By Katelyn P.
With the rising demand for recreation and sport programs to be incorporated into youth development, there also needs to be an emphasized importance on community-based activities for children with emotional and behavioral disorders as-well as children without disorders. Recreation leaders have a duty to provide superb programs for all children participating. Children with behavioral disorders are often looked at as being “unruly” or “disobedient”; however, if sport and recreation leaders were educated on how to help these children in the area of youth development through recreation programming, it would set them up for overall success in the future.
In Thomas E. Keller’s article titled, “Factors Associated with Participation of Children with Mental Health Problems in Structured Youth Development Programs”, he discusses a study that examines the involvement of children with behavioral disorders in positive youth development programs and investigated factors associated with their participation. It was discovered that active participation was associated with the impact of the child’s mental health condition. The amount and level of participation was also affected by participant’s parent’s education level. The purpose of this study was to attempt to mobilize a wide variety of community resources to address mental health issue and to foster adaptive function in an array of domains.
Emotional and behavioral disorders in children can manifest in a number of ways. A child with these conditions can suffer from depression; have difficulty building all types of relationships and struggle with grasping concepts in the educational environment. Life can be difficult for these children and the parents of the children. Children with behavioral disorders have trouble focusing and concentrating in an array of areas. This can lead to easy distractions and a short attention span making a child to misbehave and act out. Barbie Carpenter explains this concept in her article: “Ways to Help Children with Emotional Behavior Disorders”. In this article Barbie further expands on the various types of behavioral disorders and ways to cope and help the children with these disorders.
Structured programs have a lot to offer the youth in today’s society. Recreation provides an opportunity for children and youth to have a social outlet and it allows them to develop critical thinking skills as well as a variety of other crucial life assets. These assets are important to children while they age because they ensure that children will have a productive and positive future. If children with behavioral disorders are constantly being punished and removed from activities and classes because of their sporadic behavior, they will not be granted with the motivation to change their behavior for a positive outcome.
Being involved in many sports as a child, I have had the opportunity to play with individuals that had behavioral disorders. One of my teammates in high school was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and she was constantly being penalized for being “too hyper” and “easily distracted”, in the coach’s opinion. This did nothing positive for her experience in the sport or for her development into adulthood. I believe, through my own personal experience in this case, in a team atmosphere, an individual with ADHD enhanced the rest of the teammate’s experience. Having someone that has a positive impact from ADHD that is usually always in a good mood can improve the overall environment of a team bonding experience.
Sports come with so much politics and negative energy in today’s society. Ensuring leaders have the proper training (ex: High-Five program) we can provide and learn how to cope with issues as they arise. As youth leaders in any domain, we as a society need to come together to provide every child with the opportunity to experience fair recreation and leisure activities.
What is your opinion on children with behavioral disorders being involved in recreation and sports programs?
- Keller, T., Bost, N., Lock, E., & Marcenko, M. (January 01, 2005). Factors Associated With Participation of Children With Mental Health Problems in Structured Youth Development Programs.Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 13, 3, 141-151.
- Barbie Carpenter. (August 16, 2013). Ways to Help Children with Emotional Behaviour Disorders.