| I had two great opportunities in the past month to | | | | I define life interest activities as those which require our |
| assist parents of older children with ideas and | | | | children/adults to be actively engaged in something |
| strategies to help keep their children with Down and | | | | mentally such as a leisure activity while they are |
| Prader-Willi Syndromes more fit and how to have fun | | | | standing and moving. Life interest activities do not have |
| while doing it. | | | | to be challenging in a cardiovascular or strengthening |
| The first was a training event that we put on for | | | | sort of way, but they do need to be fun and they |
| parents of children with Down Syndrome entitled, | | | | cannot include a couch or a TV. The activity does not |
| Strategies for Adults with Down Syndrome: Having | | | | have to be rigorous and they do not have to sweat. |
| Fun By Staying Fit and the second was at a clinic for | | | | This is different from hobbies and crafts which are a |
| which I provide physical therapy, for children with | | | | great back-up for rainy days. |
| Prader-Willi Syndrome. | | | | Some common examples of life interest activities that |
| What struck me in both instances is how we | | | | have been successful for many of my clients are such |
| (therapists and parents) try to inject what our idea of | | | | things as: |
| exercise is upon children with one disability or another. | | | | * shooting a game of pool |
| No wonder so many of my programs designed for | | | | * Magnetic or velcro darts |
| kids to stay fit have flopped over the years, I obviously | | | | * Air hockey |
| have been starting from the wrong place. I believe we | | | | * Lawn hockey |
| need to start by having fun and let everything else | | | | * A close-up game of Frisbee |
| follow. | | | | * Croquet |
| Before I go any further, please let me clarify the | | | | * Shooting hoops |
| population of kids and adults that I am writing about. | | | | * Racket sports (tennis, racquetball, badminton, just the |
| Somewhat older children in their early teens and | | | | hitting part not an actual game) |
| beyond, that probably do not get much organized | | | | * Golfing (either at the driving/putting/chipping range or |
| physical therapy anymore, that have established a | | | | miniature golf) |
| general level of ambulatory function, get around pretty | | | | * Slow pitch batting cage |
| well and like the rest of us could benefit from more | | | | * Bowling either traditionally or using a ramp |
| physical activity. These folks have diagnoses within a | | | | * Lawn bowling or Bocci ball |
| wide range but could include things like Down | | | | * Horseback riding |
| Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Prader-Willi | | | | * Tetherball |
| Syndrome and many, many more. | | | | * 4-square |
| The fitness profile is always unique to the person but | | | | * "Bounce-back" type activities with various balls and |
| there are many similarities between these folks that | | | | objects off walls/netting |
| can help us design fun and productive programs that | | | | * Horseshoes (the plastic more safe variety) |
| are sustainable and really work. | | | | Like with the basic fitness program I recommend |
| First in terms of organization I recommend that you | | | | making a monthly calendar where you plan out 8-12 |
| establish a monthly calendar. I have found that when | | | | days with short periods of time where you will help |
| we do things by the "month" as opposed to the | | | | your child participate in a life interest activity. Going in |
| "week" we have a much better chance at being | | | | you should realize that you will probably try some |
| successful. For example if we say that there are 30 | | | | activities that they will not like as much, but being |
| days in a month and we would like our children to be | | | | creative and trying as many as possible will help your |
| "active" for more days out of the month than they are | | | | child learn the activities that they really enjoy. The goal |
| not active, then we can simply select more than 15 | | | | long-term as I see it is to eventually find a handful of |
| days out of the month and write down what we | | | | life interest activities that motivate your child to stay |
| would like to do on those specific days. | | | | active and have fun |
| What are the components of a successful monthly | | | | Many parents ask me about hobbies and crafts and |
| fitness program for special needs kids? | | | | how they fit into my ideas about keeping older children |
| I have found that combination programs that contain | | | | more fit. Of course as a physical therapist I would like |
| both basic fitness and life interest activities are the | | | | to see the kids moving around to some degree and |
| most effective and fun. Here is how I generally set it | | | | many hobbies and crafts require sitting down. With that |
| up for families. | | | | said, your program must have contingency plans for |
| Program A: (Basic Fitness) 20-30 minutes 2-3x/week | | | | rainy days as well as when the schedule just doesn't |
| Program B: (Life Interest Activities) 20-30 minutes 2-3x | | | | go to form. Hobbies and crafts are an excellent |
| week | | | | back-up and they fit one of the main criteria which is |
| Okay, let's start with the basic fitness program. | | | | that our program does not involve a TV. |
| Program A: (Basic Fitness) 20-30 minutes 2-3x/week | | | | Another question that I get frequently is about Wii |
| 15-20 minutes cardiovascular component if possible: | | | | video games and whether or not it counts as being |
| For example, stationary bike, treadmill walking, elliptical | | | | "active." I would use the Wii sparingly mixed in with |
| machine, swimming, destination walks, hikes, and bike | | | | non-video life interest activities and make sure that the |
| rides (someplace you are going that they enjoy to give | | | | kids are moving around. If you find a game on the Wii |
| them a goal/endpoint) | | | | where your child is very active, sweating and getting a |
| 10-15 minutes of basic exercise that could include | | | | good workout (such as Wii boxing) then consider |
| stretching and general upper and lower body | | | | making that activity part of the fitness portion of the |
| strengthening exercises such as those on a circuit | | | | program |
| training regimen at a fitness center. Or it could be a | | | | The last component of your combined fitness and life |
| few exercises that a PT has given you for your child | | | | interest program that I would like to touch upon is the |
| that are helpful and up to date. | | | | use of rewards to keep your child engaged in the |
| Basic fitness programs of course can be done just | | | | program. Ideally its optimal to not use rewards and that |
| about anywhere, however I have found that when we | | | | the activity itself is the reward, however I am a realist |
| make an effort to leave our homes we are usually a | | | | and know that this is not usually the case. When using |
| bit more successful. For example going to a health | | | | rewards the first thing I like to determine is how long |
| club, community center, or day program or just out in | | | | your child can follow the program without being |
| the neighborhood. Also with most of our folks we are | | | | rewarded. Can they follow for a week and be |
| more concerned with muscular endurance and stamina | | | | rewarded on Saturday for their participation or do you |
| as opposed to short duration strength, therefore the | | | | need to reward them every day? Most children with |
| exercises should be geared toward less weight | | | | special needs that I have worked with have difficulty |
| resistance and more repetitions. | | | | following the program for an entire month without |
| So referring back to our monthly calendar if we say | | | | being rewarded. I have found most success with |
| our objective is to implement a basic fitness program | | | | determining the reward time frame and the actual |
| 2-3x/week for your child then simply select between | | | | reward first and then use stickers, stamps or |
| 8-12 days on the calendar where your child is going to | | | | something similar to keep track of each time your child |
| do "basic fitness" and of course what time of day and | | | | participates in either fitness or life interest activities. |
| where you plan on performing the program. | | | | Then you simply add up the stamps or stickers until |
| Program B: (Life Interest Activities 20-30 minutes 2-3x | | | | the reward period is complete and give them the |
| week) | | | | reward. |