RE: Any Play Specialists out there??
by: hatthar - 20-02-08 09:20
Hi Andrew
I'm really glad you were told about the play specialist role during your course at Uni.
If you have any particular questions about this profession please do let me know, however here's some general stuff.
You need to be very flexable, as you can be required to do many different things throughout the day sometimes with little time to prepare.
Lots of energy, as play specialists spend much of their time on their feet and walking about on the hospital ward and to different parts of the hospital, as well as squatting down next to a children.
Lots of enthusiasm, as often parents and other professionals are not familiar with the role so you need to be able to sell the "pro's" of therapeutic play and the play specialist role.
Need to able to work with a wide variety of children of different ages and abilities. Over a period of time you may see hundards of different medical conditions and disabilities as well as possibly working with 0-16 years or even up to 19 years.
But most of the people I know who are play specialists loves it and really enjoy going to work every day!!
Hope that helps