Pediatric rehabilitation with special needs, including spina bifida, brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders and other conditions were enjoyed the summer break this year with special trips to the U.S. Sailing Center and the California Flight Center.
Some patients chose to feel the wind in their hair and the splashes of the Pacific Ocean on their faces as they rode on a 42-foot sailboat with the help of the U.S. Sailing Center. Patients taught about sailboats and nautical terms used while sailing. Their private sailing tour took them through the Long Beach harbor. During their ride, the patients put their skills to use as they helped guide the sailboat through the harbor.
Glennon Stratton, program development director, U.S. Sailing Center, designed the day especially for Miller Children’s patients, who embarked on a two-hour sail with a parent or companion. The U.S. Sailing Center has been providing special events for Miller Children’s since 2003.
Later in the summer, patients go to experience the joy of becoming a pilot for the day as they attended “flight school” and took a private voyage over Long Beach with the help of the California Flight Center.
Patients were assigned to a certified flight instructor, who took them in a four-seat Cessna with a parent, caretaker or therapist. Their private tour of Long Beach departed from Long Beach Airport and included a short trip to Palos Verdes, the Queen Mary and back to the airport. During the flight, the instructor taught the patient how to keep the plane steady and how to make turns and let the patient co-pilot.
“It is so great seeing the patients outside of the clinical setting we typically see them in,” says Mariana Sena, recreational therapist at Miller Children’s. “These outings give patients a chance to connect to other kids with similar experiences and they get a chance to learn their balance and motor skills while having fun. We are thankful to the U.S. Sailing Center and the California Flight Center for giving their time to provide our patients with such wonderful activities.”
Recreational therapy uses play, recreation, and leisure activities to improve the physical, cognitive, social and emotional abilities of children and adolescents. Recreational therapists (RTs) develop care plans in an environment that is conducive with play to promote developmentally appropriate play and recreation. This helps foster a sense of normalcy, understanding and control in the child.
A Child’s Work is Play
Recreational therapists focus on the patient’s leisure time by providing a wide range of play and recreation opportunities during treatment sessions to facilitate increased independent functioning. By identifying their specific leisure and play skills, recreational therapists use their treatment plan and techniques to identify, improve and/or enhance the functional abilities and independence of children. Recreational therapy also establishes new leisure interests for continued growth and increased activity.
Therapeutic recreation may include building confidence, promoting greater self-reliance, enhancing quality of life, easing fear, learning by doing and utilizing leisure time. Interventions that may be used include adaptive leisure skills, animal assisted therapy, developmental play skills, coping/self expression to disability, community reintegration and community resources.
Community re-integration is an important part of a child’s growth. Recreation Therapists may provide leisure education and recommend programs or opportunities that are available for a child in the community.
A Collaborative Approach
Recreational therapists provide care for patients who are inpatients (hospitalized) in acute rehabilitation and general pediatrics and to children who have had a traumatic injury.
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