To play, is children’s main occupation. Play is a powerful energy. Studies have shown that play is a key coping strategy for pre-school-aged children in hospitals. Play can be used to help prepare children for procedures, to help them cope with the hospital environment, and to give them agency over decisions about themselves and their treatment. Play in the medical environment can seem incongruent when there are many incredibly serious procedures and processes to attend to; but play is serious. Play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as well as social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development.Play specialists, are qualified, registered and regulated children’s healthcare practitioners. They ensure that children are given respect, dignity and quality of care and a voice within medical procedures and processes. A multidisciplinary team can collaborate to advocate for and support children undergoing a procedure, with some playful techniques. We will demonstrate accessible, practical approaches and will explore why they are effective. Attendees will learn methods to give children and young people access to the energy of play through reasonable choices, ways to express themselves and a little bit of silliness.