A medical waiting room is often perceived as a place where time drags on interminably, especially by children. However, play areas are emerging as a breath of fresh air in these medicalized environments. They provide young patients with an opportunity for entertainment, reducing anxiety and boredom. These play areas bring a multitude of benefits, helping to make medical visits less stressful.
However, keeping these areas clean and safe is a constant challenge due to the tendency of children to get them dirty and quickly, coupled with the risk of disease transmission due to their frequent use. Here are five essential tips for managing the cleanliness and safety of these play areas. By applying these recommendations, you can maintain an engaging environment for children, while ensuring their well-being.
-
Raising hygiene awareness
The first step is to make your staff and parents aware of the importance of maintaining a hygienic environment. Playground cleanliness is crucial to children’s health and to preventing the spread of infection. Take the following precautions:
-
Installation of disinfectant dispensers
Place hydro-alcoholic disinfectant dispensers near the play area, encouraging children and their parents to clean their hands before and after each play session. The use of disinfectant is an effective way of reducing the transmission of germs. In addition, put up posters reminding everyone of the importance of regular hand-washing and respect for basic hygiene rules. Raising awareness is essential to promoting good practice.
-
Disinfectant wipes available
Provide disinfectant wipes to enable parents to clean surfaces and toys before their children use them. This initiative actively involves everyone in the cleaning process, helping to maintain a cleaner, healthier environment for all.
2. Regular maintenance planning
Effective maintenance management of your play area requires regular and rigorous planning. Establishing a consistent maintenance schedule is essential to keeping your waiting room clean and safe for everyone.
-
Daily cleaning routine
Establish a daily routine that includes meticulous cleaning of toys, surfaces and floors. It’s imperative to ensure that equipment is systematically wiped down and disinfected after each use.
-
Nettoyage en profondeur régulier
In addition to daily tasks, schedule regular deep-cleaning sessions. This includes washing hard-to-reach corners, disinfecting frequently touched areas, and replacing any worn or damaged components.
-
Toy rotation
To prolong the life of the equipment and keep children interested, consider rotating the toys available. This strategy also makes it easier to clean toys when they’re not in use.
-
Safe storage of cleaning products
Keep cleaning products securely stored, out of the reach of children, but easily accessible to staff. Make sure they are properly labeled and that staff are trained in their safe use.
3. Choose “Touchless” games
To simplify the maintenance of your waiting room play area, a clever solution is to opt for “contactless” games. Kylii Kids digital games offer non-contact alternatives that not only reduce the risk of disease transmission, but also simplify maintenance.
-
Augmented reality totem
The Augmented Reality Totem, for example, is an interactive game that uses augmented reality technology to deliver an immersive experience. The absence of physical parts to handle means there’s no risk of parts loss or contamination. What’s more, it’s easy to clean as it consists of a touch screen and a base, with no exposed mechanical components.
-
Interactive floor
Another non-contact option is the interactive floor. This technology provides a playful experience for children by projecting interactive images onto the floor, creating a dynamic play environment. With no moving parts or physical toys to clean, maintenance is greatly simplified.
4. Opt for the magic materials solution
When managing a waiting room play area, the selection of appropriate materials is of paramount importance. Opting for so-called “magic” materials can greatly facilitate maintenance while enhancing the children’s experience. It is essential that these materials are both wear-resistant and easy to clean.
-
Smooth, non-porous surfaces
Smooth, non-porous surfaces are ideal for preventing the accumulation of dirt and germs. They simplify the cleaning process, helping to maintain a hygienic environment.
-
Antimicrobial coatings
Opt for materials with invisible, permanent antimicrobial coatings, such as Liquid Guard®, which is also used in Kylii Kids interactive games. These coatings eliminate up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, ensuring a cleaner, more hygienic environment. What’s more, these materials are designed to reduce the need for frequent maintenance and parts replacement, unlike physical toys.
5. Establish clear rules
Be sure to establish clear and visible rules for the use of waiting room games. Children, as well as their parents, need to know what is expected of them in terms of behavior and cleanliness when using the equipment. Post these rules prominently near the play area for all to see. The basic rules should include cleaning hands before playing, respect for other children and equipment, and waste management. In this way, you can help maintain a clean and safe environment. Make sure the rules are simple and understandable for children of all ages, and ensure that they are followed consistently. Encourage your visitors, young and old, to respect the rules by making them feel responsible: their efforts also help to ensure a pleasant play area for all the children in your waiting room.
