TRConnectionsWebsite trconnections.com * email: olc@trconnections.com or tracy@trconnections.com

CelebratingApril

Lawn and Garden Month

Humor Month

Welding Month

Laugh at Work WeekApril 1–7

Volunteer WeekApril 6–13

Peanut Butter and Jelly DayApril 2

World Rat DayApril 4

Teflon DayApril 6

Take a Wild Guess DayApril 15

Earth DayApril 22

Talk Like Shakespeare DayApril 23

International Jazz DayApril 30

April 2014

A Fool’s Errand

It is a strange tradition that on April 1 we celebrate the practice of making others look foolish through tricks and practical jokes. But April Fools’ Day, or All Fools Day as it’s sometimes called, is boisterously celebrated throughout the world as an unofficial holiday.

There is confusion surrounding the origins of April Fools’ Day. Some believe it sprang from the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria, which celebrated the arrival of spring with silly masquerade parties. Another belief is that it developed out of the medieval celebration known as the Feast of Fools. On this December holiday, common folk and young people were allowed to become popes, archbishops, and bishops for a day. The social order was turned upside down, and power was handed over to those who did not have much. These people took names such as “Lord of Misrule” and “Pope of Fools.”

But how did two separate celebrations, one in March and the other in December, turn into the holiday celebrated on April 1? Some think April Fools’ Day became official when Pope Gregory XIII established his new Gregorian calendar in 1582. This new calendar ordered that New Year’s Day be changed to January 1. While many adopted this change, some refused and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. As a result, these traditionalists became the butt of jokes every April 1.

In France, someone who is tricked is called a poisson d’avril, or “April fish.” Victims are humiliated by unknowingly having a paper fish taped to their back. In the United Kingdom, joking traditionally ceases at midday, and anyone playing a joke after noon is a fool themselves. Iranians have been playing pranks on April 1 since the year 536 BC, which makes Iran's holiday of Sizdah Bedar the oldest pranking holiday in the world.

Go Fly a Kite! Card Game

This easy card game requires some memorization skills. Being able to remember who is collecting which cards and who has been asked for what can help you win the game. The object of the game is to be the player who collects the most four-of-a-kind sets. Population: Youth, Geriatrics Domain: Cognitive, Social Goals: Social skills, giving/receiving feedback, manners, ability to make friends, memory, problem solving, verbalization, decision making, thought process, following directions, goal setting, communication Number of Players Best played in small groups of 4 to 8 players. Allow 30 minutes or more for length of play. For larger groups, set up additional tables. Setup • Use a standard deck of cards with jokers removed. • You will also need a sheet of paper and pencil to record players’ scores. To Play 1. Shuffle the deck and deal out all of the cards. Some players will have one more card than the other players (unless there are just four players), but this does not matter. 2. The player to the dealer’s left begins by asking another player for a specific card. (“Bob, do you have the three of clubs?”) The player who is asking for a card must already hold at least one card of the same rank (three of spades, hearts, or diamonds).3. If the person (Bob) has the requested card, he must give it up. The player can then take another turn and ask for another card. 4. If the person who is asked (Bob) does not have the requested card, he says to the player, “Go fly a kite!” and play progresses to the person to the left of the asking player. 5. When a player collects all four cards of a kind (such as four kings), they are placed faceup on the table. If this leaves the player without cards, the turn to ask passes to the next player to the left.

Tit-for-TatWhile a handkerchief, table runner, doily, or collar made of intricate knotted lace appears nearly impossible to construct, the art of tatting is easy to learn. All you need to start tatting is thread, a shuttle (a small device that helps guide a silk thread through loops into knots), and your two hands. Give it a try on April 1, International Tatting Day.

Perhaps this decorative art form grew from the netting and ropework handmade by sailors and fishermen of olden times. Tatting became fashionable in the 1800s and enjoyed a surge in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. Technology has usurped the handiwork required to make tatted lace, making handmade tatting more appreciated than ever.

Scoring • The winner is the player who has the most four-of-a-kind sets when all of the cards have been laid down. • Depending on how quickly your games are played, you might have time for multiple games. If this is the case, total up the number of four-of-a-kind sets for each player after each game. The winner will be the one who completes the most sets over the course of several games. Variation Another way to score this game is to add each person’s total according to the rank of their four-of-a-kind sets. A set of aces would score one point, a set of twos would score two points, and so on. Sets of jacks, queens, and kings would score 11, 12, and 13, respectively. (For example, a player who was left with a set of fours and a set of sixes would score a total of ten points for that round). Scoring in this way encourages players to try to complete the sets that would yield the highest score.

Source: ActivityConnection.com – Go Fly a Kite! Kite Game

April 2014

April 2014

NoodlesOne of my favorite exercise groups is with pool noodles because they are light weight inexpensive,fun and there are a varity of games you can play with them.

