Understanding and Using Activities

Although often overlooked in the context of adult conflict, children’s recreational activities often play an important role in development and adjustment. Appropriately chosen and structured activities promote prosocial and healthy coping behavior, provide models for healthy interaction, facilitate mastery and self-esteem, and provide resources for coping with trauma and stress and resolving psychological and family dysfunction. This chapter draws on relevant research and professional literature from recreational therapy, child development, and the various social science disciplines relevant to court-involved families, providing an overview of relevant findings and concepts and a model for adapting and applying methods derived from recreational therapy to court-involved families. The chapter provides guidance for understanding, selecting, and structuring activities to support early intervention and treatment planning, as well as issues to consider in assessing whether an existing activity is being appropriately utilized for the child and family’s benefit or misused to prevent resolution of problems.