RESEARCH

Too Much Fun for Therapy: Therapeutic Recreation as an Intervention Tool With At-Risk Youth

This article explores the use of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) as a tool to prevent school dropout by promoting resilience in at-risk youth through activities like horticultural therapy and creative arts.

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Addiction/Substance Use Disorders

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings, Community Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Greater Job Readiness & Vocational Skills, Increased Self-Efficacy

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy, Education

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Nature-Based Arts & Crafts, Mindfulness/Visualizations

Evidence Type: Observational Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This article explores the use of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) as an intervention tool for at-risk youth to prevent them from dropping out of school. It suggests that educators can enhance protective factors and promote resilience in youth by incorporating strategies from community youth programs, specifically purposeful recreation from TR. The article highlights that TR uses treatment, leisure education, and recreation participation to enhance functional independence, health, and well-being.

The activities are centered around using recreation in four different modes: to teach, reinforce, motivate, and reward. Examples include horticultural therapy to improve self-esteem and incorporate educational components, stress management to increase conflict resolution and coping skills, creative arts therapies to discover personal strengths, and humor intervention to increase group cohesion and reduce stress. The article provides sample programs and contact resources for each type of intervention, emphasizing that TR can be a “fun” way to engage students and build essential life skills, helping them overcome risk factors and achieve their full potential.

Link

Brooks, K. W. & National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University. (1997). Too much fun for therapy: Therapeutic Recreation as an intervention tool with At-Risk Youth.

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