Never Scramble for CEUs Again

50+ NCTRC Pre-Approved Hours.
Online. Anytime. One annual investment.

• 2 new hours added monthly.

Trusted by Recreational Therapists for 20+ Years.

April 2026 Issue

Rec Therapy Today — TRUSTED by Rec Therapists Everywhere

Infographics for the Month

Humor for the Month

Inspiration for the Month

Holidays and Observations

Month-Long Observances:

• Autism Acceptance Month
• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Occupational Therapy Month
• National Stress Awareness Month
• Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Key Dates:

• April 1 – April Fool’s Day
• April 2 – National Walking Day
• April 5 – Palm Sunday
• April 6 – National Student-Athlete Day
• April 7 – World Health Day
• April 10 – National Siblings Day
• April 12 – Easter Sunday
• April 13 – National Scrabble Day
• April 15 – World Art Day
• April 16 – National Healthcare Decisions Day
• April 18 – National Exercise Day
• April 20 – Look Alike Day
• April 22 – Earth Day
• April 23 – World Book Day
• April 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
• April 30 – National Honesty Day

Weekly Observances:

• April 5–11 – National Public Health Week
• April 12–18 – National Volunteer Week

Rec Therapy Today — CEU Reminders:

Your CEU Guide: T.R. Turtle

Activity Ideas for the Month

🧠 Activity Title: Scrabble for Growth (National Scrabble Day – April 13)

Supplies Needed:
Scrabble game or letter tiles, paper, pens/pencils

Instructions:
Have participants play Scrabble individually or in small groups. Encourage them to create words related to growth (e.g., learn, try, improve, effort). After the game, ask participants to choose one word they played and reflect on how it applies to their life. Invite sharing with the group.

Benefits:

• Physical: Fine motor skills (handling tiles)
• Emotional: Builds confidence through success and participation
• Cognitive: Enhances vocabulary, memory, and problem-solving
• Social: Encourages communication and teamwork
• Independence: Promotes decision-making and self-expression

💪 Activity Title: Move to Improve (National Exercise Day – April 18)

Supplies Needed:
Open space, optional music, simple exercise list

Instructions:
Guide participants through light exercises (walking, stretching, chair exercises). Encourage them to set a small personal goal (e.g., “I will keep moving for 5 minutes”). Emphasize effort over performance and celebrate participation.

Benefits:

• Physical: Improves strength, mobility, and endurance
• Emotional: Boosts mood and reduces stress
• Cognitive: Increases focus and mental clarity
• Social: Promotes group participation and encouragement
• Independence: Encourages self-directed activity

🎨 Activity Title: Create Your Growth Art (World Art Day – April 15)

Supplies Needed:
Paper, markers, crayons, paint (optional)

Instructions:
Ask participants to draw or create artwork that represents personal growth (e.g., a tree growing, steps forward, a goal achieved). Afterward, invite them to share what their artwork means.

Benefits:

• Physical: Fine motor skills through drawing/painting
• Emotional: Encourages self-expression and reflection
• Cognitive: Promotes creativity and abstract thinking
• Social: Builds connection through sharing
• Independence: Supports personal choice and creativity

🌍 Activity Title: Small Actions, Big Impact (Earth Day – April 22)

Supplies Needed:
Paper, pens, optional recycling materials or small plants

Instructions:
Discuss how small actions help the environment. Have participants write or share one small change they can make (e.g., recycling, saving water). Option: plant seeds or complete a simple eco-friendly task.

Benefits:

• Physical: Light activity (planting, sorting items)
• Emotional: Builds sense of purpose and responsibility
• Cognitive: Encourages problem-solving and awareness
• Social: Promotes group discussion and teamwork
• Independence: Supports goal-setting and follow-through

🧘 Activity Title: Stress Less, Grow More (Stress Awareness Month)

Supplies Needed:
Quiet space, optional calming music

Instructions:
Guide participants through deep breathing or simple mindfulness exercises. Ask them to identify one stressor and one healthy coping strategy. Reinforce that growth includes learning how to manage stress.

