by Mary Tyrer

Created on: March 15, 2009

Special needs children love many of the same activities as any other child. Spring offers the outdoor fun for everyone. Families who have a child with special needs have the opportunity enjoy outdoor activities with extended family members and friends. Warmer weather allows families to gather outside for a Bar-B-Q, inviting special friends and family to share in the outdoor fun.

Spring is a time when nature begins to change. Everything is growing and turning green. Spring is a great time to take a camping trip, go fishing, and simply be together enjoying being together as a family loving the new season. Children who are in wheelchairs due to their disability are able to enjoy the outing. Parents should not restrict the special needs child from such outings. Parents should carefully plan the outing according to their child's extra needs, yet never make the child feel as though he or she is unable to do anything.

Spring is a good time to learn about butterflies, flowers, and all the things that awaken at this time. Family hikes and scavenger hunts are a fun way to teach a child with special needs about nature, a great learning experience, and fun for the entire family. Be sure a sibling or family member is with your special needs child at all times, or even pair off in two's if the family or gathering is large enough. Give each group items to find along the hiking trail, set a time limit and once everyone returns discuss what they found on their list. Be sure to pass the items around so that your special needs child can touch each item, he or she will be full of pride for being a part of the scavenger hunt, and will have had a great learning experience.

A very important thing to remember is not to treat your special needs child as though he or she is different from any other child. Of course, they have emotional needs, physical challenges, and medical problems that need to be addressed. However, parents must do their best to make their child feel as normal as possible, and allow their special needs child to believe in his or herself to have pride in his or her accomplishments, and know they are loved and have the ability to achieve things on their own. Spring offers opportunities for your special needs child learn and build confidence in his or herself. The point is allow your special needs child to do anything at anytime he or she is capable of doing, even push him or her to try new things, it should not matter what season. Always allow them enjoy the season, any season, let them learn and have fun!

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