Sing their song = Make a Connection

Activity: Sing their song = Make a Connection

Target participant group: This activity was created for people in Dementia Care.

Therapeutic potential of this activity: Making a connection and engaging someone with Dementia hopefully is the outcome of this singing.

What other groups can benefit from this activity?: Working one on one with someone of any disability is a great aspect for anyone in the world with a disability. There really are no limitations on who can and cannot be benefited.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?: Really everyone is appropriate for this activity, but someone who has difficulties speaking may not be appropriate because they can’t really sing along. This doesn’t mean that they can’t just listen to someone singing to them.

Activity description: Singing is a great way to communicate with someone in a different way, and a great way to keep things okay between everyone when helping with personal care. It brings people out of isolation and can be an activity all in itself. Before you approach someone, make sure you know their personality and what songs mean to them, and which songs have meaning. Then you can just go about and sing along with that person and keep them engaged.

Resources needed: Only resources needed are your voice and then someone to sing with. You can have music to sing along to if wanted.

Best leadership style for this activity: Leading the sing along is the best way to lead this activity. If you don’t start the song, then more than likely they won’t start it unless they are very much engaged. Make sure that you know the songs that the person enjoys and not singing something that someone with dementia doesn’t enjoy or doesn’t know the words too.

Where did you find this activity?: I found this activity online at www.recreationtherapy.com searching though all the different activities they have on that site.

Where can others find more information on this activity?: I don’t think there is much else there is to know about this activity. Most of it is all based off of you and just singing a song that your participant enjoys.

rock painting

Activity: rock painting

Target participant group: Teenagers are a great participating group for this activity.

Therapeutic potential of this activity: Doing this activity can help relax, and increase the attention span.

What other groups may benefit from this activity?:  Younger children can benefit from rock painting, even people in a nursing home can benefit by having it a social gathering. Pretty much anyone can paint a rock and get something out of it.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?: Behavioral problems may not be the best group, but they can still benefit from it, you would just have to watch them close enough and not allow them to throw rocks at other participants.

Activity description: Give each participant a rock of any size, shape, color. Participants may have to share paint between a couple people, but allow the participants to paint whatever they would like on their rock, the possibilities are endless. Different objects can be used for painting such as paint brushes, fingers (just make sure they don’t eat paint unless it’s edible) or different objects around you. Allow the rock to dry once they are finished painting to minimize the smearing.

Resources needed: Different rocks, paint, paint brushes, news paper to not paint on the tables, any objects you would want to paint with

Best leadership style for this activity: The best thing to do is sit back and let the participant paint whatever they would like on the rock, as long as it is appropriate. If they are having a hard time thinking of an idea to get started with, you can give them suggestions that they can go off of or help them think outside the box. Make sure that everyone is safe and not eating the paint or causing trouble.

Where did you find this activity?: I got this activity from something that I have done when I was younger, and I loved being able to express myself and paint whatever I wanted.

where can others find more information on this activity?: I am sure there are a bunch of different websites on google that people can look up for more information, but the activity is pretty laid back and easy to do.

IKAN Bowling

Activity: IKAN Bowling

Target participant group: Pretty much any age group and anyone in a wheelchair can participate.

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This helps with getting to know how your wheelchair works, and is a great social gathering place.

What other groups may benefit from this activity?: Anyone else is able to benefit from bowling, and they don't have to been in a wheelchair to be able to bowl. This activity is just focusing on someone in a wheelchair, but other people with a disability can benefit from bowling also.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?: Someone with a behavioral problem may have trouble with bowling because they do have the potential to end up throwing bowling balls at someone, or causing other things to fly around the room.

Activity description: The IKAN bowler works just like an able-body bowler bowls, where they set up, approach, release, and watch the ball go down the lane. The device attaches to a power wheelchair and with the assistance of a caddy, can bowl alongside anyone else around them. The bowler can control the speed, direction, and timing of the release.

Resources needed: A power wheelchair, IKAN bowler, Universal mount, and a bowling alley are needed.

Best leadership style for this activity: Best leadership style would be to teach the bowler how to bowl using the IKAN bowler, and then just let them practice until they get the hang of it. The best way for them to get better is by practicing, and leading them in the right direction. Keep on encouraging them until they can get used to it.

Where did you find this activity?: I found this activity online at recreationtherapy.com where they have a whole bunch of different ways for therapeutic bowling. IKAN bowl is not the only one out there.

Where can others find more information on this activity?: I bet there is more information out there on IKAN bowl, especially by the makers of this equipment, ikanbowler.com.