Benefits:

• Physical: Promotes relaxation and reduces tension
• Emotional: Improves emotional regulation
• Cognitive: Enhances awareness and focus
• Social: Encourages sharing and support
• Independence: Builds coping skills

🚶 Activity Title: Step Forward Challenge (National Walking Day – April 2)

Supplies Needed:
Safe walking area, optional step tracker

Instructions:
Encourage participants to take a short walk. Frame it as “one step forward” toward growth. Afterward, discuss how small steps lead to progress in life.

Benefits:

• Physical: Improves cardiovascular health
• Emotional: Boosts mood
• Cognitive: Supports mental clarity
• Social: Encourages group interaction
• Independence: Promotes self-motivation

Featured Article of the Month

🌱 The Growth Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

By: Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BH

Most people think growth requires big changes.

It doesn’t.

Growth starts small.

A new idea.
A different choice.
One step forward.

That’s it.

The difference between staying the same and improving isn’t talent. It’s mindset.

A growth mindset means believing you can get better—with effort, practice, and time.

Not perfect.
Not overnight.
Just better.

In recreational therapy, this matters.

You see it every day.

A patient who tries again.
Someone who speaks up for the first time.
A small win that becomes something bigger.

That’s growth.

And it doesn’t just apply to the people you serve.

It applies to you.

The recreational therapists who stay ahead aren’t the ones doing everything at once.

They’re the ones who stay consistent.

They learn a little at a time.
They improve step by step.
They don’t wait until the last minute.

They stay on track.

Because growth isn’t about doing more.

It’s about doing something—again and again.

So this month, don’t focus on doing everything.

Focus on one step.

Then take another.

That’s how real growth happens.

Rec Therapist of the Month

Dr. Ted Muilenburg

🌟 50 Years in Recreational Therapy—And Still Growing

Some careers last a few years.

Others become a way of life.

For Dr. Ted Muilenburg, recreational therapy has never just been a job. It’s been a lifelong commitment to helping people live better through leisure, movement, and connection.

And more than 50 years later—he’s still doing the work.

🧠 Where It Started

Dr. Muilenburg was drawn to recreational therapy for a simple reason:

He wanted to help people.

Early in his life, he saw firsthand how quality of life could be affected by illness. Later, working with a child who was blind and teaching him to swim, he saw something powerful:

Recreation builds confidence.

That moment stayed with him.

And it shaped everything that followed.

🎓 A Career That Spans Generations

With degrees in sociology, recreation and parks, and a PhD in educational administration, Dr. Muilenburg spent 50 years teaching recreational therapy students.

But he didn’t just teach.

He practiced.

“I walk the talk.”

He stayed active. He worked with people. He modeled the very lifestyle he encouraged others to live.

And that’s what made his teaching different.

It wasn’t just theory.

It was real.

🌍 Beyond the Classroom

Dr. Muilenburg’s impact goes far beyond teaching.

• Consultant to hospitals and nursing homes
• Work with state systems and correctional facilities
• International outreach in Europe
• Founder of the Therapeutic Olympics program

For over five decades, he helped shape how recreational therapy is practiced—not just locally, but globally.

🌱 The Secret to a Long Career

At nearly 84 years old, Dr. Muilenburg is still engaged in the field.

Why?

Because he lives it.

He stays active.
He keeps learning.
He connects with people.

And most importantly:

He doesn’t rush.

He focuses on balance—body, mind, and spirit.

💬 Advice for Today’s Recreational Therapists

His message is simple—and powerful:

Practice what you preach.

Take care of your own well-being.
Respect the people you serve.
And enjoy the work.

Because in the end, recreational therapy isn’t just about programs or interventions.

It’s about people.

💙 A Lasting Impact

One of Dr. Muilenburg’s proudest accomplishments?

The students.

Many of whom he still keeps in touch with decades later.

That’s the true measure of impact.

Not just what you do—but who you influence.

🌟 Final Thought

Growth doesn’t stop after a few years.

It doesn’t stop after decades.

If anything, it deepens.

Dr. Ted Muilenburg is a reminder that a meaningful career in recreational therapy isn’t built overnight.

