Recreational Activities

Recreational activities include a wide array of different activities and outings in which clients can choose to participate, each one having a therapeutic value and purpose, and an intent on fostering a higher quality of life.

The following uncomprehensive list was developed by Origami's treatment team as a small example of how recreational activities assist with supporting the goals established and implemented in one-on-one therapy sessions.

Outside Support Groups

•  Education for client and family on the specific deficit(s), coping strategies, and stress management.

•  Establishing interests and values within the group.

•  Social Interaction Skills: ability to appropriately listen and interact with group members.

•  Public Speaking: To have the opportunity to express individual thoughts and ideas to an unfamiliar group.

•  Self-Expression: ability to express individual ideas and thoughts.

•  Auditory Comprehension: comprehension of material presented by reviewing a few main points.

•  Pragmatics: appropriate social interaction.

•  To increase awareness of environment.

•  To increase awareness of self and others.

•  To establish an appropriate means of communication with team members.

•  To interact with individuals.

•  To initiate spontaneous interaction.

•  To demonstrate an awareness of one’s deficits

•  To increase attention.

•  To increase concentration.

•  To increase attention span of attention to a task.

•  To increase appropriate behavior.

•  To increase interpersonal competency regarding the needs of others.

•  To correct knowledge deficits.

•  To enlist support from family/significant others.

•  To plan for discharge care and services.

Trail Walks

•  Dynamic Balance: Ability to maintain balance while walking on various surfaces and effectively avoiding environmental barriers along the path.

•  Visual Attention: Ability to attend to the environment visually to avoid branches, stumps, etc. along path.

•  Endurance: improving ability to walk a good distance before fatiguing.

•  Orientation: Ability to maintain orientation to location and remember directions to get back to starting point, leading others through the woods.

•  Following Directions: able to follow directions and/or map to get to desired location.

•  Strengthening: Overall strengthening of the bilateral lower extremities, hip and pelvic musculature is improved by walking especially on uneven and undulating surfaces.

•  Coordination: Each client's coordination will be challenged by having to negotiate walking on uneven surfaces, stepping over objects in the way, and, if applicable, using a walking device.

•  Verbal Expression: demonstrating word retrieval for items they recognize in the woods.

•  Auditory Comprehension: following directions given by others.

•  Demonstrate safe/appropriate problem solving/judgement.

•  Using recreational therapy to learn new coping strategies and diversional activities.

•  Increases awareness of environment.

Bowling

•  Endurance: Ability to complete one full bowling game before fatiguing.

•  Tactile-Kinesthetic Perceptual Function: Ability to organize, plan, and execute movement of throwing the ball without watching the ball itself.

•  Strengthening: Strengthening of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is improved with this activity.

•  Balance: Dynamic balance is challenged by stopping and starting, lifting and carrying a bowling ball, throwing the ball, and remaining balanced during follow through.

•  Coordination: Bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity coordination is imperative in order to perform this activity.

•  Range of Motion: Active range of motion of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is accomplished through this activity.

•  Math Skills- tracking score achieved.

•  Pragmatics-Appropriate social interactions

•  Increases awareness of environment.

•  Setting realistic goals.

•  Demonstrate safe/appropriate problem solving/judgement.

•  Using recreation as a coping strategy and diversional activity.

Board & Card Games/Outdoor Games

•  Planning: planning a game according to number of participants and time allotted.

•  Social Interaction/Behavior: effectively work within a team and behave appropriately.

•  Fine Motor Coordination: manipulate small game pieces.

•  Following Directions: follow game directions and rules.

•  Shifting Attention: Maintain participation in game while interacting with team members.

•  Iincrease awareness of self and others.

•  Respond with purposeful words or gestures.

•  Establish an appropriate means of communication with team members.

•  Maintain arousal/alertness

•  Interact with individuals.

•  Manage emotions and control disinhibition.

•  Initiate spontaneous interaction.

•  Demonstrate as awareness of one’s deficits.

•  Use recreation as a healthy coping strategy

•  Auditory Comprehension: Follow directions and statements made regarding the progression of the game to remain on topic.

•  Reading Comprehension: Read instructions and share with others.

•  Verbal Expression: Express oneself clearly during the game.

•  Pragmatics: Remain on topic, take turns appropriately and interact with others.

•  Team Work: Demonstrate the ability to work as a group for a common goal.

•  Sportsmanship: Demonstrate a positive attitude and acceptance of winning and losing appropriately.

The following are samples of games focused on strengthening, coordination, balance, endurance, fine and gross motor skills:

•  Volleyball

•  Basketball

•  Frisbee Golf

•  Hitting Golf Balls

•  Four Square

•  Bocce

•  Bicycling