This is an exploratory qualitative study carried out in a hospital-school in Porto Alegre. Its purpose is to identify children's perception concerning the care received during hospitalization. Eight children, from six to twelve years of age participated in this investigation, after each person responsible for the child signed a consent form. Data was collected in the in-patient unit through in-depth interviews. Five different themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews: identification of the caretakers; children's perception of care; expression of inner feelings, description of the care received and the caretakers and perception of time. The study shows that hospitalization generates stress for the child and its family. Health care which is more appropriate and efficient minimizes the impact of hospitalization and should include the following aspects: family's and child's commitment to self-care, maintenance of family bonds and of regular activities, previous explanation of procedures to be performed respect for the child's opinions and suggestions, nursing team's availability and attention to the child's needs.
care; pediatric hospitalization; children's perceptions