Marie Josee Etienne

Professor Tania Santiago Rodriguez

Recreation Therapy: Facilitation Techniques: Module
18 November 2016

Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic Use of Play

Activity Title: Cake Walk
Source: Kelly W Shivel of the Inn at Wyngate on June 2003
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/activegames.htm

John Dattilo, Alexis Mckenney (2011) Facilitation techniques in Therapeutic Recreation,

Venture Publishing, Inc. State College, PA
Equipment: Pictures of cakes cut out of magazines and glued to poster board ( number each
cake on the back such as 1 through 40), Cupcakes ( enough for each residents to win one), one 6
inch cake decorating candies, boom box, cd or tape of upbeat music, hat made from the top of a
cake carrier.
Participants: 10-20
Objective: To promote cognitive skills, minimal mobility, have fun, increase memorization, and
self-esteem.
Activity Description: Therapeutic use of play provides people with awareness of self and learn a
variety of skills. According to John Dattilo, Rachel Gordon, and Elizabeth Eyebright
(Facilitation Techniques P. 516), play is a complex activity that has several characteristics.
Therapeutic use of play such as Cake Walk promotes pleasure and enjoyment, promotes
cognitive skills, minimal mobility, fun, memorization, and self-esteem, growth and development,
improves childrens emotional skills, and help children meet intrapersonal needs. The therapist

instructs participants to 1) prepare their cupcakes and decorate them on the day before. 2) On the
day of Cake walk the specialist arranges teaches participants to sit in a circle. 3) The Cake
master pass about 30 to 60 cakes pictures to the circle from one participant to another while
playing the music. This music is turned off any time and the resident who holds the cake has to
name the type of cake. If the participant is cognitively impaired, he or she can say the color of
the cake picture he or she holds. If the participant answer the question correctly, he or she must
keep that cake while another cake is circulated. Repeat the process again. The play is ending
when all cakes have been distributed and all participants have the opportunity to win at least one
paper cake.
Leadership considerations: CTRS professions as an educator must use play as a medium to
encourage individuals with disabilities to develop important skills. He or she must make sure the
number of children who participate in play therapy depend on participants needs. It is helpful if
children in group have similar backgrounds and experiences so children may learn from one
another. Moreover, the therapist must encourage children to express various feelings and contain
media such as a sand table, puzzle, etc. The therapist is encouraged to consider teaching children
without disabilities to initiate conversation with children with disabilities. He or she may use
materials dependent on the participants goals. Before starting the session, therapist must conduct
a warm up exercises is conducted for approximately 5 minutes. These exercises include torso
stretch, bicep and triceps stretch, leg muscle stretch, a deep breathing. The CTRS assures
participants safety while facilitating their independence in play. In addition, the practitioner uses
various techniques to guide clients to play, to feel, to find the source of their inner problem.

Adaptations: Participants with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Individuals with

attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder require some modifications to increase opportunity for
success and to encourage them to involve fully in the play activity. Attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder is a range of behavioral disorders arising primarily in children, having
such symptoms as poor concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. RT specialists must
provide a safe place in the play environment for people with osteoporosis to provide
Adaptations: Participant with Mental Retardation (MR) or Intellectual Disability (ID) may
require movements that associate with the limitations of participants. Mental retardation or
Intellectual disability refers to a generalized neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by
significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning. Mental retardation or Intellectual
disability affects the part of the brain that controls thinking and understanding. To ensure a
successful improvement, the recreational therapists must provide play modification to allow
clients to maintain and increase a range of motion, concentration, posture, and coordination.
Before starting the session, therapist must conduct a warm up or stretching exercises are
conducted approximately 5 minutes. These exercises include torso stretch, bicep and triceps
stretch. The CTRS assures participants safety while facilitating their independence play to find
new life expectancy accomplishment.
Sources
i.

Source: Kelly W Shivel of the Inn at Wyngate on June 2003

ii.

http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/activegames.htm

John Dattilo, Alexis Mckenney (2011) Facilitation techniques in Therapeutic

Recreation, Venture Publishing, Inc. State College, PA
iii.

Facilitation Technique Category: Sensory Stimulation

Activity Title: Simulation Relaxation

Source: Brie Smith on March 9, 2010
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/activegames.htm
Equipment: A box to carry all of the objects listed below: Sight binder full of pictures, Lave
lamp and a glitter ball, touch- shower puff, play dough, textured ball, the glitter ball can here too,
hand lotion, Smell lavender body wash (or essential oil and diffuser), Hearing CD player, and
Taste: anything that participants would like to (be sure to think about residents diet) the great
thing about the box is that the therapist can individualize it to his or her client or group and the
box can grow. Anything that can stimulate a person may go to the box.
Participants: 3-6
Objective: To provide a relaxing environment, relaxation to emotional clients, stimulate all of
the senses, and provide participants with a sense of well-being.
Activity Description: Description: Sensory Stimulation therapy (SST) is an experimental
therapy that goals are to utilize neural plasticity mechanisms to aid in the recovery of
somatosensory function after stroke or cognitive ageing. Simulation sensory such as Simulation
Relaxation increases concentration and focus attention, develop or reactivates sense of hearing,
sight, smell, touch, and taste, enhance awareness and improves attentiveness, coordination and
motor development, promote cognitive development by increasing brain function. The therapist
instructs participants to 1) turn on the lava lamp and the CD player with the relaxation music,
lower the lights place all the other sensory items on the table. 2) The instructor teaches
participants to pour some body wash into a bowl and pour hot water over it ( great for long term
home setting, because of fire codes the specialist may not be able to use essential oils and

diffuser) the scent will fill the air. 3) The specialist encourages participants to look through the
picture book, to touch the play dough and so on. As the participants look through the picture
book, the specialist asks them questions or asks them to tell a story/ memory that coincides with
the picture. The taste part of the session can be the refreshments.
Leadership considerations: CTRS professions as an instructor in this activity is to encourage
participants to explore the various way in which the individual can experience anger. The RT
specialist is better equipped to address similar issues with participants. Before starting the
session, in an indoor or outdoor environment, therapist must conduct a warm up with push up,
jumping, jogging, etc. Safety, and general rules review with clients are important.
Adaptations: Participant with mental disorder may require modification that associate
relaxation procedures with the limitations of participants. Mental disorder is characterized by
persistent depressed mood or loss of interests in an activity. To ensure a successful relaxation
involvement, the recreational therapists must provide reinforcement and positive feedback to
participants.
Adaptations: Participants with cognitive limitations such as autism. Individuals with autism
require some modifications to increase opportunity for success. The therapist choose Simulation
relaxation technique based on the types of conflicts situations that irritate the participants. The
therapist must make sure that all participants are safe.
References
Brie Smith on March 9, 2010
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/activegames.htm