When Play Looks Different: Activities for Kids with Disabilities and Medical Needs

For this week's episode, Katie is talking with fellow child-life specialist, Annie "Sunshine" Gunning. For 25 years, Annie has helped adapt typical playtime into something that everyone with different needs, such as children who are nonverbal or wheelchair bound, can enjoy.

Annie gives us insight into how playing through medical experiences like going to a therapy appointment is important for children to understand the world around them. Similarly, Annie leads us into the hospital setting, detailing how play inside the hospital can create positive environments for children, especially for children who are staying for a longer period of time.

1:44 - Intro to Child Life and Play

3:20 - Adapting Play for Children with Disabilities

6:57 - Sibling Interaction and Play

9:03 - Play in Hospital Setting

12:42 - Creative Play for Hospitalized Children

17:45 - The Importance of Play in Medical Experiences

Annie's Company

Hope for HIE

Annie's Instagram

To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.

The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.