SOCIAL REHABILITATION OF DISABLED CHILDREN THROUGH LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN BOARDING INSTITUTIONS

ABSTRACT

In the article, the author provides arguments and reflects on the relevance of the topic of social rehabilitation of disabled children with severe multiple developmental disorders through leisure activities in residential institutions. The author formulates the object, subject, goal, objectives, and hypothesis of the study, describes the composition of the target group, and outlines the main areas of leisure activities, including sports and recreation, cultural events, and educational and aesthetic activities. The article also provides a list of events and projects that have been implemented for children with severe multiple developmental disorders, emphasizing the importance of considering certain factors when organizing leisure activities for children with severe multiple developmental disorders. Next, the level of social rehabilitation was analyzed, and the results were summarized and presented in the form of four key indicators. The diagram shows an increase (in percentage terms) in the level of social rehabilitation indicators for children with TNRD at the stage of completing the implementation of a comprehensive leisure activities plan, and the hypothesis is confirmed.

Keywords: disabled children; social rehabilitation; boarding institutions; leisure activities.

Leisure activities in residential institutions are an integral part of the social rehabilitation of disabled children, providing a variety of means that enhance the effectiveness of correctional and developmental work and create a comfortable environment for the personal development of each child. The organization of leisure activities allows for adjustments to various aspects of the mental and physical development of children with severe multiple disabilities, positively impacting their emotional and sensory abilities, speech, understanding of the world around them, and attention. Based on this, we can conclude that the presented topic is relevant for study. The object of study was the process of organizing leisure activities, and the subject was the impact of leisure activities on children with severe multiple developmental disorders. [3]

The purpose of the study is to increase the level of social rehabilitation of children with severe multiple developmental disorders through the organization of leisure activities.

The objectives of the study are as follows:

• to study the scientific and theoretical foundations of the impact of leisure activities on the social rehabilitation of disabled children;

• to set the goal, objectives, and content of the study;

• to analyze the results and formulate recommendations for improving the organization of leisure activities for children with severe multiple developmental disorders.

Research hypothesis: the social rehabilitation of disabled children is effectively influenced by the implementation of a complex of leisure activities.

For the study, a target group of children "without parental care" was formed, in which mental and intellectual disorders are combined with diseases of the somatic spectrum, gross disorders of sensory functions, movements, behavior, communication skills, and the emotional and volitional sphere. [4]

During the study, the aspects of the problem of social rehabilitation of disabled children in boarding institutions were studied through the planning and organization of leisure activities aimed at acquiring social experience, increasing the children's self-esteem, and promoting self-development and self-rehabilitation. Based on the hypothesis, a plan for the social rehabilitation of disabled children was developed by the teaching staff. This plan included a set of leisure activities aimed at harmonizing and developing appropriate relationships in the communicative environment of adults and peers, as well as fostering value-based cultural attitudes for self-expression. The events were divided into three main groups: sports and recreation, cultural events, and educational and aesthetic events.

When organizing leisure activities for children with severe multiple developmental disorders, it is necessary to take into account the following features: the location of the planned leisure activities should meet the principles of accessibility, and the selection of materials for creative activities should be made in accordance with the children's capabilities and individual characteristics. It is important to consider the assistance provided by accompanying adults, which can be in the form of physical participation or providing clear guidance to help children with severe multiple developmental disorders make their own choices regarding the location or activity they are interested in. When organizing leisure activities that involve physical activity, it is necessary to provide for a change of activities to redistribute the workload among different body systems. [1]

As part of leisure activities within the framework of sports and recreation, the Bolshotroitsky Center for Development and Socialization held the following events: track and field competitions, a mini-football tournament, a spartakiad, mini-olympic games, a day of healthy lifestyle, an hour of mobile playroom, a mini-hike. Among the cultural and mass leisure activities, they chose game theatrical activities, programs of a playful nature, including song and dance material, quizzes, musical games, which contributed to the activation of children, the manifestation of interpersonal interaction skills. As part of the educational and aesthetic aspects of leisure, projects were implemented in the areas of art therapy, reading literary works, and familiarization with folk culture and decorative and applied arts. [5]

After implementing the developed comprehensive plan of leisure activities for children with disabilities during the calendar year, we used various methods to analyze the level of their social rehabilitation. We summarized the results and presented them in the form of four key indicators, including:

1 – the development of independent behavior skills;

2 – the ability to regulate one's behavior in various activities;

3 – the execution of creative works in various activities.

