Here are some ideas!
You can do any of the activities listed as a
group or individually. These are just
ideas. Change them any way you like or make up
your own projects. Be as creative as you can. It
is all up to you!
Above all, remember that children with
disabilities like many of the same things you
do. ALWAYS have a parent, caregiver,
or other appropriately trained adult with you to
help supervise any activity you do.
Safety is of utmost importance and having
someone that can help you to make this
experience fun and helpful for everyone is
essential!!! Don't be afraid to ask for help and
get other people involved to assist you as
needed. The goal of this challenge is to Dream
It Forward so everyone wins!!!
Group Activities:
Talk to your school principal, teacher, scout
leader, etc., about getting kids at your school
involved on a larger scale. You can get a group
of kids or just a few to rotate every day to
help a child or group of children with
disabilities to do the following:
1) Develop
a recess program that includes kids with special
needs. You can play hopscotch, tag, hide and
seek, sidewalk chalk, or simply play with them
on the playground equipment.
2) Create lunch buddies and invite a
child with special needs to sit at your lunch
table so everyone can have fun getting to know
each other.
3) Pack-it-up buddy where you help a
child with disabilities pack up for dismissal at
the end of the school day, making sure they have
all of their homework.
4) Walk with them to their bus and sit
next to them with your friends until they get to
their home stop.
5) Accompany them to the library to read
a book or play a computer game.
6) Do a special classroom arts and crafts
project or create a Lego building contest.
7) Find a qualified adult coach and begin
an after-school program teaching kids with
special needs how to play baseball, basketball,
soccer, or any other sport.
8) Teach them how to make cupcakes, frost
and decorate them for a special event like
Valentines Day or Holiday.
9) Accompany a classroom of children with
disabilities on a field trip or have a pizza
party lunch together.
10) Have your class accompany a class of
children with disabilities and their families to
your school's fun fair or carnival and teach
them how to play the games and help them win
prizes.
11) Start a homework buddy program. Have
kids in your class stay after school once a week
for an hour to help children with disabilities
do their homework.
12) Go with them to a school dance and
help them feel comfortable and meet other kids
Individual Activities:
Talk to your parents or other adults in your
community who know of someone with a disability
or an organization that helps people with
disabilities and volunteer your time:
1)
Organize play dates to visit and help teach a
child with disabilities how to play with toys
and be a friend that takes turns, shares, and
works as a team player with others.
2) Go to a movie, shopping mall, or out
to eat.
3) Take them fishing, swimming, running
through a sprinkler, or to a water or amusement
park.
4) Accompany them to their favorite movie
store to get a video or computer game and play
it or watch it with them.
5) Teach them how to ride a bike, eat an
ice cream cone, or even drink a slurpie through
a straw.
6) Plan a small party and teach them how
to go to the store to buy the food and supplies
they need. Help them to make invitations,
decorate, and have a few of their friends over.
7) Take them to the playground, a
concert, or teach them how to play a simple song
on a musical instrument
8) Sing Karaoke with them or help them
make a photo album of favorite things they like
to do.
9) Accompany a child as a mentor who may
need a little extra help to play a team sport or
be a part of a girl or boy scout troop.
