Parents everywhere know the value of play and recreation in family life. We all try to create opportunities for our kids to have fun. In fact, we all now recognize that play is the primary learning device for infants and toddlers. Play is the primary way that kids build friendships and relationships with each other and learn how to interact with their peers and their environment. For this month, we have selected several DVDs and books that focus on play, leisure and recreation for kids with disabilities. 

 

A word on leisure and recreation books and DVDs in general . . . we are impressed with the number of products in the EP Bookstore that address children and play activities. We all remember playing as kids. Who needs a book/DVD to tell us how to play with our kids?   

 

Actually, the area of play, leisure and recreation has become quite sophisticated. Special education laws require schools to consider a child’s recreational needs as part of educational and transitional planning. Play affords significant opportunities for inclusive and instructional activities for kids with and without disabilities. There also is the need to be able to adjust or restructure play activities to meet the needs of children who have specific physical or cognitive impairments. Fortunately, parents and others seeking materials on leisure and recreation have a wealth of resources from which to choose. Here are a few of our favorites.

 

“Leisure Works! Expanding Options for People with Developmental Disabilities” by Martin Sheehan, Elizabeth Thorin and Brion Marquez is fabulous for its structure and content. This combination DVD and workbook blends visual and paperwork activities to help parents and kids understand what leisure is, how to choose leisure activities a child likes and how to engage in the leisure activities for maximum benefit. Leisure Works! gives information on the benefits of leisure including mental, physical, emotional and social. We like everything about this book. We learned something about leisure for ourselves. The format is so easy to use that you do not realize how much information and material is packed into each lesson. We enthusiastically award the EP Symbol of Excellence to this book/DVD combination!

 

The IRIS Media Inc., who published Leisure Works! also produced two other DVD resources we think are excellent resources. Walk Your Way to Fitness: Walk, Workout, Be Active for People with Intellectual Disabilities” is a 3 DVD disk collection that gives video lessons on walking; provides fun workouts to develop strength and flexibility; and a disc which provides PDF forms to use to help a child develop his or her own personalized activity book. “Workout with Sonny and Pedro: Walk, Dance and Stretch Your Way to Fitness” is a one DVD activity disc that provides 9 separate beginner and intermediate workouts to develop aerobic strength, flexibility and fitness.   The DVD includes three walking, three strength and flexibility and three dance workouts. 

 

These programs were awarded the Symbol of Excellence from Exception Parent Magazine