Name of Intervention: NoodlesPopulation: Pediatrics, Youth, Geriatrics Domain: Physical Goals: Gross motor abilities, Coordination, Agility, Locomotion, Endurance, Flexibility, Fitness, ROM, Energy, Sensory perceptual, Balance, Number of clients: 6-10Time: 30 minRoom size: Medium size roomSupplies: Pool Noodles cut in half, 2-3 balloons, chairs (depending on the balance of your clients)Rules:

1. No hitting any participants or staff with noodles

2. No eating or putting noodles in your month

3. No picking at noodles4. HAVE FUN

Description: 1. Place clients in a circle. 2. Explain to clients the goal of the game is

to keep the blown up balloons up in the air and in the circle.

3. They are only allowed to hit the balloons with the noodles.

4. They are to stay in their sits or stand in their spot.

Variations: 1. Place a laundry basket in the middle of

circle and ask clients to hit balloons into basket.

2. Explain to clients only to hit the balloons that are the same color as their noodle.

There Is An App For That

Integrating IPads and tablets into your program can be easy and fun. I start off with the game hangman because it is easy to use and a game everyone can relate to. If you are an IPad user, you can find it in your app store and its call “Hangman Free” for tablet users it is call “Hangman Pro”. This simple app can be used by your clients also. It can be used in group settings, 1:1’s or clients can use it themselves. Give it a try!

Playing for KeepsAll April long, opponents will be throwing their knuckles down. This isn’t anything sinister. “Knuckles down” is the position you assume before shooting in a classic game of marbles. So this April, Knuckles Down Month, you too can play for keeps.

The classic game of marbles is called “ringer.” Two parallel lines, called lag lines, are drawn 10 feet away from each other. A large 10-foot circle is drawn between the lag lines. In the middle of the circle is a cross made of 13 target marbles, or “mibs.” To determine who plays first, each player “lags” from one lag line to the other; that is, they toss their “shooter” marble to the opposite line. The player whose shooter lands closest to the lag line goes first.

Play starts by knuckling down along the edge of the ring and using your thumb to cast your shooter at the mibs inside. The object is to knock a mib outside the circle while keeping your shooter inside. You next knuckle down inside the ring where your shooter landed. If you fail to knock out a mib, then it is your opponent’s turn. The first player to knock out a majority of marbles wins, and it’s up to you to determine whether to play for fair (return all marbles to their original owners) or play for keeps (the winner keeps all the marbles.)

Why are We Licensed Recreation Therapist?Recently I received an email stating the following:

“Two pieces on the local news in New Hampshire this morning were about licensure:

A 4 year old died in an unlicensed child care setting. In NH you have to be licensed if you care for 3 or more kids that are not your own. This woman had 5 in her care, none of her own, and was not licensed. She went into the house to check on a kiddo, leaving others alone in the back yard. The 4 year old girl's coat got caught up on some tree branches and choked her. When the provider came back out she was unconscious and she died two days later.

An electrician has been charged with using someone else's license for over a year and local police are asking residents to report if this man worked on their homes.

And this is why we want licensure, to protect the public!”

As of right now there are five states with licensure: Utah Washington DC New Hampshire North Carolina Oklahoma

States currently seeking licensure: New York Pennsylvania

Being licensed not only protects the public but also you as a professional. The laws and regulations state specifically what you can and cannot do as a professional in order for you to be able to give the highest quality of care possible for those you serve.

Upcoming Work Shops!

Southern Utah Summer WorkshopEarn 6 CEU’s

Friday June 6, 201410:00-4:00

Southern Utah Veteran’s Home160 North 200 East

Ivins, Ut 84738

Northern Utah Summer WorkshopEarn 6 CEU’s

Friday July 18, 201410:00-4:00

Heritage Park Care Center2700 West 5600 South

Roy, Utah

For more information see our website at: trconnections.com or email us at

olc@trconnections.com or at tracy@trconnections.com

URTA Conference

URTA recently held their annual conference on March 20th and 21st in Ogden, Utah. If you did not get a chance to go you missed out on a great conference. Norma Stumbo was the keynote speaker and spoke about the Importance of Evidence-Based Practice in our profession. We also heard from Sandy Negley in the general session. She spoke to us about Professional Responsibility of Licensure. She was also the closing keynote speaker. She spoke about Creating a Healthy and Balanced Lifestyle. URTA had some fantastic speakers and it was well attended. If you are not a member of URTA please go to their website and become a member. The mission of URTA is “established for the development of the profession of Recreation Therapy, to promote standards of practice and strengthen members through: education, advocacy, research, networking, community partnership, involvement in local, state and national issues and the enhancement of personal growth and development.” https://utahrectherapy.org

April 2014

What is TRConnections

TRConnections is a consulting agency for Recreation Therapists. We provide:

Consulting services Workshops On line courses for CEU’s TRT course Networking opportunities And so much more!!!

Please contact Kristina Couron at olc@trconnections.com for information on what TRConnections can do for you and your company!!