The Great Outdoors - Recreation Ideas for Children with Special Needs (Guest Post)

It can be difficult for parents to find fun activities for their children to enjoy outdoors. But, this becomes even more of a challenge if your child has vision or hearing loss. Many of the activities that other children love simply won’t be enjoyable to a child who cannot hear or see. Fortunately, there are still plenty of activities that deaf or blind children can partake outdoors.

Here are a few:

Gardening​

​Kids are used to being told no when it comes to playing in the dirt, so they will jump at the opportunity to do so with your approval. Gardening is not only a proven stress reliever, but it’s also a perfect activity for deaf or blind children because it engages the sense of smell. Encourage your child to plant fragrant flowers or strong-smelling herbs so they can connect with nature like never before.

Tandem Bicycling

Riding a bike may be challenging for children who have visual or hearing loss. These children will have a hard time steering the bike or listening for sounds of trouble, such as a honking horn. Solve this problem by buying a tandem bike to use with your child. On most tandem bikes, the person in the front is responsible for steering. Therefore, you can look out for obstacles and listen for potential dangers while your child peddles behind you. This is a great way for kids with hearing or vision loss to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

​Nature Walks

Research local nature trails in your community and bring your kids along to spend a day in the great outdoors. Children who are deaf will love being able to see the beautiful birds, brightly colored flowers, and majestic trees, while children who are blind will be able to listen to the sounds of birds chirping, water flowing, and wind blowing. You can even have your child collect different bird feathers, rocks, or flowers that you see along the way to engage his sense of touch

​Swings

It may be hard for visually challeneged children to participate in some playground activities, but every child can get a kick out of the swing set. Push your child on the swings and let him feel the wind through his hair and discover his own power by pumping his legs. Swing isn’t just fun—it’s incredibly calming, too. Therefore, it’s the perfect activity for children who have recently had emotional outbursts.

​Sandbox

While you’re at the playground, don’t forget to take a trip to the sandbox. Deaf children will love being able to dig their hands into the sand and create castles, buildings, and anything else that their hearts desire. Children who are visually challenged will enjoy the sensory experience of running the sand through their fingers or making sand angels.
So you see, all children can enjoy the outdoors, even those who have vision or hearing loss. There are still several months of summer left, so don’t let your kids waste anymore time indoors. Encourage them to get off of the couch and head outside to try some of these fun activities!