It’s built over time.

One connection.
One lesson.
One person at a time.

Book of the Month 

Workbook for Mindset

📘 The Workbook That Helps You Build a Growth Mindset—One Step at a Time

Most people want to improve.

But they don’t always know how.

That’s where this month’s featured book stands out.

📖 Book of the Month: The Workbook for Growth Mindset

Inspired by the work of Carol Dweck, this workbook takes a powerful idea—and makes it practical.

Because a growth mindset isn’t just something you believe.

It’s something you practice.

🧠 The Core Idea

At the center of this workbook is a simple concept:

You can improve.

Your abilities aren’t fixed.
Your skills can grow.

With effort.
With practice.
With time.

That’s the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset—and it shapes how people learn, respond to challenges, and succeed.

✍️ Why This Workbook Works

This isn’t just a book you read.

It’s a book you use.

• Reflection prompts
• Simple exercises
• Real-life applications

It helps you take the idea of growth—and apply it to your daily life.

One step at a time.

🌱 Why It Matters for Recreational Therapists

You already teach growth every day.

You see it in:

• A client trying again
• A small breakthrough
• A new skill being learned

This workbook helps you do the same for yourself.

Because growth isn’t just for the people you serve.

It’s for you too.

💡 Simple Takeaway

You don’t need a complete overhaul.

You don’t need perfect conditions.

You just need to start.

Learn something new.
Try something different.
Take one step forward.

That’s how growth happens.

🌟 Final Thought

A growth mindset doesn’t mean everything is easy.

It means everything is possible—with effort.

And when you commit to that idea, small changes begin to add up.

Day by day.

Step by step.

Game of the Month

Growth Mindset Affirmation Cards

🎲 The Simple Tool That Helps People Think, Grow, and Move Forward

Growth doesn’t always start with action.

Sometimes, it starts with a thought.

This month’s featured game is simple—but powerful.

Affirmation cards help people shift how they think.

One card at a time.

Each card introduces a new perspective—often comparing a fixed mindset with a growth mindset.

Not just what to think.

But how to think differently.

🧠 Why It Works in Recreational Therapy

You don’t need complicated materials to create meaningful change.

With a simple deck of cards, you can:

• Start meaningful conversations
• Build confidence
• Encourage reflection

It works in:

• Group sessions
• Individual sessions
• Psychoeducational settings

And it meets people where they are.

🌱 Simple Takeaway

Growth starts with one thought.

One shift.
One new belief.

And sometimes, all it takes is one card.

🧩 QUICK ACTIVITY IDEA

Draw & Reflect

• Each participant draws a card
• Reads it aloud
• Shares how it applies to their life

👉 Keep it simple. That’s where it works best.

Danny Pettry’s Corner

Stay on Track

Most people don’t fall behind all at once.

It happens slowly.

A delay here.
A busy week there.
Putting something off just one more time.

And before you know it, you’re trying to catch up.

I’ve seen this happen—not just with CEUs, but in life.

The people who stay ahead don’t do everything at once.

They just stay consistent.

A little progress each week.
A small step forward.

That’s it.

Growth doesn’t require perfection.

It requires consistency.

So this month, don’t focus on doing everything.

Focus on staying on track.

That’s where the real difference is made.

—Danny

Fun Pages for All Ages 

Images from istock photo

April RT Growth Giveaway 🎉

Most Recreational Therapists wait until the last minute to complete their CEUs.

Top RTs don’t.

This month, I’m sharing my book:

📘 What Top Recreational Therapists Do Differently
(Free PDF for April)

This short guide is for RTs who want to:
✔ Stay on track
✔ Avoid last-minute stress
✔ Keep their certification in good standing

🎁 You’ll also be entered to win 1 of 9 $10 Amazon gift cards

Stay on track. Avoid last-minute stress.

Never Scramble for CEUs Again

50+ NCTRC Pre-Approved Hours.
Online. Anytime. One annual investment.

• 2 new hours added monthly.

Trusted by Recreational Therapists for 20+ Years.