Therapeutical playing as a care practice for children victims of domestic violence

Abstract

In Brazil the levels of child abuse are alarming. Violence upon children might result in physical and psychological consequences, which produce an acute and/or chronic profile, thus leaving irreparable damage. Nursing is challenged to fill the essential role of providing care for children who have been abused. With that, one realizes the need for increased knowledge that supports nursing professionals in their care for child victims of violence, not only in the hospital environment, but also in other aspects of nursing care. With this in mind, Nursing can count on an essential instrument of care for abused children, the therapeutic toy and therapeutic playing. Thus, the objective of this theoretical reflection consists in outlining therapeutic playing as a care practice in Nursing for institutionalized children who are victims of abuse and/or violence. Therapeutic playing helps the child to develop their capacity to relate with the caregiver and their surroundings, permitting the child to not only play, but also show their feelings and anxieties about the realities of their victimization.