18 July 2025
We believe in the power of play to support a child’s development, aid communication and make memories.
By focusing on what a child can do, rather than any perceived limitations, our Specialist Play Team will support a child to reach developmental milestones, express themselves and explore the world around them.
Meet Vikki, our Play Specialist
Vikki has been working at Noah’s Ark for nearly 14 years and founded our award-winning Specialist Play provision. She says:
“It’s my role to offer structured, focused specialist play sessions for children and their siblings. What those sessions look like depends on the reason for referral, which can be everything from communication to development.”
Vikki says that for the families of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, play is a voyage of discovery. She says:
“A lot of parents don’t really know what their child can do or what they like, so we teach them and show them what signs and responses to look for. Sometimes the parents look at us when we’re working with their children like they’ve seen their child being a child for the first time, it’s immense.”
Opening a World of Communication
Vikki uses different types of communication systems to help non-verbal children communicate, express preference, and understand and demonstrate cause and effect.
One of the main pieces of technology that Vikki uses is ‘Eye Gaze;’ a computer system that uses children’s eye movement to indicate choice. Vikki also uses Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) cards that use pictures and symbols, and ‘Makaton’ which uses signs, symbols, and speech. These tools enable children to express what they want to play, when or even if they want to play at all.
One child was only ever able to create art using the hand-over-hand technique but then made a picture for her mum using Eyegaze through her own choices and without assistance. Vikki says:
“It was a massive moment for her mum because she’d never done that before."
A Space for Play
“Some children really know what’s happening to them and play is a space for them to explore their feelings and emotions. We also get referrals for siblings as it’s difficult for them too when their parents’ worlds are full of medical appointments. We offer siblings a space that’s just for them.”
The sessions take place anywhere, wherever the family needs support. Vikki says:
“We follow the children around; some come to The Ark and we go to their home, school or even hospital.”
A common perception of Specialist Play is it’s a medical distraction when a child is preparing for surgery or a procedure. Vikki says:
“We see little of that really, our focus is around a child’s feelings and supporting them in what they’re going through.”
Vikki says that play is essential for children to unpick their feelings:
“Play is transportation – it could be to leave memories behind or to get to the next development stage. It’s about how they grow, learn, and understand the world around them. We spend a lot of time playing hospitals because that is the area of trauma for a lot of children and for them to be able to make sense of it through play really makes a difference.”
“Some of our children are expected to understand complex situations so play can help. And it works as a distraction, for one hour to be in a magical place where they have control and feel empowered – that’s powerful.”
You can find out more about our Play Specialist service here.
