National Therapeutic Recreation Week
By Amy Tobolski

July 11 - 17 is National Therapeutic Recreation Week. The Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association states, "Therapeutic Recreation uses recreation services and leisure experiences to help people with physical, cognitive, social, or emotional limitations make the most of their lives."

"Play is the exultation of the possible."     -- Martin Buber

• Functional Intervention: to maintain/improve functional abilities, well-being, and independence
• Leisure Education: to enhance skills and attitudes toward recreation that will serve the person throughout his or her life
• Recreation Participation: to promote health and growth through leisure and recreational experiences

Recreational Therapists are concerned with the person's mental and emotional, as well as physical well-being. They can help a person reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; improve confidence and social skills; and recover basic motor and cognitive functioning.

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."     -- Plato

Therapeutic Recreation services are individualized and based upon standardized assessments, observations, medical records, and reports from caregivers, family, and the individual. They can benefit people of all ages. The techniques used by Recreational Therapists include, but are not limited to:

• Arts and Crafts
• Animal-Assisted Therapy
• Community Outings
• Dance and Movement
• Drama
• Exercise/Fitness
• Friendship
• Games
• Relaxation/Meditation
• Music
• Pain Management
• Sports
• Stress Management

Recreational Therapy is a specialized service requiring a trained professional, but at its heart is "play", something we often forget about as we become adults and take on the cares of the adult world. It's simple, really: doing things we enjoy makes us feel better! Even if you're not a trained Recreational Therapist, you can still remember to include play in your life and the lives of the people you support. As Lucia Capocchione said, "Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn't taste as good."

Information for this article was adapted from The Therapeutic Recreation Association, and The U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.