Recreation+and+Leisure


 * =Recreation and Leisure =

What is recreation in a school setting?

According to dictionary.com recreation actually means "to make anew." Of course this is as in, ,**re-cre·a·tion** but this can also apply to how bringing fun back into the classroom can help "re-create," and make a classroom feel new to students. The recreation referred to in school context actually means **rec·re·a·tion,** a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment. It's important to have this incorporated into a classroom setting. Because schools are relying so much on teaching standardized testing, it's easy for students to feel bored and distracted. Recreation is important in school to keep students focused and allow them to get up and move around.

At home, recreation is equally important. Most students spend their days sitting at a desk, with little to no time spent having recreational fun. Parents should encourage children to take time to enjoy themselves when they get home from school, rather than throwing them back towards books to complete homework. Certainly, a balance is necessary, but if a student is always involved with sitting and doing work, they'll quickly become frustrated.

When it comes to having a child with a disabilty, Occupational Therapists are very important to involve in the decisions made for that child. OT professionals are constantly learning about new toys, games, and fun technology tools that children can use during the school day. School can be very exhausting for students, so incorporating in some "down-time" in order for them to relax is key to keeping a child focused throughout their day. They need breaks once in a while! Here are some tools OT professionals suggest for students with disabilities to have recreation in school, while still learning.

[|OT tools and toys!]



There are many times when some students finish projects or assignments before the rest of the class is finished. It's important to have recreational, yet educational, games on hand for students to refer to. This free time should be made useful and sometimes, students simply need a break from classwork and want to play some games. Look at the video posted below to get some ideas for what to do with a class that can be fun and educational.

media type="youtube" key="YtiqsvQj0Gg" height="349" width="560" align="center"

Children with special needs should also be encouraged to pursue their dreams. Many students with disabilities enjoy playing sports and participating in recreational activities. Some schools have even adapted sports teams, such as wheelchair basketball. The students in the following video learned the values of doing what they love to do and they have built strong bonds because of it. (Gargiulo)

media type="youtube" key="F7VlpN7biyc" height="349" width="560" align="center"

If your child or your student is interested in athletics, look at the official site for the Special Olympics. [|Click Here!]

Children who are disabled should not be excluded from recreational games. Many toys can be operated with the use of a switch. Televisions and radios can even be programmed with the use of a switch. Computer games can often be accessed using joysticks or other input devices. Card games or board games may require the use of a simple device to hold the cards or a dice holder. Here is a great site for recreational toys for children with disabilities. [|Toys for children with disabilities]

According to WATI, the following is a list students can be assessed for during an assistive technology assessment. -toys, puzzles, balls, utensils, instruments, adjustable equipment -specially designed equipment electronically/mechanically adapted equipement -electronic aids- remote controls, times, CD players, speech generating devices -computer facilitated and computer based activities -online and virtual recreational experiences

Referernces Gargiulo, R. M. (2009). //Special education in contemporary society: an introduction to exceptionality// (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. OTA Watertown. (2008). Occupational Therapy Games & Activity List 2008-2009. //South Shore Therapies//, //2008.// WATI assistive technology assessment checklist. (n.d.). //WATI.org : Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative//. Retrieved May 1, 2011, from http://wati.org