Course Description
The purpose of this course is to enable students to acquire knowledge about human growth and development and to appreciate diversity in children, specifically the impact disabling conditions may have on developmental needs of childhood and adolescence. Therapeutic Recreation interventions and physical activities, activity selection, analysis and adaptation will be applied in meeting the diverse needs of children and adolescence.
Course Content
Growth and Development Changes in the Child and Adolescent
- knowledge of physical changes
- knowledge of physiological systems
- knowledge of psychosocial theories of growth and development
- knowledge of cognitive theories of growth and development
- knowledge of epigenetic theory
Social Structures
- social systems theory: The Ecological Model
- leisure and recreation systems
Diversity
- changes and its impact on the child and adolescent
- understanding losses and grief in the child/adolescent’s life
- stress and its management
- disabling conditions: autism, mental retardation, fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities
- child maltreatment: abuse and neglect
Leisure
- the health benefits and the value of leisure
- the role of leisure in the health of the child
- overcoming losses, physical, social and emotional health, social support networks
Therapeutic Recreation Interventions
- basic helping skills
- non verbal (augmentative) communication
- behaviour management practices, including behaviour modification
- physical recreation activities
- sensory stimulation
- the value of play
Therapeutic Recreation Frameworks and Strategies to Solve Problems
- activity analysis
- activity selection
- activity adaptation
- creative problem solving
Leadership
- physical activity session planning
- school age physical recreation activities
Learning Activities
- Lecture/discussion
- Community experiences
- Recreation session planning
- Media
Means of Assessment
Evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Course Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
This is a graded course.
Learning Outcomes
The student will
- understand the growth and development changes in the child and adolescent
- explore the role of social structures within multiple perspectives as they relate to the child and adolescent
- understand and respect diversity in the child and adolescent with particular emphasis on understanding common disabilities a child or adolescent may experience
- apply the leisure perspective to the health promotion of the child
- apply a variety of interventions appropriate for therapeutic recreation
- select/design appropriate frameworks and strategies to solve problems
- apply effective group process and leadership techniques within a physical activity context
Textbook Materials
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
Resources include:
- selected readings from a variety of therapeutic recreation practice textbooks
- selected audio-visual and computer resources
- selected readings from the books and journals
- Therapeutic Recreation fine arts, adaptive equipment and supplies