The work of children is to play. Young children, school-aged children, teens, and even adults need time to play and enjoy life. Sometimes, the requirements to provide physical care can overshadow the need for play. Incorporating play into your child’s life may take some thought and creativity. Play activities should be tailored to your child’s physical and mental abilities.
The youngest children are learning about cause and effect. Therefore, peekaboo works so well. Your child is learning that even if you cannot be seen, you are still there. Dropping items to the floor is another lesson in learning that things fall to the ground. Music, specifically children’s tunes, is a good stimulation and can help elevate everyone’s mood. Be sure to sing along. Even the youngest child will react to the tunes they enjoy. Making a stuffed animal dance can be delightful to a young child.
As your child ages, you will want to find activities that enhance their enjoyment and learning. If safe for your child, rolling on the floor can create opportunities for movement. Be sure their legs and feet are clothed so they do not have friction skin injury. As you can see in this photo, playing on the floor is fun for all children.
Sensory toys can help learning about different textures on their bodies. Slowly introduce these items as some may be hypersensitive to sensations on their skin or varying noises. Some children do not care for various sensations, so do not be discouraged if some textures or noises are not liked.
When your child matures, games can be added to the mix. This provides interaction with others as well as the development of strategy and logic. If needed, someone can move the game pieces as your child indicates so they can control their outcome. If there is a dice or a spinner for moves, a random number generator on the phone or computer is a fun alternative for everyone. If you have a home control device, it can provide a random number for moves.
Music can be a source of great enjoyment. Try a variety of music genres to see what your child likes. Some will be into pop and rap, but do not overlook other varieties such as classical. Children will decide their favorites when introduced to a variety of music types. Be sure to expand the musical options as your child grows into adulthood.
There are many options for assisting and adapting play. A universal cuff for the hand can assist with the movement of play items such as game board pieces, artwork, and so much more. A feeding system may help with arm movement in aspects of play. Computer programs that work with speech function can provide access to games online. Always monitor what is going on online.
For more physical involvement, strollers are available with bike pedals. When you push the stroller, the bike motion is activated. These may require adaptation with ankle-foot orthotics to hold legs in alignment. Watch your pushing speed so you are not overworking your child’s legs. As your child grows, they may enjoy a three-wheeled adaptive bike.
The community usually has options for play. This may include parks with adaptive equipment, accessible trails, horseback riding therapy, and therapeutic aquatic classes, among others. Utilize your resources in the community, public libraries, schools, and other parents to locate free or moderately priced activities.
The ideas here only scratch the surface of ideas for play. Be sure to ask your child’s healthcare professionals, therapists, nurses, recreational therapists, and child life services for more information. Review pediatric rehabilitation facilities' websites for play ideas. When first starting, thinking about adaptive play can be daunting, but once you look, you will find all sorts of creative and entertaining ideas.