kits
Board games - age appropriate
Books, including Spanish language
Bubbles, tumblers, bubble machines
Cars and trucks
Cassette tape players (portable)
Coloring books - non-violent
Crayons, colored pencils
Dinosaurs
Geo Safari and game packs
Handicraft kits
Key rings
Lapboards (beanbag variety)
Lego building sets
Magazines (Kid Sports, Ranger Rick)
Modeling clay (air-drying)
Nerf Ball games
Paints (tempera and watercolor)
Play-doh Fun Factories 
Playing card games
Playmobiles
Puppets
Puzzles, 25+ pieces
Radios (small battery powered) 
Science/nature model/craft kits
Stickers
Velcro dart boards, mit/balls
Video games (hand held) 

Video/CD/Tapes/Video Games
Music for all ages, including lullabies, relaxation music, sing-alongs
and teen pop music (excluding anything with Parental Discretion
warnings). Nonviolent video games for Nintendo 64 and Playstation.

Arts & Crafts 
Construction paper 
String/yarn 
Craft sticks 
Tissue paper 
Pipe cleaners 
Glitter/sequins 
Cotton puff balls 
Dustless chalk 
Paint containers 
Watercolors 
Play-doh 
Sculpy 
Key rings 
Markers 
Paints/brushes 
Safety scissors 
Fabric pens 
Plain white t-shirts 
Beads 
Glue/glue sticks+ 


I hope this information proves of assistance in your quest.  Should
you need clarification, please ask.


SEARCH TERMS and LINKS:

bedridden children toys  [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?q=bedridden+children+toys&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

LARK Toys News Articles
http://www.larktoys.com/article_mmdec99.cfm


toy therapy bedridden children  [ Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=toy+therapy+bedridden+children

Testimonials - Magic Mandala Coloring Book
http://www.marthabartfeld.com/testimonials.htm

Jester Bot - a toy for children with limited movement - expert testing
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/archives/cover/2001/cover1005.html


play therapy emotional toy  [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=play+therapy+emotional+toy

Play Therapy: An Overview - Part 1
http://www.counseling.org/enews/volume_1/0122a.htm

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation - Education 
http://trfn.clpgh.org/wphf/education.html


toy list for hospitalized children  [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=toy+list+for+hospitalized+children

Holiday Donations (link below was on this page)
http://www.childrensmemorial.org/friends/foundation/gift_toy.asp

Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) Wish List 2002 Toy Donations
http://www.childrensmemorial.org/friends/foundation/gift_toy2.asp

---

Request for Answer Clarification by henryleung-ga on 28 Aug 2002 14:29 PDT

To Journalist-ga:
Thank you very much for your answer, and I know that you have spent a
lot of time on finding out those information. However, majority of
your answers is focusing on "Play Therapy", there is some differences
in between "Therapeutic Play" and "Play Therapy". "Therapeutic Play"
is a very effective, nondirective modality for helping children deal
with their concerns and fears, and the same time it often helps the
nurse to gain insights into children's needs and feelings. "Play
Therapy" is a psychologic technique reserved for use by trained and
qualified therapists as an interpretative method with emotionally
disturbed children. I hope you can send me some information which is
more specific on "Therapeutic Play" and how can a nurse adapte those
activities for the child with limitations, such as bedrest, restraints
and under anxiety.

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 28 Aug 2002 20:40 PDT

Thank you for the clarification! I began again by using an incorrect
spelling of therapeutic as opposed to the correct spelling as I have
found many interesting links that way. lol

Under "theraputic" I located a toy called a Secret Sandbox but the
link didn't work so I searched the product name because the first link
stated "Kinetic Table Art Doodle Space Executive Power Art Management
Organizer Theraputic
Play Tool and Healing Medium Self-Discovery Medium Personal Treasure" 
Unfortunately, I didn't find a link that worked but in another blurb
the inventor was mentioned along with a telephone number: "Call
(603)224-8996 about Transformation Trainings and Secret Sandbox
Playshops offered by Jill L. Jones, LCMHC" - I mention this only
because it may be off the net but still around.

