WHY IT MATTERS

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that ALL children and teens participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Regular physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity is important for children with special needs, not just to help strengthen their bones and muscles, but to improve their overall health and quality of life as well. 

The benefits of regular physical activity for children with special needs include:

• Improved lung capacity and endurance

• Improved bone and muscle strength

• Improved body weight

• Improved self-esteem and social skills

• Improved mental health with less feelings of isolation

• Improved sleep

• Improved emotional regulation and behavior

• Improved cognition and executive function

However, we know that children with special needs may face more barriers to physical activity than their peers, including barriers such as: physical or mental limitations, lack of access to facilities or providers that can support them in physical activity, lack of transportation, and high costs. 
The best way to encourage and ensure that children and teens with special needs participate and stay involved in physical activity is by ensuring it’s something that interests them! We’ve curated a list of our recommendations to get you started! The below list encompasses multiple adaptive sports and physical activity opportunities each week within our local community. When the physical activity / sport is performed in a group setting, children and teens are more likely to stay involved and thus meet the physical activity guidelines to improve their overall health.