Three Fun Exercise Ideas for Those Living with a Disability

For those dealing with a physical disability, the idea of exercise may seem daunting or even impossible. Not only can exercise be a scary prospect for someone with a disability (pain, fear of failure, etc.) but many feel as if they will be limited to the point that it’s not even worth it. What’s the point of making an attempt at physical activity if it’s going to be so incredibly boring?

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to get a good amount of exercise that aren’t that limiting to those with a disability. Here are some great options.

Swimming

Any list of fun, moderately strenuous exercises for those with a disability must begin with swimming. Water allows people with all sorts of physical disabilities the chance to do things that they cannot do on land. Swimming not only has physical benefits but it can also be a great stress-reliever and method of finding relaxation for those who may also have mental health disorders.

“Swimming is particularly valuable for people with disabilities, since the water allows them to move without assistance, an important discovery and experience for anyone with a disability,” notes MyHandicap.com. “Swimming has a very high psychological and therapeutic value for people with disabilities since the buoyancy relieves the strain on the body, allows them to move without assistance and stimulates all vegetative functions.”

Gardening

Gardening is well-known for its therapeutic value, as it’s one of the best stress-relieving and mood-enhancing hobbies you can participate in. But did you know that gardening can actually provide a pretty solid workout - even for those with disabilities?

“There are many ways you can alleviate or reduce some of the physical challenges that come with the territory, regardless of whether you suffer from arthritis, back pain or are confined to a wheelchair,” notes HGTV.

There is plenty of adaptive gardening equipment that makes it easier for those with disabilities to participate, including adaptive shears, rakes, and digging equipment. Those that have trouble kneeling can use short stools. Gardening is set up well for sitting on the ground and working, so it meshes well for those with lower body disabilities. The upper body and aerobic workout provided by many of the essential gardening tasks can burn upwards of 300 calories per hour - as much as walking!

Adaptive sports

If you think that traditional sports - from solo to team to even extreme - are off limits to you because you have a disability, then think again. Advances in technology have opened the door wide to those with disabilities who want to experience the thrill of sport.

If you live in a big city, it’s highly likely that there are dozens of adaptive sports leagues for sports like basketball, volleyball, tennis, hockey, and handball. Adaptive sports are basically traditional sports that have been altered in some way - either in terms of rules or equipment involved - to accommodate those with disabilities.

And when it comes to more extreme sports like surfing, skiing, and watersports (kayaking, canoeing, etc.) there is a lot of equipment out there to help.

When it comes to getting the recommended amount of physical activity, your disability is only as much of a hindrance as you let it be. There are plenty of interesting, thrilling exercise options out there if you are willing to do a little bit of research and invest in some tech/supplies. You’ll find that, with exercise, you will see a boost not only to your physical health, but to your mental wellness as well.

Written By: Travis White (Learnfit.org)

Bath Time, Swim Time: Build Your Child’s Water Confidence

One of the easiest ways to help your child learn to swim is to work on simple skills during bath time. Playing during bath time will make bathing more fun, and build their confidence in the water. One of the biggest challenges while teaching swim lessons, is over coming a fear of the water; however, children are in the water almost everyday, so no child should be afraid of the water. Help your child by working on the following fun, simple skills while in the bath tub. Parents can start working on these skills when children are as young as 3 months old.

Here are 4 bath time activities that will help your baby learn-to-swim!

1. Practice getting baby’s face wet

There are many adults who are afraid of submerging their heads fully under water, so it’s hard to blame a toddler for being apprehensive. That’s why it’s important to get your child comfortable with water on their face ASAP. You can do this by first wetting different parts of their face. Move on to a slow trickle of water over your child's face and down the back of the head.

2. Teach unassisted floating in the tub

Bath time is a great and safe way to teach baby how to float! Start by laying your child on their back and holding them in floating position while helping them relax. The best place to hold them while they are on their back is with you sitting behind them at their head, and holding them underneath their arms.

3. Teach bubble blowing

Blowing bubbles teaches children how to clear their nasal passages when they don’t have any free hands to plug their nose. One way to do this is to blow ping pong balls across the surface of the water. You can teach bubble blowing by making funny noises while blowing. Not only is this fun for your toddler, it also prepares them for skills they’ll need in formal swimming lessons later on.

4. Use bath toys or household items that they can interact with in the tub.

Not only do bath toys help your little one develop their motor skills, but this kind of play time in the bath allows them to use their limbs more freely in the water.

Remember: Swimming is an essential life skill! It’s important to ingrain these habits into children at a young age, so when they’re older, water safety becomes second nature. After all, the #1 way to prevent drowning is to learn how to swim!

So if your child is already a fish in a bowl, maybe it’s time to introduce your little fish to the pool!


Original References: Guest Blogger from Aquamobile
http://thetotsquad.com/blog/bath-time-swim-time-build-your-babys-water-confidence