Through recreational activities, children who are unable or unwilling to react to traditional means of treatment have the opportunity to change behaviors through a different treatment approach. They have the opportunity to improve both self-confidence and self-esteem through music and art therapy. They may improve social skills and peer interactions through team sport activities. Fundamental decision-making skills and cognitive thinking are improved through cooperative games. Therapeutic Recreation helps to broaden these children’s awareness of appropriate leisure activities, in their communities, which can prevent an excess of idle time that children have used negatively in the past.

The Therapeutic Recreation program at Kemmerer Village is designed to offer children a program based on three types of recreational activities: treatment, leisure, and recreational participation. Each of these types have a target behavior upon which they focus. Recreation participation, for example, provides opportunity for independent recreational activities. This type also allows voluntary choice of participation to occur.

The Therapeutic Recreation program is based on providing each resident with the opportunity to experience personal growth by participation in three types of activity programming: treatment, leisure education and recreational participation. Treatment oriented recreational activities are the emphasis of the Recreation program and therefore comprise the bulk of activities. Residents are assigned to both group and individual activities on the basis of assessments and the individualized treatment plan developed by their clinical team (of which Therapeutic Recreation staff are members). The group and individual activities to which each resident is assigned are specifically designed to address their treatment plan goals. Leisure education activities are assigned activities, which focus on exposing the resident to new interests, as well as teaching them how to access community resources. This component also focuses on the importance of developing and maintaining positive leisure time activities throughout the resident’s life. Recreational participation activities, such as team sports or special events, allow for voluntary participation by the client. While these activities provide some of the same learning opportunities for clients as treatment and leisure activities, the emphasis is on ”just having fun”.

---

Some Of The Activities Offered:

• Team Sports -These activities work on positive peer interactions, sportsmanship, developing social skills and self-esteem, and improving anger management.

• Arts & Crafts -These activities work on following directions, coping skills, and developing self- esteem.



• Misc. Games -These activities works on peer interaction, anger management, and stress release.



• Cooking & Snacks -These activities work on independent living skills, learning to follow directions, and building self-esteem.

• Horsemanship -This activity helps the children to learn to care for animals, follow directions, and have an understanding of other living beings.