Taking into account these times that we are living health over disease, I convey the need to promote, through play, the resilient aspects of hospitalized children and adolescents, and why not? Those who are at home due to the emotional situation they may be experiencing in these moments of quarantine, being able to face, from their possibilities and strengths, the illness they may suffer, physically or emotionally.
It is here that as Hospital Clowns, as enablers of a different space within the hospital, community and / or family context, having a relevant role in terms of health (understood from bio-psycho-social aspects), we are creators of absent the condition presented by children, adolescents and / or adults; to transform them into an imaginary world that makes them feel healthy beyond their illness or discomfort.
When entering a pediatric hospital we do not find sick children or adults, but struggling children or adults who are suffering from an absence of well-being, who are going through a difficult time and who broke with their usual moments and those of their family, thus generating , a series of fears that because it is a new situation may involve an emotional game already warned.
And this is where Hospital Clowns come in, offering complete attention to the health needs of hospitalized patients and their companions, taking into account both the physical aspects of illness and hospitalization, as well as the emotional derivations that these processes may generate, both for children, youth and / or adults and their families.
I refer to the state of Resilience as the capacity of each individual to face, overcome and strengthen or transform themselves through lived experiences of adversity, and I point that out because each one of us has lived it at some point. What do I tell you ...
Under normal conditions, a healthy child is able to play properly, and through play, a child can be healthy thanks to his ability to play, subjectively modified from the beginning of his life. And it is then, within hospitals where they should not be deprived during their hospitalization, not only as a necessity, but also because it is a right that has been granted to them. And not many doctors agree on that.
If you take into account this strength of the human being that is Resilience, each one manages his ship at his own discretion, he is his own captain. You can be shipwrecked in the immense ocean of adversity or simply direct it to a safe harbor, having a lot to do with an inside and outside of your Super SELF. And I call this self-esteem, initiative, humor, laughter and creativity, all present when playing, distracting or being in the child's own game, in this case…. And why not, also in the game and in stories in adults.
We are in a situation that either makes us reflect on what we are, do and have or sink in this ocean hungry for dream-hunting sharks, illusions if we don't know how to steer the ship.
Whatever the conditions, the essential activity of the child is playing, his only occupation at each moment is to be happy playing, creating, having fun inventing, something that adults have already lost in the passage of time, modifying to the liking of the society, what by birth belongs to you, to be happy. Just for worrying about getting material things to feel happy.
In the world of the hospitalized child or not, his way of understanding the world and of dominating it is simply play. While the child plays, he creates rules, develops his imagination and intelligence, reaffirms his personality, communicates and releases his feelings of anxiety (looking for quick solutions) and fear (of failing and trying again), as well as of domain and control. Children are never prepared to fail or be wrong, on the contrary, the clown of mistakes brings out the best in himself and those around him, making the moment more enjoyable and fun.
The Hospital Clown game plays a therapeutic role within the context of a hospital area or community, since the child needs to continue playing while hospitalized or in adverse conditions in society to continue growing as a human being, seeking through possibilities his best strengths of BEING. Being the game very different to play since each one gives him his own personality and creative capacity.
What if a child cannot play?
As observers it is important to consider what happens to a child who is hospitalized who cannot play or be able to identify the presence of a problem.
If a child does not play, it is not only because he is suffering from a condition, we must inquire to go beyond it, what is happening in him or his companions. This could put us to think what is happening, to be able to reach both him or his companions and promote change, from his strengths, enhancing his Resilience; and the health conditions of why he is hospitalized.
We are architects of spaces
Like brothers to the work, (television program in D&H), we break the order of ordinary life, temporarily destroying to raise in its place, the order in a playful way, the games, the imaginary, the creative, the expression. Creating a space a space where children and companions are able to express themselves freely, achieving effective communication with others. It is here where the child can and knows how to manifest himself with total freedom. And it is for this purpose that we as Hospital Clowns make our entrance, guiding the patient and companion through play and interaction, towards a playful state, where they can express their emotions, their communication needs, thus achieving a better bond with the surrounding environment, call it a room, call it a community.
When we enter, we transform the hospital space, putting color and smiles to a gray and dark environment, thus leaving a space tailored to the child. Leaving standing, the child identifies with us because we easily give him the tools to have fun knowing that we can and we know how to play, he enters into confidence and he is a child again.
Our Clown is based on the characteristics of each child, their behavior, their way of thinking, their way of facing problems, we disobey, we rebel, we play, we are inappropriate, etc; making each child connect at each visit with a specific Clown according to their personality. It is for these characteristics that we as Hospital Clowns present ourselves as an ideal ally for children's play.
We know that our role is therapeutic and therefore, we must be aware of what happens in the game with the child or children in an unconventional room or space (I say community), observing what happens during the event of the game. If the child cannot play, we will try to guide him to a state where he can, for which we must take into account what kind of obstacles may be affecting the child at that moment.
By the very fact of being architects of fantasies, of illusions, we do not present ourselves to the child or children with a previously armed routine, our powerful tool is improvisation as a master key of creativity, and our box or support is the Clown techniques learned and developed. Filling with all kinds of stimuli the emptiness that intoxicates the fear of being in adverse conditions to well-being.
We did not displace or know the task of the health personnel regarding the child's health, we collaborated with the improvement of the same. It is for this reason that we reinforce the support of the health team that attends him regularly and that can provide us with extremely important data regarding the patient.
I reflect on the need for change
Being a Hospital Clown, I consider it a need to continue promoting and expanding (from our particular world), different play spaces for children who are hospitalized or within a community, to continue their growth process in a healthy way, in addition to being a right that is contemplated in our Constitution and that should be fulfilled in effective reality.
This is why I proudly say that to be a Hospital Clown is to be an agent of good health!