I work with adult with mental retardation and need some ideas for daytime activities.?

Question

I work in a day program with handicapped adults and we are always looking for community activities in which our clients can participate. We have all levels of functioning so all ideas are welcome. Also, if anyone has any simple arts and crafts ideas, I'd appreciate those also.

Answer 1

I took my children to a local park and a program in the neighborhood let their adult spend a part of their afternoon their. Its a great opportunity for them to be in the community. AS I remember we had a great time and when one of my sons got hurt they were the only ones to help us out.  

HOw about a cooking class or an activity that is education and promotes independence and fun.  Try whenever you can to include typical peers - I know a whole other project just getting that to happen but my son has a disability and being in an incluisive program made him transfer over to mainstream most of the time.  

Good luck and great work you do!

Answer 2

I worked for the Autism Society of NC for quite some time. We had a day program for adults with autism. We took them to a pottery painting studio. They got to pick out a piece and paint it however they wanted. They like it so much that we ended up gettinga grant for our own kiln, and the guys started painting pieces and SELLING them! It's really awesome! Each person seems to have their own "pattern," and people purchase them faster than the guys can make them.

Answer 3

Something that is really fun is like having a field day where they can go outside and play all sorts of games like, sack races, the egg in a spoon race, hula hoop contest, water balloon toss, pie eating contest, kickball, water gun fights, basketball, egg toss, just let them get messy and have a good time outside.