Meet Nitisha Majithia, Little Journey's experienced Health Play Specialist who embeds play principles into everything we do, enhancing paediatric patient experience.
Hi! I’m Nitisha, the Health Play Specialist at Little Journey. I have 17 years of play expertise and two degrees in Childhood Development and Healthcare Play. I’m passionate about using play to improve hospital experiences for children!
In my career, play has been a central theme whether it’s in early education, supporting autistic children, or volunteering overseas. My interest in healthcare grew from working with children with complex needs. Historically, healthcare services have developed their patient approaches around adults’ needs. This meant that hospital experiences for children were particularly anxiety provoking and traumatising. The introduction of play to support children through hospital procedures has transformed paediatric healthcare.
Play is a universal language that lets children:
1) Make sense of the world
2) Discover how to take considered risks
3) Learn in meaningful ways.
"As an autistic support worker, I tailored play activities to fit each child's learning style. Volunteering overseas, I found that play is a universal language that transcended language barriers."
You can learn more about the specific benefits of play in healthcare in our white paper: The Benefits of Play in Healthcare Environments.
As a Health Play Specialist - also known as a ‘Child Life Specialist’ in other parts of the world - I work with children from the newborn age to seventeen years old. I assess, prepare, and support children through their healthcare procedures using age-appropriate play activities. This preparation reduces anxiety, supports understanding, and helps obtain informed consent or co-operation.
Some of my key roles as a Health Play Specialist include:
"I’ve found that play lets children navigate emotions and understand their surroundings. It bridges the gap between treatment and engagement in their healthcare journey."
Working at Little Journey aligns with my passion for preparing and educating children before their hospital procedures. My dream is for play-centred approaches to be recognised as a global necessity for paediatric healthcare.
As a team, we conduct research through play to allow us to learn more about families challenges in healthcare settings, and what support helps them the most.
In 2024, we began hosting hospital Play Days! Members of the team visit children's wards and hospitals to run arts and craft sessions and play games.
All of our team have enhanced DBS checks. If you're interested in running a Play Day please get in touch at participate@littlejourney.health.
Alongside our Clinical Psychologists, I have developed a library of free downloadable resources to support children through healthcare experiences. They are suitable for healthcare professionals, educators, parents, and caregivers to share with children.
We offer everything from visit planners and bravery certificates to a ‘Guess the emotion’ game! These play-led materials are packed with helpful information and engaging activities for children.
Play is powerful and can have a significant, long-term impact on a child’s hospital experience. I believe in the vital role of play in supporting children's health and wellbeing, which is why I love being a health play specialist!
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