Play Spaces in Children's Hospitals: A Multi-Stakeholder Evaluation of Social and Emotional Outcomes

International Journal of Play. 2026.

Твилле П. С., Mikhaylova O., Bochaver A. A.

Play is an important component of paediatric care, yet evidence on hospital playrooms across children, parents, and healthcare staff remains limited. This study evaluated a charitable foundation’s initiative establishing 17 playrooms in eight paediatric healthcare facilities in Russia. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design integrated survey data from 240 parents/legal guardians and healthcare staff, interviews with 39 children, and structured environmental assessments. Across stakeholder groups, participants described playrooms as supporting children’s emotional well-being, mood, and social interaction. Parents reported that playrooms supported their children’s adaptation to hospitalization and improved their overall impression of the healthcare organisation. Senior staff generally perceived playrooms as helping to reduce family distress, whereas junior staff more often reported that supervision, cleaning, maintenance, and day-to-day management increased their workload. Environmental assessments identified variation in accessibility, maintenance, and the availability of age-appropriate equipment. The findings indicate that the value of hospital playrooms depends not only on physical design but also on organisational capacity to maintain, supervise, and facilitate their use. The study offers practical implications for NGOs, hospital administrators, and policymakers seeking to develop sustainable play provision in paediatric care.

Keywords: emotional well-being, social interaction, mixed-methods research, hospital playrooms, paediatric healthcare, children’s right to play