Who is a game specialist?

Playwork is not a leisure activity or babysitting. It is professional psychosocial support for the child and family in a healthcare environment.

Co herní specialista dělá

Who is a game specialist?

Playwork is not a leisure activity or babysitting. It is professional psychosocial support for the child and family in a healthcare environment.

Historie v ČR

Brief history of the field

2015-2017

University Name

This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don't forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.

2011-2014

University Name

This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don't forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.

2007-2010

University Name

This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don't forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.

Kde v ČR působí

Playwork is not a leisure activity or babysitting. It is professional psychosocial support for the child and family in a healthcare environment.

Who is a game specialist?

Theatre for Seriously Ill Children and Their Families

At Vlaštovka, we create gentle theatre performances for seriously ill children in a specific way that always respects the child’s abilities, condition and current needs. We use sensory stimuli — visual, tactile and auditory experiences — as well as a changing atmosphere. Children are invited to take part in the story, but participation is never required.

Our performances support choice, encourage playfulness, bring distraction and, above all, offer a shared experience for the whole family.

Each performance is always presented by one actress, who brings all the necessary props and set pieces directly to your home. We can perform in an open space, such as a living room, but we are also able to play right beside the bed of a child who is lying down.

You can choose a specific performance on this page.

Duration: approximately 45 minutes, always with respect to the child’s current condition
Price: free of charge in Prague in 2026 thanks to the financial support of the City of Prague.

Book a Performance

Regular Home Visits by a Child Life Specialist

When a child is seriously ill, it can sometimes be difficult to find space for ordinary play, joy, calm or shared time. This is why a child life specialist can come directly to the child’s home.

At the beginning, we get to know the family and find out what the child enjoys, what they miss during illness, what they are afraid of, what helps them, and what the parents would like to support. Based on this, we prepare an individual child life plan — a plan for regular sessions with a clear direction, while always respecting the child’s current condition.

In home care, we mainly focus on:

Play that brings moments of “ordinary childhood”
Sensory activities that, depending on the child’s needs, can either activate or calm them
Preparation for procedures and examinations in a clear and sensitive way, appropriate to the child’s age — for example, blood tests
Practising techniques for managing fear and pain, such as distraction and breathing techniques or a coping plan
Supporting play between siblings, including between the healthy and the ill child, and supporting family communication
Sensitive memory-making, gently and respectfully — for example, creating pictures or handprints, recording the child’s voice, or capturing shared storytelling

How it Works

First, we have an introductory meeting with the family. Together, we talk about what the child needs, what feels pleasant for them, what should be avoided, and what goals the child life support should have. This is followed by seven 60-minute sessions. Each session is prepared individually, while also adapting to how the child feels on that particular day. When the child has enough energy, we can create, play or try new things. When they are tired, the session can be calmer, sensory, musical, or very gentle.

Price

In 2026, thanks to the financial support of the Vlček Family Foundation, this service is free of charge for families.

Arrange an Introductory Meeting

Theatre for Adults at the End of Life and Their Families

At Vlaštovka, we create gentle theatre performances for adults who are seriously ill, in a specific way that always respects the abilities, condition and current needs of each audience member. We use sensory stimuli, reminiscence techniques and a changing atmosphere. Audience members are invited to take part in the story, but participation is never required.

Our performances support choice, encourage activity, bring distraction and, above all, make it possible for families to share a meaningful experience together.

Each performance is always presented by one actress, who brings all the necessary props and set pieces directly to your home. We can perform in an open space, such as a living room, but we are also able to play right beside the bed.

You can choose a specific performance on this page.

Duration: approximately 45 minutes, including the performance and a natural transition into conversation
Price: free of charge in Prague in 2026 thanks to the financial support of the City of Prague.

Book a Performance

Consultations on Psychosocial Support for Pediatric Patients

Consultations focused on supporting the emotional safety of hospitalised children.

Possible consultation topics include:

preparing a child for medical procedures using language appropriate to their age and understanding,
supporting a child in coping with unpleasant or difficult procedures,
working with fear related to the hospital environment,
suitable play activities for children with a serious diagnosis,
respectful a gentle memory-making
and other related topics.

Duration: 30 minutes
Format: online
Price: free of charge

Book a Consultation

Educational Workshop for Professional Care Teams

For a group of professional caregivers, you can book an experiential workshop, which we will tailor to your needs using the following topics:

the role of play during illness in supporting optimal development, emotional safety and a sense of “ordinary childhood”
preparing children for medical procedures and supporting them in processing these experiences afterwards
distraction techniques and tools that help reduce stress, pain and anxiety
the role of a child life specialist within a multidisciplinary team
the use of play in hospice care
supporting play between siblings
creating memories with care and sensitivity

Duration: by agreement
Price: calculated according to the length of the workshop.

