Recreational and leisure time planning is an area of FASD intervention that should not be overlooked. Leisure time, for individuals of any age, is unstructured time that can demand a person’s most highly developed organizational skills—yet satisfying leisure time is central to self-care, positive mood, self-esteem, and even good health. Often leisure time is the least supervised and most peer-oriented time for a child or teen with FASD.
Formal educational curricula should include direct teaching of leisure time activities. Parents can teach hobbies, foster participation in sports and organizations that interest their child. FASD family support/advocacy organizations can be a platform for organized recreational activities, such as teen groups, social skills groups or summer camps. Indeed, FASD-oriented summer camps and year-round camp locations, such as the White Crow Center in Canada, are developing through the efforts of caring communities. Camps have many advantages: providing respite, bringing families (and professionals) together for intensive learning and support, bringing children and teens together to form friendships, and giving older affected individuals useful and protected work experience. But many existing organizations serving individuals with developmental disabilities and chronic health conditions also already offer excellent programming quite useful for FASD intervention, such as Special Olympics, skiing and outdoor sports, and water sports.
Respite has many definitions for caregivers, including time away from children for adult self-care and couple activities… or time with children that is satisfying and builds positive relationships. Respite funding is an essential part of FASD intervention that can be instrumental in reducing caregiver burden and preventing placement disruptions.
• Support development of summer camps and year-round camp locations, and systematically evaluate their impact on child and family function—and on effectiveness of training for professionals.
• Increase flexible funding for respite care.
• Ensure parents raising individuals with FASD know about organizations offering chances for appropriate recreation through Web sites and resource centers.
• Educate providers in other organizations (such as the ARC, Special Olympics, and so on) about FASD and opportunities for support in other programs.