Motor Activity Clinic

During the spring semester of my sophomore year, I volunteered at the Motor Activity Clinic to assist Exercise Science and OT students as an aide. My role was to help our client develop her motor skills through engaging activities. I assisted in setting up various activities and helped her out of her wheelchair. Most importantly, I aimed to boost her confidence and make certain activities feel like games! It was incredibly rewarding to watch her progress and to learn more about myself along the way. Working with children was new to me, but I learned how to communicate effectively with them and manage situations when they became frustrated to make the experience more enjoyable. For instance, when she was reluctant to dress a doll, I turned it into a fashion show, which excited her. Similarly, in the cold pool, when she was hesitant to work on her kicking skills, I pretended to be an "angry shark" to motivate her. These small adjustments helped her stay motivated to improve her skills. Her parents were amazed at how many tasks and activities she managed to accomplish. They were particularly surprised when she began doing army crawls, all thanks to turning the tasks into games. Overall, this was a thrilling and wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to returning in the upcoming semesters.