Six children’s hospitals were selected to receive grants from Mattel Inc., totaling in $67,500 for programs that integrate adaptive play and provide sensory distraction as a means to facilitate therapeutic treatment. The Mattel Grants Program is in its fourth year and has awarded more than 30 grants totaling nearly $450,000 through its partnership with the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).
Therapeutic play, specialized activities that developmentally support and facilitate the emotional well-being of a pediatric patient, is not reimbursed by public or private insurance programs. Studies have shown that therapeutic play can relieve the anxiety and stress of children undergoing medical procedures.
In addition to the Mattel Play Grants Program, the Mattel Children’s Foundation and Mattel has helped create positive healing environments by delivering more than 650,000 toys valued at $6.5 million to pediatric patients at children’s hospitals since 2005.
