Tuesday:
We had to spend some time looking round to acquaint ourselves with facilities.
We then divided the children into roughly equal groups and ran 2 identical sessions with each group in turn.
We taught them heads shoulders knees and toes, then introduced a free play session with a choice of colouring, cutting and play dough. Within 5 - 10 minutes children became responsive and more animated. Denise then did hand printing with every child, followed by ball games. Initially the staff stood back to watch but during the tea break became very keen to use the playdough themselves. Irena showed most interest & was keen to show us some work on the wall that she had done with children. We took photos of the children busily engaged and left these on display as a reminder of what could be done, also the recipe and instructions for making more playdough.
We had hoped to talk with the staff while the children were sleeping, but they felt they had other duties.
Wednesday:
From our experience on Tuesday we revised our plans, and divided the children by age; over 8 and under 8, and worked with each group in turn.
We gave members of staff notebooks and asked them to make notes which they willingly did.
Both groups did some balloon play which they loved, and musical bumps and statues - after initial uncertainty the children loved to dance.
With the older ones we made masks, and played team games with beanbags and balloons. With the younger ones we did a textured sticking activity and a story session of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We made their hand prints into pictures of the caterpillar and the butterfly and displayed these on the wall. (We were warned that wall displays were frowned on for sanitation reasons, so used blu-tack for easy removal.)
We then spent time with Tatiana and Irena who asked us to devise a sample working plan that they could use and adapt. We left them with activities to do on Thursday when we would not be there.
Friday:
The staff had done the activities asked of them and had taken pictures to show what they had done. There was now no sign of Wednesday's masks which we had expected children to continue to play with.
We again ran the 2 age groups separately although the sessions were shorter as a staff meeting was planned for us.
We set up the free play activities which children immediately settled to without any direction, and which staff began to join in. We introduced leaf rubbings, new jigsaws and balloon team games. Again staff joined in and we were able to leave them to take over.
We then explained to the children that we had to go, but that we were leaving the equipment for them to have fun.
At the meeting, attended by Tatiana, head nurse, speech therapist, psychologist and Irena we were able to introduce the plan which consisted of a rationale stressing the importance of play as part of the treatment, and a menu board for each day comprising 3 categories: Free play, Creative and Active, with suggested activities for each with detailed instructions and suggested time-scales. This was very favourably received and detailed discussions took place between staff on how to implement it. We also suggested a play co-ordinator to be in charge.
Recommendations for the way forward:
1) Hospital to appoint a play co-ordinator     (preferably Irena)
2) Hospital to adopt a play policy, as rationale, part of treatment with brief details of what this would involve - to promote commitment
3) Irena & another member of staff possibly speech therapist to come to England & visit relevant children's facilities here for inspiration
4) Twin hospital with Mayflower or other institution with good practice
5) Budget for play equipment
6) Chernobyl Children's Project to fund a worker in hospital to support play, if necessary to be the play co-ordinator, or shared with similar institutions
7) Children to have some personal storage for things they have made or like to do eg. folders, bedside cabinets, etc.
8) Limit admission numbers to hospital, encourage day patients
9) Training for all staff in play skills
10) Support visits twice a year to maintain momentum and enthusiasm
Equipment required:
Regular supplies of paint & paper & wax crayons ( staff were worried that children might use felt tips or coloured pencils as weapons)
Glue
Scissors
Equipment for imaginative play
Construction toys
Mural paint
Balls hoops ropes etc. for outdoor play
Staff also requested:
Pampers in big size
Floor cleaners
Microwave and kettle

A butterfly of handprints now decorates the wall in the children's unit at the Psychiatric Hospital

Keith and Denise with some of the children in the Psychiatric Hospital