The Importance of Play for Kids Living with Chronic Illness
Play is incredibly important for seriously ill kids – it spurs their healing and their growth. For kids living with chronic illness, play offers respite as they face constant pain and frequent hospital visits and treatments.
Play greatly improved 11-year-old Riley’s mood during his hospital stay as he experienced the benefits of socialization – connection and support in the hospital.
Meet Riley
Riley is no stranger to hospitals. Each month, his family works closely with a special medical team at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California. Living with Cystic Fibrosis, frequent hospital visits can become the norm, and Riley can spend anywhere from 2-3 weeks there at a time for IV antibiotics treatment.
Riley can feel anxious in the hospital during his daily treatment and Starlight Gaming has become a positive distraction. When playing games, he no longer focuses on his treatments, but has fun instead.
Powered by Nintendo, Starlight created the Gaming Station to provide kids entertainment, play, and socialization opportunities in the hospital.
Riley plays on the Gaming Station daily with his family. While waiting in his hospital room, Riley enjoys playing video games including baseball, soccer and Mario Kart. They play so much together that Riley tells his friends that his mom is good at gaming and will probably beat them.
Gaming has not only provided Riley with a source of entertainment but also a sense of belonging. Through the community at the hospital, he’s found peers who understand his unique challenges. When they play games together, he doesn’t need to explain himself when he needs to leave a game abruptly or when he needs to have a procedure done. The connection has significantly improved his emotional wellbeing.
As Riley navigates the daily challenges of living with cystic fibrosis, Starlight Gaming creates happiness for him and helps him feel better. By building stronger bonds with family and making new friends, Riley finds a community to support him through treatments.
More than 40% of children in the U.S. live with at least one chronic illness. You can make a difference by providing seriously ill children with the healing power of play in one of the most trying times of their lives.
Donate to Starlight now.
