Abstract
Objective: To understand the meaning of illness from the child's perspective during his stay in an emergency care unit. Methods: Exploratory and descriptive research with a qualitative approach done to 17 children aged six to twelve years attended at an emergency care unit in the Midwest region of Minas Gerais, from August to December 2019. The instruments used to collect were semi-structured interviews anchored in the application of the dramatic therapeutic toy. Results: Children attributed meanings to the illness condition, expressed sadness, suffering, pain and apprehension against the procedures; the experience through the therapeutic toy induced catharsis, highlighting the symbolism in relation to being sick and the pediatric environment, as something threatening. Conclusion: The results contribute to the understanding of how children see the disease, hospitalization and invasive procedures, highlighting the fear related to the environment and professionals, reinforcing the importance of extended and multiprofessional listening, besides the use of therapeutic toys in the nurse’s professional practice.