This study presents a qualitative approach, and used the method of Simple Observation. It was carried out with eight children who were hospitalized in two pediatric units of a school hospital in São Paulo. Its purpose was to learn the stimulating elements for the development of a child in a hospital environment. Besides, it aimed at motivating nursing professionals to adapt the hospital environment to the child. After the analysis of the collected data, categories were organized as: stimulating objects and situations, procedures and inter-relationships. The conclusion is that the nursing team performs an important role as one of the stimulating elements in the hospitalized child care, since they are aware of this role.
Hospitalized child; Child development; Pediatric nursing