by rachel brown intended for the recreational therapist or an individual looking for activities to...
TRANSCRIPT
Therapeutic Recreational Activities for Children with
Disabilities
By Rachel Brown
Intended for the Recreational Therapist
or an individual looking for activities to
do with disabled children!
Therapeutic Recreation: What is it?
Services and recreational activities for individuals with disabilities or illnesses
Techniques improve everyday skills with leisure activities
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos082.htm
Therapeutic Recreation in Different Settings
Healthcare:
Hospitals
Rehabilitation Centers
Long-term Residential Facilities
Community:
Park and Recreation Departments
Special Education Programs for School Districts
What Therapeutic Recreation helps overall
Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
Build confidence
Recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities
What Therapeutic Recreation Helps Overall (cont.)
Socialize effectively
Improve and maintain physical, mental, emotional well-being
Eliminate effects of disability or illness
Sports
Arts and Crafts
Dance and Movement
Music/Body Awareness
Techniques
Games
Relaxation
Animals
Techniques (cont.)
*These techniques & others can be found at:
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tractv.htm
Sports
Help regain mobility
Hand-eye coordination
Promotes physical well-being
Activity: Throwing a ball
Teach left-handed people with left-side paralysis how to use unaffected right side to throw a ball
Arts and Crafts
Way to relax, feel sense of accomplishment – self esteem booster
Maintain an alert mind – hand eye coordination, following directions
Activity: Wheelchair Painting
Spread large sheet of paper on floor
Pour paint on the sheet
Let wheelchair patients run their wheelchairs all over the paint
Sign and date!
Dance and Movement
Increase socialization skills & physical movement
Provide opportunity for independence during the activity
Express feelings
Activity: Expressional Movement
Leader says topic – descriptive words, animals, sport, etc.
Leader can say to move to the floor, shake, move slow or fast
Child has to imagine and move to what they think goes with it
Music/Body Awareness
Can incorporate playing music while learning to be aware of body
Helps because sometimes disabled children cannot distinguish different body parts
Activity: Musical Play
Have child play an instrument – in front of their bodies, down by their feet, over shoulders, etc.
Games
Learn to play games with others – if isolated or have limited social skills
Initiate and enhance communication
Have to make decisions
Activity: Bingo
Have printed Bingo cards and distribute
Call out letters/numbers
Let children mark their card until someone wins!
Relaxation
Reduce stress and tension
Stretching exercises
Proper body mechanics
Pacing and energy conservation techniques
Activity: Stimulating Relaxation
Lower lights in room/close eyes
Can turn on a lava lamp
Play calm music
With lights on, can read a book
Animals
Act as companion/able to connect
Can teach responsibility
Generates good feelings
Activity: Interaction
Setting up allotted time to play and pet animals such as cats, horses, dogs, etc.
Could go to a park to play with a dog
Therapeutic Recreation is very important for incorporating leisure activities into a disabled child’s life
Wide variety of different techniques to be used – always new ones
Fun and memorable way to interact with disabled children
In Conclusion …
The End!