Under a search for "therapeutic play toys" I came across an article
from UCI Medical Institute which read in part:

"TALKING TO TEDDY BEARS 
"A doll who’s had an appendectomy? A teddy bear who doesn’t mind
injections? These and a menagerie of other engaging creatures help
calm the fears of pediatric patients at UCI Medical Center. The toys
are the special friends of child-life specialists trained to address
the concerns of children. Through play and other activities, these
experts educate youngsters about their illnesses and treatments in
terms little ones can understand.

"Therapeutic play is at the heart of UCI’s Child Life Program.
Children are encouraged to create dialogues with dolls and stuffed
animals that depict what they expect to encounter at the hospital.
Through role-playing, child-life specialists assess the youngster’s
emotional state. When fears and anxieties are out in the open, they
can be addressed in a variety of ways."

Boston Child Health Special Services had a list of books, some of
which dealt with "therapeutic play" and some that dealt with "play
therapy."  There may be sources for you there.

I found an address and phone for Therapeutic Toys, Inc but no website:
Therapeutic Toys, Inc.
59 Jaffee Terrace
Colchester, CT 06415
s 860-537-8153
adapted toys, playground equipment

The Hospital for Sick Children offered a list of toys they found
acceptable for hospitalized children "The Toy and Game Fund is
available to HSC donors to designate funds to be used primarily for
the purposes of recreation and therapeutic play":

Fisher- Price Medical Kits 
Bubbles 
Look and Find books (Where’s Waldo etc…) 
Movies (for teens and young children) 
Music Boxes (wind up, battery operated) 
Puzzles (under 100 pieces) 
Books (picture and board books) 
Craft Supplies 
Markers and Crayons 
Board Games (Monopoly, Monopoly Jr., Clue, Clue Jr., Guess Who etc…) 
Decks of Playing Cards 
Batteries 
Poloroid Film 
Disposable Cameras 
Craft Kits 
Knitted Wear 
Toddler/Preschool Toys (Fisher- Price and Little Tykes) 

I hope this additional informational is of assistance and again,
thanks for the clarification.


SEARCH TERMS and LINKS:

theraputic play [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22theraputic+play%22

Adoptive Families Today--Links--Child Development, Developmental -
link to Theraplay
http://www.adoptivefamiliestoday.org/linksn.html

Theraplay Institute
http://www.theraplay.org/


therapeutic play toys  [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=therapeutic+play+toys

Play Therapy (defined in article as Therapeutic Play]
http://www.tomholman.com/play_therapy.htm

ePlayTherapy ([site referred to both play therapy and therapeutic
play, so not sure which it is)
https://www.eplaytherapy.com/brochure_section2.asp

ePlayTherapy toy list (with pictures)
https://www.eplaytherapy.com/mystore/cart/CategoriesToys.asp

Talking to Teddy Bears [therapeutic play article from UCI Medical
Institute]
http://www.ucihealth.com/news/uci%20health/TalkingToTeddyBears.htm

Play Therapy Literature [includes literature on therapeutic play]
http://www.jccniowa.org/~recdsabl/LITPlay.htm

HSC:Entertainment and Donations [Hospital for Sick Children Toy List]
http://www.sickkids.on.ca/EntertainmentandDonations/donations.asp


"therapeutic play" hospital study children
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22therapeutic+play%22+hospital+study+children

Johns Hopkins Magazine -- November 1999  ["Serious Play" a therapeutic
play study]
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/1199web/play.html


therapeutic toys inc  [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=therapeutic+toys+inc

Switch Toys Selection [manufactureres of switch-operated toys]
http://cosmos.ot.buffalo.edu/letsplay/AT/DOCS/swtoy.html

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 28 Aug 2002 20:47 PDT

Regarding adapting toys, I located the following in an article:Toys
can be adapted. Simple adaptations frequently make the difference in
using a toy and it sitting on the shelf. Some suggestions to consider:

add dowels or spools to puzzle pieces to ease grip 

add foam tubing to grips such as spoons 

use dycem, velcro or a damp towel to hold objects in place. 

use lighter materials to make the toy such as cardboard puzzles
instead of wooden puzzles

try a different approach i.e. Instead of a standard computer mouse, a
track ball eliminates the need to move the mouse as far and the
conceptual conflict of moving a mouse to the left to continue moving
to the right.

