Objective:

To discuss humanised care in paediatric oncology, understanding the perception and application of the game by the nursing team.

Methods:

This was a qualitative study carried out with 13 professionals from the nursing team of a Brazilian oncology hospital. The data was collected from October 2017 to February 2018, through an interview script.

Results:

Three categories were developed: the meaning of care in paediatric oncology for the nursing team, perception of play for the nursing team in the care of children with cancer and strategies that contribute to the application of play in care. The latter indicated that play is an important tool that promotes communication, allows the expression of feelings and allows the rescue of the child's world.

Conclusion:

Nursing professionals perceive the importance of the use of playful strategies in paediatric oncology care, since they allow the approach of children to the child's world. For this purpose, the importance of the use of light and hard technologies in the care was evidenced, allowing the exercise of humanization.