Playing is a big part of being a kid. But for children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other physical and developmental disabilities, it can be tough to find activities that are both fun and physical.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the 麻豆原创 will host a free outdoor\u00a0event on 麻豆原创\u2019s Memory Mall to encourage physical activity in children with developmental disabilities. Physical Therapy Field Day promises to be fun for kids \u2013 and families will come away with strategies to tailor physical activities to the particular needs of their children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you reach a certain age, there are very few opportunities for children with developmental disabilities to be engaged in activities that they might like,\u201d said Jennifer Tucker,\u00a0a member of the physical therapy faculty and board-certified pediatric clinical specialist. \u201cThis event really exposes the children to activities designed just for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the second year for the event, which was created and organized by doctoral students in 麻豆原创\u2019s Physical Therapy program. Under the theme \u201cLet\u2019s Ignite! Building Better Bodies,\u201d children ages 5 to 18 will have the chance to warm up with 麻豆原创 mascot Knightro, play games and have fun.<\/p>\n
There will be activity stations for soccer, throwing, basketball, an obstacle course, and other fun stuff, including face-painting, sidewalk chalk and a parachute canopy.<\/p>\n
Each child will be paired with a buddy \u2013 a physical therapy doctoral student \u2013 who will tailor games and activities based on the child\u2019s abilities. A wheelchair-bound child, for instance, can play soccer with a bigger ball.<\/p>\n
Parents and siblings can see how they, too, can modify playtime activities to improve fitness.<\/p>\n
The day ends with a ceremony in which all the children who participate are presented with medals.<\/p>\n
About 40 children attended last year\u2019s event, and organizers hope for more this year. Also signed up are more than 70 physical therapy doctoral students, who gain valuable experience working with kids of varying abilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe students are driven to the profession at a fundamental level by a desire to help and connect with others,\u201d Tucker said.<\/p>\n
The event on Memory Mall in front of the CFE Arena runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Playing is a big part of being a kid. But for children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other physical and developmental disabilities, it can be tough to find activities that are both fun and physical. On Saturday, the 麻豆原创 will host a free outdoor\u00a0event on 麻豆原创\u2019s Memory Mall to encourage physical activity in children with…","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":65155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-twocol.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,6,12,27,1],"tags":[13775,2455],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-65150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-community","category-health","category-student-life","category-uncategorized","tag-accessibility","tag-jennifer-tucker"],"yoast_head":"\n