Brilliant initiative of an American foundation: to bring a game console in pediatric wards in the United States.
A Nintendo Switch to brighten the time spent by sick children in hospitals, during the periods of hospitalization and treatment. This is the result of the commitment of the Japanese giant of video games Nintendo and Starlight Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization in stars and stripes, for the welfare of young patients.
The new gaming station is particularly important to allow young patients to get out, at least with the mind, from the four walls of their room, especially in a period governed by the harsh restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Less stress and more distractions, as well as emotional support, easily translate into a calmer, more relaxed state of mind as well as lower levels of stress and anxiety, which are essential during such crucial times as those of administering the treatments children undergo daily in hospitals.
Nintendo Switch, the games available to children
In order to allow children to spend a few hours of fun and serenity through the use of the game console of the Japanese house, Starlight has chosen to load 25 titles among the most loved by players around the globe.
These are blockbuster names of the caliber of Super Mario Party, Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, all three of which were particularly popular with the latter winning Game of the Year at the 2017 Game Awards.
Nintendo Switch for sick children: 7,200 consoles
For Nintendo and Starlight Children's Foundation, this is not new but, rather, the 28th year of collaboration. During almost three decades of partnership, more than 7200 gaming stations have been delivered to more than 800 hospitals and health facilities, completely dedicated to the entertainment of sick children, easy to clean, disinfect and transport from room to room.
Realized following strict protocols to protect the health of the youngest, the stations allow hospitalized children to have fun through the many challenges represented by the many games preloaded on the game consoles and, therefore, ready to use.
This becomes an even more important role especially in a period like the present, where the precautions due to the containment of the pandemic have seen the closure of many rooms dedicated to the game within the wards of pediatric wards, to protect the health but at the expense of the need for recreation and lightness needed by young patients.