Aren’t these bed covers amazing? They’re the brainchild of North Carolina dad Kevin Gatlin, who wanted children in hospital to still be able to have fun, despite being stuck in bed. These board game bed sheets transform hospital stays for sick children and bring a bit of joy to what can be a sad or scary experience.
Designed to break the monotony and boredom of a hospital stay, Gatlin’s interactive board game bed sheets are genius. They can be played right there in the bed, using paper or token ‘pieces’ instead of the real thing, so no extra equipment is needed.
Nurses, doctors, play therapists and parents have all celebrated the idea, with the bright, cheerful colours alone lifting a child’s mood while in hospital.
The playfulness of such a simple solution is also a great tool for easing the fear many children feel while they undergo tests, treatment, and time away from family and friends.
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Who Wouldn’t Want Board Game Bed Sheets?
From word searches and mazes to checkers and foreign language phrases, board game bed sheets are also available for parents to buy for use at home.
We love that the sets are designed with fun in mind – each one comes with a washable marker so kids can complete a word search or play tic-tac-toe right on the sheet. Even the pillows are creative, with story prompts and ideas to help children build their own bedtime story.
Gatlin, from Charlotte, North Carolina, spent two years fine-tuning the concept, working with teachers and experts to get the educational side right. He went on to create Playtime Edventures, where his board game bed sheets and accessories can be bought.
Take a look at this WCNC news interview to hear what Kevin had to say:
Playtime Edventures also offers the option to donate a bed set, helping deliver this simple but effective entertainment to children’s hospitals, hospices, women and children’s shelters, and international relief organisations around the world. When donating, you can often choose to support a specific hospital (US only) or one of the wider organisations Playtime Edventures partners with.
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What Do You Think?
What do you make of these board game bed sheets? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
FAQ
Who invented the board game bed sheets?
They were created by Kevin Gatlin, a dad from Charlotte, North Carolina, who spent two years developing the idea with input from teachers and education experts before launching Playtime Edventures.
Can board game bed sheets be used at home, not just in hospital?
Yes. The sets are sold for home use too, and come with washable markers so children can play games like word searches or tic-tac-toe directly on the sheet.
Do you need extra pieces or equipment to play?
No. The games are designed to be played with paper or token pieces if the real game pieces aren’t available, so they work well even in a hospital bed.
Can I donate a set to a hospital or shelter?
Yes, Playtime Edventures offers a donation option, sending sets to children’s hospitals, hospices, women and children’s shelters, and international relief organisations.
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