Gingerbread house makes treatment sweeter

Young patients’ visits to Geraldton Hospital’s speech and audiology department were a little cheerier this season thanks to the addition of a gingerbread house.

Children had the opportunity to have their photos taken in the new installation, which is part of the hospital’s annual Christmas window display competition.

Staff all over the hospital take part in the display to spread some holiday cheer for patients and visitors, big and small.

This year, the speech pathology and audiology department has created an interactive gingerbread house to inject some therapeutic festive fun into the waiting area.

Director of Population Health Karen Street said child development information was available at the installation.

“This includes advice about what parents can expect at each age level from zero to six years as they grow and how they can assist their child to learn through play and other activities,” she said.

“Parents can also find information on services available to support their children’s development and how they can access these.”

Ms Street said all families were welcome to visit and take a gingerbread man photo.

Speech pathology and audiology co-ordinator Aasta Abbot said play was vital for all elements of children’s development, including speech, listening and attention.

“This year staff thought we could use our window display entry to provide an opportunity for our families to interact and have some fun playing together while waiting for their appointment,” she said.

“Play has been called ‘the work of childhood’.

“Play is how children learn about the world, how to move their bodies and manipulate other objects, develop social relationships and express themselves.

There are many things parents can do at home this holiday season to support their child’s development, which can fit in with everyday family life. “Spending as little as half an hour a day with a child, talking and interacting with them, has been shown to optimise children’s language development.”

Families concerned about their child’s development can self-refer to a range of free services provided by child development services by phoning 9956 2204.