Objective: To evaluate the behavior of children before and after a therapeutic play session. Methods: A quantitative and descriptive study was carried out in a major hospital of the city of Santos, State of São Paulo, involving 30 preschool children recently admitted to a pediatric ward. A behavior scale was applied before and after a therapeutic play session. This scale comprises six categories: moving, gazing, expressing feelings, talking, playing, and not responding to stimuli or requests.

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... ch category is scored from 1 to 3, the lowest score representing the least interaction. Results: Before therapeutic play sessions, children showed no interest and were scored 1 and 2: moving parts of their bodies and expressing emotions, such as seriousness, and gazing rapidly to a place as if expecting something. After therapeutic play, the children progressed to level 3: changing position, moving with a purpose, observing attentively to what they saw, and expressing emotions such as joy. Conclusion: Children interact well with the toys, representing home and hospital situations, and expressing feelings of anger and love. We also observed that therapeutic play improved the interactions of children with this new situation, making it easier for them to accept treatment and perceiving hospitalization as less aggressive and painful.