Patterns and predictors of participation in leisure activities outside of school in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy.
Kids with CP do few leisure activities but love the ones they try, so BCBAs should target environmental barriers and child choice to widen participation.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Longo et al. (2013) asked Spanish kids and teens with cerebral palsy about their after-school free-time fun. They used a short survey to count how many different activities each child tried and how much the child liked each one.
The team also noted child factors such as age and walking level plus environmental factors like how far the family lived from a recreation center.
What they found
Most youth with CP joined only a few types of leisure activities, far fewer than typical peers. Yet the kids who did take part said they enjoyed the activities a lot.
The biggest drivers were not medical charts but simple things: how easy it was to reach the place, whether friends were there, and if the child felt welcome.
How this fits with other research
Badia et al. (2013) used the same Spanish group and showed that more variety and enjoyment of leisure linked to higher quality of life scores. The two papers fit like puzzle pieces: Egmar maps the low numbers, Marta shows why fixing them matters.
Majnemer et al. (2015) followed the same kids two years later and found leisure diversity and enjoyment dropped as they became teens. This extends Egmar’s snapshot into a warning: without support, the already low participation shrinks further.
Shikako-Dratsch et al. (2013) asked teens with CP what predicts joining in. Preference and family support beat motor scores. Together with Egmar, the message is clear: remove environmental barriers first, then let the child choose fun activities.
Why it matters
You do not need fancy gear to boost leisure. Start by asking the child what is fun, then check transport, cost, and attitudes. Schedule sessions at community centers, invite peers, and train staff to include all mobility levels. Small fixes can lift both participation and happiness.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study analyzed the patterns and predictors of participation in leisure activities outside of school of Spanish children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Children and adolescents with CP (n = 199; 113 males and 86 females) participated in this cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 12.11 years (SD = 3.02; range 8-18 years), and they were evaluated using the Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). Means, standard deviations and percentages were used to characterize the profile of participation, and linear regression analyses were employed to assess associations between the variables (child, family and environmental factors) and the diversity, intensity and enjoyment of participation. Children and adolescents with CP reported low diversity and intensity of participation and high levels of enjoyment. Participation in leisure activities outside of school was determined more by child and environmental factors than by family ones.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2012.08.017