Why you should read this article:

•

To recognise the importance of improving asthma knowledge among children and their families

•

To understand the potential benefits of using play to provide education about asthma

•

To consider the play interventions you could incorporate into asthma reviews and consultations

Asthma morbidity and mortality rates continue to rise, and it has been identified that many adults and children with the condition do not receive basic asthma care and education. In this article, the author details her history of severe childhood asthma and how she has used her experience to create an innovative health literacy approach for primary school-aged children called BreathChamps, with the organising principles of fun and play. The article discusses the evidence for play improving asthma health literacy in children and their families, and outlines some methods that nurses can use to provide asthma education in their practice.