GOSH Charity launches The Power of Play

To support families through this challenging time, Great Ormond Street Hospital’s (GOSH) Play team have assembled a treasure trove of advice, games and articles to help children and young people across the UK and beyond cope with today’s uncertainties.

Whether they’re battling boredom, pining for the playground or generally unsure about the current situation, play helps children and young people be more resilient and feel better. We know this because, with the largest hospital Play team in Europe, GOSH has helped hundreds of thousands of seriously ill children deal with their treatment and recovery through play.

The Play team are part of the essential services that continue in the hospital throughout the COVID-19 crisis.  Deputy Lead for the Play Service, Sian Spencer-Little, tells us: “Continuing to play in a time like this will help children work together, learn new skills and evoke joy.”

The new ‘normal’ for families across the UK is GOSH's ‘normal’ every day, as the Play team supports children in isolation on wards who are undergoing treatment for long periods. That’s why we’re helping share their superpowers with the world with a brand new Power of Play resources hub on the GOSH Charity website.

Together with the Play team, we’ve collected and created a treasure trove of free resources to help all children and young people with the uncertainties of today.

This includes top tips about how to talk to children about coronavirus, and how to plan your play. There is also a wealth of games and activities, covering all types of play: imaginative, sensory, creative, messy and more! Plus, you’ll be able to find out how the Play team is supporting children at GOSH right now and learn more about their vital work.

Visit the Power of Play hub now.