“We’re a lot closer, we talk more”: family experiences and relationships following child’s participation in an adapted physical activity camp

Abstract

Purpose

Children and adolescents with developmental challenges may rely on their parents for assistance with everyday tasks to a greater extent than typically developing children. The objective of this study was to examine family members’ perspectives regarding family relationships related to participation in an adapted summer camp for children and adolescents living with a disability.

Materials and Methods

A collective case study was conducted with eleven families who had a child living with a disability who participated in an adapted physical activity (PA) summer camp. A focus group was conducted with each family and thematically analyzed.

Results

Families experienced changes in perspectives and pride surrounding adapted PA, more family conversations about disability, less parental worry, more independence of the child living with a disability, and enhanced family bonds through PA. The children who participated in the camp saw impacts on their self-confidence and independence. COVID-19-related program suspension was associated with frustration, worry, and strained family relationships.

Conclusions

These findings elucidate how participation in adapted PA for children and youth with disabilities can impact family relationships. Future interventions allow for space for family interactions and create opportunity for children and adolescents with disabilities to be independent.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Practitioners could make sure they have resources to recommend and be aware of programs that are available for this population.

• Practitioners could talk to families about benefits of recreation programs for both children and families in terms of benefits for children and family relationships and parental stress.

• Knowing the potential benefits to the family as a whole may impact parents’ decisions about their child participating in recreation programs.

• Practitioners could talk to families about benefits of physical activity participation in terms of experiencing independence.

• Understanding potential benefits regarding independence may give children living with a disability a better understanding of how recreation programs may impact their lives.

Keywords:

• Adapted physical activity
• adolescents
• children
• disability
• family
• qualitative
• relationships

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Vi Riddell Pediatric Rehabilitation Research Program, at the Alberta Children’s Hospital for providing funding for this study. We would also like to extend our gratitude towards the University of Calgary Adapted Sport and Recreation Camp for supporting this research and the participants for sharing their experiences with us. We also thank the staff and participants at the Adapted Sport and Recreation summer camp through Active Living in the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary for assistance with this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Vi Riddell Pediatric Rehabilitation Research Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.