Activities for children with disabilities – different abilities
Regardless of the type of disability, there is an ideal recreational activity for the stimulation of each child. Everyone deserves to be given quality time, to be distracted, and to enjoy a pleasant time. Then, you will meet some fun activities for children with different abilities.
Children with sensory disabilities
Children with hearing impairment or deafness are very noticeable with their functional senses. They tend to respond very well to visual and colorful puzzles, and those interpretation activities.
You may want to invest in some games where they can demonstrate their skills, or simply have a board on which they can draw and make use of mimicry. In addition, family outdoor activities can be included among the options, provided they are carried out in a safe place, and that suits your needs.
In the case of children with visual or blind disabilities, sports activities are limited a little, but with some ingenuity, they can be adapted, such as forming a little train through the park or guiding to the lost treasure with instructions from “left” and “ right”.
Singing and musical instruments are also part of a recreational activity that can trigger in the child the development of a skill not yet discovered. Many of us still remember the shocking performance of the young pianist and singer Jodi Lee, at America’s Got Talent. Despite his visual disability and his autistic condition, he removed emotions with his interpretation.
Children with intellectual disabilities
Sports are one of the most beneficial games for children with intellectual disabilities, and hundreds of cases show the success they have had in the lives of many of them.
Olympic athletes such as Fernando Batista and the Rodriguez brothers have motivated many athletes to overcome any barrier that may arise.
The educational games that are carried out with each child must be adapted to their specific case. Otherwise, you could stress it, bore it, and not achieve the educational or recreational goal. The most important thing is that the little one enjoys his activity and then he can take advantage of his physical and emotional health.
Children with physical disabilities
Generally, children with physical disabilities can – and need – move at their own pace, to stay healthier.
Games like “The Sculptor” can make an afternoon with your friends an unforgettable moment. This consists of forming pairs to “create” sculptures with their bodies. One of them will move the limbs of the child, who must remain motionless for as long as possible.
On the other hand, depending on the type of disability, some physical sports can be adapted with much lighter implements. For example, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, volleyball or “The Hot Potato.”
Many children with disabilities come to develop impressive skills, such as writing, sculpture or painting. Living proof of this is little Kate, with muscular dystrophy and her collection of beautiful paintings on canvas, also young Shaysta, who suffers from a very young age a physical-motor disability caused by an accident, author of detailed drawings made with her feet.
Children with cognitive disabilities
In this case, the stimulation is mostly adjusted to the needs of the child and the objective you pursue. This does not mean that you will not enjoy it, but it is necessary to be flexible and think about how you contribute to his development in terms of learning, memory, and social interaction.
You will need some implements or tools that complement the game to achieve this stimulus. For example, a colorful memory game, simple puzzles, and toys with sounds that exercise your vocabulary and recognition of objects, shapes, animals, or feelings.
When thinking about recreational activities for children with cognitive disabilities, you should be extremely flexible and study what type of games best suits and enjoys, and which simply does not respond.
Although there may be some unfounded fears regarding raising a child with this type of disability, it is moving to see how many of them develop work skills, paint, and design in amazing ways. That is the case of Daniel and Ilse, boys with Down Syndrome, who works at Cafeteria Tres 21 Arte-Café.
Your little one can perceive the effort to make to adapt to their needs, dedicate valuable quality time, and have a fun time. Although in some cases it is difficult to express it, all this will be retrieved with tenderness and unconditional love.
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