For special needs children, recreation stands as a necessity in their daily lives. While special needs children view things differently, recreation changes the way they think, act and regulate emotions.
Children with special needs require access to recreational resources for their daily living and activities, as they offer vital health, cognitive and confidence benefits.
When communities make recreational activities more inclusive for people with special needs, it brings communities together and benefits society as a whole. Moreover, during the Recreation Camp field day, all the counselors and campers dressed up in their allotted teams- Red team, Blue team and Green team. Throughout the field day, the counselors catered to the campers’ needs by leading them through games, cheering them on and taking the bulk of the physical control of the activity. Field day activities allowed the children to move their bodies while also increasing their knowledge of everyday tasks. (Kassidy Brown)Art, a crucial part of the campers’ recreation, remains one of the children’s favorite activities. Harper, a deaf camper, loved to participate in arts and crafts. Harper created a handprint piece of art to commemorate her love for camp and what she learned during her class. Furthermore, art represents a crucial part of cultivating the minds of people with disabilities. According to Covey.org, individuals with disabilities “learn how to uniquely express themselves and build technical skills” in their daily lives through recreation. (Kassidy Brown)While this picture looks ordinary, this photograph shows how the camper Dax learned to love using technology. The recreational use of technology, such as computers, cameras, etc, in special needs kids remains vital because it teaches them how to stay connected with people and learn new concepts in relation to technology. During camp, Dax used his communication device to help others understand what he wanted. At camp, Dax developed the freedom to use technology and expressed himself by creating a picture of himself.In the activity room, special guests would occasionally come in and bring animals, balloons and different artifacts. Tuesday, Rosie the pony visited the recreation center. In the 30 minutes, campers could pet the horse, ask questions and see how the pony interacted with others. This photograph shows a camper named Jade who learned comfort through interacting with and petting the horse. She then asked insightful questions about the animal and said that she enjoyed them. This example illustrates how Jade learned new information while enjoying herself in the process. (Kassidy Brown)Kassidy BrownAnother example of recreation at the camp took place at the water park. In July, the campers swam at the water park. The water park illustrates recreation as another outlet for the children to learn and experience. As the children swam, the counselors also learned things about the children. Counselors learned how the kids swim, how they like to play and if they enjoy the water. Whether facing their fear of the water slide or going around the lazy river, the campers learned different life skills they would use in their daily life. (Kassidy Brown)During July, the camp encourages the kids to dress in their Halloween costumes. Unbeknownst to counselors, the dress-up in July offered a safe haven for these kids. The multiple holiday dress-up days provided a way for the children to express themselves through their favorite characters. Through the heroism of Robin and the beauty of Barbie, the character days show their true personalities. (Kassidy Brown)Horizon baseball serves as another way the children can get outside and enjoy friendly competition. Participating in sports fosters physical activity, which improves motor skills and overall health. The team aspect encourages social interaction and encourages the children to step outside their comfort zone. “Sports can help children with special needs feel involved with others and feel part of a team. This can allow kids to feel like they’re needed and special. It also allows them to grow their skills and feel seen and loved,” magnet senior Lena Grey said. Furthermore, the inclusive environment with athletes and coaches promotes belonging and acceptance while also offering them leadership skills for life. (Kassidy Brown)This picture symbolizes the will to learn. With the camera in his hand, Conner learned by experiencing what it felt like to work as a photographer. He then took pictures of counselors and also wanted to take pictures with his friends. While this picture may seem like a quick moment in time, it represents his will to learn a new skill he never tried before. Thus, showing growth and skill. (Kassidy Brown)In the art room, the campers learned to paint their thoughts. With Disney week taking over the kids’ minds, it only seems fit to paint the campers’ favorite character — Stitch. During the magic-filled week, the art assignment became a metaphor for the campers, allowing them to paint their favorite character of their choice. “Participating in art recreation can help children with special needs develop better motor skills. The skill of art is very beneficial because, while motor skills are important, it improves other factors in their lives as well. It can also be a way to relax and unwind, as medical problems can be stressful and tiring. The stress can be relieved due to art being a very relaxed activity,” magnet senior Storey Vermillion said. (Kassidy Brown)While the bulk of the days entailed swinging on the playground or Seven Springs water park, campers experienced new places, like the game room. While the kids sat stationed in the room, the campers played video games. From Minecraft to Mario Kart, these immersive games allowed them to learn new skills, such as competition, patience and grace. (Kassidy Brown)Kassidy BrownUnited Sound is a program at North Cobb that encourages special needs kids to play string instruments. The program creates an inclusive environment for all new musicians and mentors. In this photo, Jordyn plays the cello with mentors helping around him. The club creates various adaptations to the instruments for the new musicians. At the neck of the cello, mentors placed colored tape to illustrate the different strings and notes to our new musicians. “United sound practices are designed around repetition, routine, and gentle correction. They get to work on fine motor skills, pattern recognition, listening, following instructions, and group collaborations. In United Sound, the musicians also build social confidence: making eye contact, asking questions, taking turns, and working through challenges in an important way,” magnet senior Ana Taylor said. (Kassidy Brown)The performance aspect of United Sound brings the club to fruition. The countless hours practicing after school illustrate a memory, and all one can think about is the joy the kids feel when they perform. Here, the club performs with the North Cobb Band and plays the Fight Song during a football game. The club not only allows the new musicians to face their fears, but it also prepares them for life. As does all recreation in their life. “You don’t know what individuals can do if they don’t have the opportunities. The opportunity to have access to extracurricular activities is very important for special needs children. In United Sound, the mentors teach students to play at their level alongside their encouraging peers,” United Sound Director Dr. Paula Bullen said. Recreation prepares special needs children with the tools to lead a happy, successful life while learning new skills and expressing themselves. (Kassidy Brown)Kassidy Brown
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