LEISURE

Does your child struggle to identify activities that might interest them or have found that they have lost interests in activities they used to enjoy? Leisure activities are nonobligatory activities that are intrinsically motivating to the child and engaged in outside of school, work, or other defined times. Read more to see how OTs can help your child identify leisure activities to improve their overall wellbeing.

What will an occupational therapist do?

  • Give your child an Interest Checklist to give them an opportunity to explore different areas of interest such as arts and crafts. sports, music, and outdoor activities

  • Collaborate with your child to determine areas of strength that can be utilized during leisure activities

  • Complete an activity analysis to determine any barriers in the environment or activity that may impact the child's engagement in meaningful leisure activities

  • Collaborate with you and your child to find resources for after-school activities or community programs

  • Collaborate with the family to ensure leisure activities can be fit into their schedules by helping them to coordinate transportation, set goals, engage in role play to practice social interactions, collect needed equipment for leisure activity

The importance of leisure:

  • Finding leisure activities that your child can enjoy in their free time can enhance their overall development, academic achievements (i.e., concentration and focus), social and emotional development (i.e., self confidence and self-efficacy), and overall well-being

  • Having extra-curricular activities can improve your child’s social skills and create a sense of structure

  • Holding your child accountable for the time commitment that is required for the chosen leisure activity (daily, weekly, etc.) will enhance your child’s time management skills

  • Benefits of your child engaging in self-chosen leisure activities include: using leisure activities as a motivator to engage in nonpreferred activities, allowing the child to form healthy stress-reducing behaviors early on, and giving the child a sense of control when they can choose activities to engage in