FAMILIES supported by TY Hafan enjoyed a day filled with bubble making, bug catching and den-building to mark National Play Day last Wednesday, August 6.

There was plenty of fun and laughter at the hospice in Sully, as life-limited children and their siblings took part in several outdoor activities including sky walking – an activity using mirrors to reflect images of the sky.

Specialist play workers also delivered story-massage and wheelchair art sessions for families after they enjoyed spending time in Ty Hafan’s new state-of-the-art playground complete with swings, a race track and wheelchair trampoline.

Dong Luo’s three-year-old daughter, Carol, was one of many children who enjoyed the Outdoor Play Day.

Carol, from Cardiff, suffers from Congenital Central Hypoventilation and was referred to Ty Hafan when she was eight months old.

Carol and her family received short break care at the hospice when she was a baby and have been enjoying day care sessions at the hospice ever since.

Mrs Luo said: “Carol was so excited when we told her we were going to Ty Hafan for the day. It has been a fantastic day and all the kids have had such fun. Play is really important for Carol and the staff at Ty Hafan are really good at knowing what activities suit her individual needs.”

Hannah Williams, Ty Hafan’s Care Services Team Leader, said: “Not only was the day lots of fun, but it was also a great opportunity to give our families the confidence to try new and different types of play which they may not have experienced before. Our approach to play is not focussed on what a child cannot do, instead, we encourage them to discover what they can do.

"Play is a right for every child and is important in helping a child to express themselves and reach their full potential. We are so pleased that everyone had such a fantastic time at our National Play Day event.”

Playday is the national day for play in the UK, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. As well as a celebration of children's right to play, National Play Day is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives.

To support Ty Hafan’s services please visit www.tyhafan.org