Request a Workshop

Playwork is not a leisure activity or babysitting. It is professional psychosocial support for the child and family in a healthcare environment.

Who is a game specialist?

Theatre for Seriously Ill Children and Their Families

At Vlaštovka, we create gentle theatre performances for seriously ill children in a specific way that always respects the child’s abilities, condition and current needs. We use sensory stimuli — visual, tactile and auditory experiences — as well as a changing atmosphere. Children are invited to take part in the story, but participation is never required.

Our performances support choice, encourage playfulness, bring distraction and, above all, offer a shared experience for the whole family.

Each performance is always presented by one actress, who brings all the necessary props and set pieces directly to your home. We can perform in an open space, such as a living room, but we are also able to play right beside the bed of a child who is lying down.

You can choose a specific performance on this page.

Duration: approximately 45 minutes, always with respect to the child’s current condition
Price: free of charge in Prague in 2026 thanks to the financial support of the City of Prague.

Book a Performance

Regular Home Visits by a Child Life Specialist

When a child is seriously ill, it can sometimes be difficult to find space for ordinary play, joy, calm or shared time. This is why a child life specialist can come directly to the child’s home.

At the beginning, we get to know the family and find out what the child enjoys, what they miss during illness, what they are afraid of, what helps them, and what the parents would like to support. Based on this, we prepare an individual child life plan — a plan for regular sessions with a clear direction, while always respecting the child’s current condition.

In home care, we mainly focus on:

Play that brings moments of “ordinary childhood”
Sensory activities that, depending on the child’s needs, can either activate or calm them
Preparation for procedures and examinations in a clear and sensitive way, appropriate to the child’s age — for example, blood tests
Practising techniques for managing fear and pain, such as distraction and breathing techniques or a coping plan
Supporting play between siblings, including between the healthy and the ill child, and supporting family communication
Sensitive memory-making, gently and respectfully — for example, creating pictures or handprints, recording the child’s voice, or capturing shared storytelling

How it Works

First, we have an introductory meeting with the family. Together, we talk about what the child needs, what feels pleasant for them, what should be avoided, and what goals the child life support should have. This is followed by seven 60-minute sessions. Each session is prepared individually, while also adapting to how the child feels on that particular day. When the child has enough energy, we can create, play or try new things. When they are tired, the session can be calmer, sensory, musical, or very gentle.

Price

In 2026, thanks to the financial support of the Vlček Family Foundation, this service is free of charge for families.

Arrange an Introductory Meeting

Who is a game specialist?

Theatre for Seriously Ill Children and Their Families

At Vlaštovka, we create gentle theatre performances for seriously ill children in a specific way that always respects the child’s abilities, condition and current needs. We use sensory stimuli — visual, tactile and auditory experiences — as well as a changing atmosphere. Children are invited to take part in the story, but participation is never required.

Our performances support choice, encourage playfulness, bring distraction and, above all, offer a shared experience for the whole family.

Each performance is always presented by one actress, who brings all the necessary props and set pieces directly to your home. We can perform in an open space, such as a living room, but we are also able to play right beside the bed of a child who is lying down.

You can choose a specific performance on this page.

Duration: approximately 45 minutes, always with respect to the child’s current condition
Price: free of charge in Prague in 2026 thanks to the financial support of the City of Prague.

Book a Performance

Regular Home Visits by a Child Life Specialist

When a child is seriously ill, it can sometimes be difficult to find space for ordinary play, joy, calm or shared time. This is why a child life specialist can come directly to the child’s home.

At the beginning, we get to know the family and find out what the child enjoys, what they miss during illness, what they are afraid of, what helps them, and what the parents would like to support. Based on this, we prepare an individual child life plan — a plan for regular sessions with a clear direction, while always respecting the child’s current condition.

In home care, we mainly focus on:

Play that brings moments of “ordinary childhood”
Sensory activities that, depending on the child’s needs, can either activate or calm them
Preparation for procedures and examinations in a clear and sensitive way, appropriate to the child’s age — for example, blood tests
Practising techniques for managing fear and pain, such as distraction and breathing techniques or a coping plan
Supporting play between siblings, including between the healthy and the ill child, and supporting family communication
Sensitive memory-making, gently and respectfully — for example, creating pictures or handprints, recording the child’s voice, or capturing shared storytelling

How it Works

First, we have an introductory meeting with the family. Together, we talk about what the child needs, what feels pleasant for them, what should be avoided, and what goals the child life support should have. This is followed by seven 60-minute sessions. Each session is prepared individually, while also adapting to how the child feels on that particular day. When the child has enough energy, we can create, play or try new things. When they are tired, the session can be calmer, sensory, musical, or very gentle.

Price

In 2026, thanks to the financial support of the Vlček Family Foundation, this service is free of charge for families.

Arrange an Introductory Meeting

Herní specialisté ve světě

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