4 – the development of a general culture of behavior and communication skills (taking into account individual physical, psychological, and age-related characteristics).

In the classification of types and forms of leisure activities, the organization of additional education is singled out separately, which in institutions of a boarding type plays an important role in the social rehabilitation of disabled children, as attending clubs of various orientation allows children with severe multiple developmental disorders to become active participants in society and receive full-fledged cultural, cognitive, physical and spiritual development. [3]

The implementation of the content of additional education contributes to the development of the creative potential of children with disabilities on the basis of their personal preferences and interests, provides real opportunities in practical activities to acquire vital skills and abilities, while ensuring that each child has a "situation of success", introduces to the healthy lifestyle, the upbringing of spiritual and moral values and the observance of the culture of behavior. As a result of visiting the sections of additional education, students with severe multiple developmental disorders adapt more quickly in society, as they acquire not only the necessary knowledge, but also practical skills and abilities that will be useful to them in finding their place in life.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, monitoring of the results of training in additional educational programs is carried out twice a year. During two to three weeks, specialists study the dynamics of learning in children with severe multiple developmental disorders through specially organized activities and observations. Additionally, various questionnaires and fragmentary tests may be used. The data obtained from the monitoring and analysis are used by specialists in residential institutions to select the priority areas of development for each disabled student for the following year.

In order to assess the level of social rehabilitation of disabled children and the development of their practical skills and abilities in the context of additional education, it is appropriate to use a system of assessment of results that reflects the degree of performance by students, including such components as: knowledge and skills at the beginning and end of the educational period; practical application of acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities; and the activity, adequacy, and independence of their application by students.

When assessing the effectiveness of additional education programs, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the mental, neurological, and somatic conditions of children with severe multiple developmental disorders. The assessment of the effectiveness of education is carried out in a variety of ways, taking into account the psychophysical development of disabled children as they perform various actions, such as perceptual, speech, object-oriented, and other activities. During the diagnostic tasks performed by disabled children, it is necessary for adults to provide assistance in the form of demonstration, explanation, additional verbal, gestural, and graphic instructions, imitation tasks, shared actions, and so on. [2]

Thus, the hypothesis put forward at the beginning of the study was confirmed, and the presented experience of conducting a study on the social rehabilitation of disabled children through leisure activities in boarding institutions allowed us to examine the effectiveness of various leisure activities, assess their impact, and provide recommendations for organizing leisure activities, taking into account the individual characteristics of children. [3]

References:

1. Volkova, O.V. Leisure activities as a pedagogical method of correctional and educational work with students with severe and multiple developmental disorders in the conditions of the State Institution for Special Education and Rehabilitation "Roza Vetrov" (from the experience of work) / O.V. Volkova [Electronic resource] // moluch.ru: [website]. – URL: https://moluch.ru/archive/341/76761 (Accessed: 22.10.2025)
2. Kramchanina, T.A. Organization of leisure activities for students in a residential institution / T.A. Kramchanina [Electronic resource] // nsportal.ru: [website]. – URL: https://ddi-1.ru/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/message.pdf (Accessed on 25.10.2025)
3. Lapshina, L.M. Organization of Developmental Care for Children with Severe Multiple Developmental Disorders by Means of Alternative and Additional Communication: A Study Guide / L.M. Lapshina, M.S. Korobintseva. – Chelyabinsk: A. Miller Library Publishing House, 2021. – 130 p.
4. Sudakova, L.M. Social Rehabilitation of Disabled Children / L.M. Sudakova [Electronic resource] // cpmss-irk.ru: [website]. – URL: https://cpmss-irk.ru/attachments/article/25/socreabilityofkidsinvals.pdf (Accessed on 22.10.2025)
5. Fedotova, M.A. The Impact of Leisure Activities on Disabled Children / M.A. Fedotova [Electronic resource] // nsportal.ru: [website]. – URL: https://nsportal.ru/detskii-sad/korrektsionnaya-pedagogika/2022/10/01/kursovaya-rabota-vozdeystvie-dosugovoy (Accessed: 22.10.2025)