Respite Activities for Kids

Respite care offers sports, crafts, games and vocational and educational activities.

Stress can be severe for parents of children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders, according to the Regional Research Institute for Human Services at Portland State University. Respite care allows parents and caregivers of special-needs children to take a break while trained specialists provide the children with activities to build skills for development. Respite activities, including sports, crafts, games and vocational and educational learning, are taught at a slow pace with hands-on training.

Camp

Respite camps provide recreational activities and the opportunity for special-needs children to interact with other children with similar circumstances. Respite camp activities include games, crafts and sports. An example of a respite camp is Easter Seals, which has camps in more than 140 locations in the U.S. and enrolls children as young as 3 years old. The American Camp Association has concluded that children experience significant growth in self-esteem, independence, friendship skills, social comfort, peer relationships, adventure and environmental awareness while attending respite camps, according to the Easter Seals website.

School

Public schools offer special education classes for special-needs children. Schools administer special-needs students with supplies, financial resources, time, energy and expertise that parents and caregivers may not be able to provide. Educational activities vary depending on the age and severity of the student’s disorder, but typically include visual, hands-on learning of life skills and basic literacy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

After School

After-school respite care gives special-needs children access to extracurricular activities, social interaction with other children and vocational instruction that can result in future employment. The care centers also offer homework assistance and additional education classes. The programs are helpful for families that do not have an adult at home to supervise children after school.

In-home Care

While in-home care is an expensive option for respite care, it is convenient and beneficial for both special-needs children and their parents or caregivers because children are not taken out of their environment, according to the Regional Research Institute for Human Services. Qualified caregivers are interviewed by family members, and provide care on an hourly, daily or overnight basis. In-home care activities include helping children with school work, as well as reading and playing games with them.

References

• Easter Seals Disability Services: Welcome
• Regional Research Institute for Human Services: Respite Care for Children with Serious Emotional Disorders and Their Families; Fall 2001
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Teachers-Special Education; May 2010
• Mayors Youth Empowerment Program: Respite Care Program
• Easter Seals: Camp and Recreation Without Barriers for Children and Adults with Disabilities