Lessons from Playing Basketball with Children at the Hospital

How Play Builds Trust, Joy, and Connection in Unexpected Places

During my residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, my days were filled with medical rounds, complex cases, and high-stakes decision-making. Hospitals are places of healing, but they can also be stressful, overwhelming, and isolating—especially for kids.

But in the middle of it all, there was a small basketball court.

One day, I found myself on that court playing a game of horse with one of my young patients. In that moment, the hospital disappeared. He wasn’t just a patient, and I wasn’t just a doctor—we were simply two people enjoying a game. The energy shifted. He smiled, I smiled. The walls of the hospital didn’t feel so rigid anymore.

This short game of basketball stuck with me—not just because it was fun, but because it fundamentally changed how I thought about play, trust, and connection.

🏀 Play Builds Trust in a Way Words Can’t

In medicine, trust between a doctor and patient is essential. But trust isn’t built just through explanations and reassurances—it’s built through shared experiences.

• That basketball game gave us a new way to connect. Instead of just being the doctor who checked his vitals, I became someone who laughed, played, and competed alongside him.

• Play can level the playing field. No white coat, no patient gown—just two people enjoying a moment together.

That trust carried over into his care. When it was time for his next treatment, I noticed he was more at ease. He knew I wasn’t just there to administer medication—I was someone who saw him beyond his diagnosis.

🤝 Play Resonates Across Generations

In that moment, our age difference didn’t matter.

• A shared game allowed us to connect in a way that transcended life stages, backgrounds, and experiences.

• The same simple act of shooting a basketball was just as meaningful to him as it was to me.

• The best public games invite different generations to play together—because shared joy isn’t age-restricted.

🌍 More Places Need a Spirit of Play

That basketball court was a rare bright spot in a hospital setting. It made me realize:

• So many spaces could benefit from play, yet so few are designed to include it.

• Public spaces, workplaces, schools, and even hospitals should embrace play as a way to build connection, trust, and joy.

• Play isn’t a luxury—it’s a fundamental part of human interaction.

🎯 Why This Inspired Me to Design Neighborhood Games

That experience shaped how I think about play as a tool for connection.

Now, my work in designing neighborhood games is driven by the same realization I had on that hospital court:

✅ Play should be accessible to all ages. It’s not just for kids—it’s for everyone.
✅ Play sparks joy in unexpected places. Whether in a hospital, a plaza, or a public square, a game can transform the feel of a space.
✅ Play builds trust and community. Shared experiences create deeper relationships—whether between doctors and patients, neighbors, or strangers in a park.

So many places fail to embrace the spirit of play. Let’s change that.

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