Review
Exceptional Parent Magazine - JUNE 2007
LEISURE AND RECREATION
Reviewed by Calvin and Tricia Luker
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.
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.
Education Video Online
Walk Your Way to Fitness; Work Out with Sonny & Pedro!
Reviewed by Debra Ennen, Maple River Schools, Mapleton, MN
Colorful packaging depicting individuals with mental disabilities exercising holds this easily navigable set of 3 DVDs and 1 CD-ROM. Both begin with an exercise readiness survey consisting of nine health questions and reminders to check with a doctor before beginning the program.
The instructors are Coach Karen, and Walking Coaches Shawn and Ernie, with their segments introduced by animated figures Sonny and Pedro. These coaches look like ordinary folks, not bodybuilding trainers like some videos feature, which should make it much more accessible. The instructors are shown in front of actual classes, with disabled students of varying ages attired in casual exercise apparel, again for a more realistic, comfortable approach. The exercise room is not cluttered with unnecessary items so there are no distractions to the lesson, though the students are colorfully dressed, so it is appealing to the eye, again making it highly appropriate for disabled students. The exercises are nicely paced, beginning with a stretching warm up, ending with a cool down, and become increasingly more difficult as the DVD progresses.
All the movements for each section are simple, accessible and repetitive. The CD-ROM contains 80 full color printable worksheets to enhance the lessons. The sets of 9 lessons are perfect for using in a school setting with typically 9 week quarters. This set holds lots of promise for both adaptive physical education instructors and classroom teachers of students with intellectual disabilities.
Highly Recommended!
