The Positive Influence of Recreation and Leisure for Children with Disabilities
Participation in everyday activities is crucial for children’s development, well-being, and future health outcomes. However, children with disabilities often face barriers to fully engage in recreation and leisure activities. A recent study by researchers at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research* sheds light on the key factors that influence the participation of children with disabilities in these vital activities.
The Importance of Participation
The study emphasizes that participation in challenging and enjoyable recreation and leisure activities is essential for the development of children and youth, including those with disabilities. As researcher Dr. Gillian King, explains, “Participation in activities is the context in which people with disabilities, like all people, develop skills and competencies, form friendships and relationships, achieve mental and physical health, express creativity, develop a self-identity, and determine meaning and purpose in life.”
Identifying the Factors
The researchers reviewed four bodies of literature to identify the key factors for children with disabilities that influence participation in recreation and leisure activities. These factors fall into three main categories: environmental, family, and child factors. Environmental factors include the attitudes of community members, the accessibility of facilities, and the availability of programs and services. Family factors encompass the family’s recreational preferences, the parents’ employment status, and the family’s socioeconomic status. Child factors include the child’s age, gender, and severity of their disability.
Overcoming Barriers
The study highlights several barriers that can limit the participation of children with disabilities. These include attitudinal barriers, such as unwelcoming attitudes from community members, as well as social and institutional barriers. As Dr. Mary Law, another researcher on the team, notes, “Few studies have examined the conjunctive influence of environmental, family, or child factors on the participation of either adults or children with or without disabilities.” To address these barriers, the researchers emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach that considers the interplay of environmental, family, and child factors. By understanding the most important determinants of children’s participation and how these factors operate together, service providers, managers, and policymakers can develop effective interventions and design policies and programs to enhance the participation of children with disabilities.
Better Knowledge Is the Key
The study by the CanChild researchers provides valuable insights into the factors that influence the recreation and leisure participation of children with disabilities. The starting point to address this issue is to identify the key environmental, family, and child factors, as well as the barriers that limit participation. Their study lays the groundwork for developing strategies to promote the successful participation of children with disabilities in these vital activities. As the researchers conclude, “Without knowledge, based on rigorous research, about which factors are the most important in what is undoubtedly a complex set of relationships, it is difficult to plan interventions to enhance children’s participation or to design effective policies and programs on a broader, systems level.”
*King, G., Law, M., King, S., Rosenbaum, P., Kertoy, M. K., & Young, N. L. (2003). “A conceptual model of the factors affecting the recreation and leisure participation of children with disabilities.” Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 23(1), 63-90.