Therapeutic toy and nursing assistance: integrative review

Objective: to identify the scientific production about professional practices in the application of therapeutic play and factors related to direct nursing care provided to children in the use of this tool. Method: integrative literature review. Articles presented by: title, year of publication, database, periodical of publication, level of evidence according to the Grade method, method and the approach of therapeutic play. Discussed and characterized by central themes: ludotherapy, the importance of playing, humanization in nursing care, the benefits of using these toys and the difficulties of implementing therapeutic toys. Results: the study made it possible to elucidate the importance of therapeutic toys in children's hospitalization, as well as the relevance of playing as a method of nursing intervention, of humanization, its benefits and difficulties. Conclusion: It is recommended that the literature on the subject is increasingly inserted in the continuing education of professionals working in the area and, this way, the theme can also be developed from studies during the training process of new nurses.