Many other adaptations can be made depending on the child's difficulty
and the toy. For other ideas consider asking the therapists and
teachers working with your child or some of the following resources:

Achievable Concepts offers a wide variety of adaptions for leisure
activities from cards to music to tricycles and fishing.

Switch Kids, Inc. 

Toys for Special Children offers a variety of toys and switches for
special needs. They can be reached at www.coastresources.com or (800)
832-8697. Their catalog Enabling Devices can be ordered at the toll
free number.

TFH (USA) LTD offers adapted toys and recreational products as well as
multisensory environments. They can be reached at (800) 467 6222.

National Lekotek Center has information and offers recommendations for
toys for children with special needs. They can be reached at (800) 366
play.

Toys R Us maintains a catalog for differently abled kids. Call (800)
732-3298.

Cross Creek has recreational products for children with special needs.
They can be contacted at (800) 645 5816.

Innovative Products can be reached at (800) 950 5816. 

Abilitations can be reached at (800) 850 8603. 

Ablenet has a wealth of switches and ideas for integrating children
with special needs into activities. They can be reached at (800) 322
0956.

Family Resource Services can be reached at (800) 501 0139. 

Abledata maintains a database of assistive technology and toys for
special needs children. They can be reached at (800) 227 0216.

Antoni toys and products for the physically challenged. The name says
it all. They can be reached at (800) 826 8664.

Brennan Enterprises has a line of toys focusing on children's
abilities. They can be reached at (518) 762 1045.

Flaghouse has a catalog of equipment, games, recreational supplies and
toys. It is available from (914) 699 1900.

Funtastic Learning has a catalog with toys and games for children with
special needs, in particular learning disabilities, ADD and
developmental delays.

Jesana has a catalog with recreational products and adaptive devices.
They can be reached at (800) 443 4728.

Kapable Kids. The name says it. (800) 356 1564. 
PCA Industries offers playgrounds for children with disabilities.
(800) 727 8180.

Rich Rider Trikes. (310) 693 6372. 

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Inc. has a book The Best Toys, Books & Videos
for Kids with a chapter on adapting toys. (800) 535 1910 or (800) 544
8697.

Therapeutic Toys. (800) 638 0676. 

Triaid, Inc. offers an adapted tricycle. Contact them at (301) 759
3525.

W.M.Smith & Associates offers water toys and accessible options for
water recreation. (800) 426 9460 or (800) 443 swim.

Dragon Fly Toy Co has a catalog of adapted battery operated toys,
adapted art equipment, textured material toys, books and adaptive
playground equipment. Contact them at (800) 308 2208.

Discover Technology. 

National Ability Center 

Family Village has suggestions and ideas on a variety of topics
including adaptive toys.

This was found through a search of the phrase "adapting toys for
disabled children" and is located at
http://www.pediatricpt.com/articles/toys.htm
Using that phrase was the only way I could locate adaptive information
for toys.

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 31 Aug 2002 11:25 PDT

Thank you for your generous rating of my research.  I reviewed my
links provided to make certain I included them all and found none
missing.  If there is specific information I quoted that you could not
locate, please ask for a clarification and I'll be happy to provide
it.

I did note in my last clarification that I left out quotation marks
(and two spaces) opening the phrase "Toys can be adapted. Simple
adaptations frequently make the difference in using a toy and it
sitting on the shelf. Some suggestions to consider:"  I build my
answers in a Word program and when I cut and pasted to the answer box,
I accidently dropped the space between my comment and the article I
was quoting (but it was still missing the opening quotation marks).

The entire last clarification came from the single link posted below
it and, upon review of the manner in which it was arranged on the
page, I see it could be confusing to follow.  I apologize for the
confusion.  All the information in the post above (28 Aug 2002 20:47
PDT ) came from the article "Toys" located at
http://www.pediatricpt.com/articles/toys.htm  All the firms listed on
that page have live links to the sites.

Thanks again for teaching me the difference between "play therapy" and
"therapeutic play."  It seems the terms are sometimes referred to as
the same thing, and I am happy to learn the difference.  : )

The answer is excellent. However, if the researcher can provide more
link to his/her research base, it will be a 5 stars work.