What is Play Specialists

Parenting is the practice of caring and nurturing of offspring from birth to financial independence and entails taking care of offspring throughout developmental stages that are highly differentiated in terms of needs and skills: infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, and adolescence. Throughout all these stages of development, parents and children face challenges equally. Parental stress can impact both individuals and family relationships. For instance, the hospitalisation can be stressful for both children and their parents who may experience anxiety and depression. Play may help parents handle these challenges. This chapter focuses on parenting, parental stress, and the importance of play for children and parents, with specific attention to the hospital context.