Development and implementation of activities promoting human bonding and a care support system for children suffering from mental disturbance : observations made by nurses of children living in a care institution

Activities that promote human bonding together with a care support system are very important for the mental and physical development of children suffering from mental disturbances and their quality of life. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of performing activities that promote human bonding in３６children living in a care institution in Prefecture A, and examined the possibility of incorporating these activities in a care support system for children with mental disturbances.
Physical well‐being and mental well‐being are both indispensable for the healthy development of children. We spent eight weeks developing a program of activities that promote human bonding for children living in a care institution. Adult care providers led the children in activities that promote the growth and development of children including attachment with an adult and puppet play. When the activities were first conducted with the children, the３６children were indifferent, passive and depressed. After performing these activities with the children for８weeks, behavioral changes such as smiles and spontaneous actions were observed in the children, suggesting that the activities that promote human bonding led to emotional, behavioral and social growth. Moreover, a request for continuation of activities promoting human bonding was submitted by local inhabitants（volunteers, Local Social Welfare Agency, and the Director of care institution）, and thus the necessity of a care system for children suffering from mental disturbances was confirmed. Access to specialists through local networks for children in institutions will allow regional social welfare agencies, members of the community, and health care professionals such as nurses, to help these children to overcome their mental disturbance. Our results suggest that activities that promote human bonding should be incorporated in the support system for children with mental disturbances.