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Your FREE January 2025 Issue of Rec Therapy Today
Danny Pettry/ Rec Therapy Today has consistenly sent out a monthly email for Recreational Therapists since 2004.
Dear Innovative Rec Therapist —
Welcome to the January 2025 Edition of Rec Therapy Today!
Happy New Year! 🌟 As we step into 2025, this edition of Rec Therapy Today is here to inspire and energize you for the months ahead.
Inside, you’ll find:
🎯 Tips for Writing Goals in the New Year – Set yourself up for success with actionable strategies.
📚 Book of the Month – Discover a must-read that will uplift and motivate.
🎲 Game of the Month – Add fun and connection to your sessions with this engaging activity.
✨ Rec Therapist of the Month – Celebrate a standout professional making a difference.
📖 Fun Pages for All Ages – Enjoy puzzles, challenges, and creative exercises for everyone.
🎓 Continuing Education Opportunities – Invest in yourself with courses designed for growth.
Let this be your guide to making 2025 a year of meaningful impact and joy in recreational therapy.
Let’s dive in together!
Your friend and partner in Rec Therapy,
Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., M.S., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BHS
P.S. — Monthly giveaway is at bottom of this page, so you’ll have to scroll to the bottom.
Save the Date: FREE CEU Teleconference
Recreational Therapy: Putting the ‘RT’ in HEART Teleconference.
Celebrating International Recreational Therapy Month
Save the date for a free CEU teleconference live on Saturday, 22nd February 2025! Join us for five inspiring one-hour sessions focusing on the heart of recreational therapy.
Call for Presenters:
We’re inviting recreational therapists to share their expertise by submitting presentation proposals. Help us make this event an unforgettable celebration of RT’s impact.
Inspiration for the Month
Humor of the Month
Infographics for the Month
Holidays this Month
Major Holidays:
- January 1 (Wednesday): New Year’s Day – Celebrate the start of the new year!
- January 20 (Monday): Martin Luther King Jr. Day – A federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader (observed on the third Monday of January).
Other Observances:
- January 4 (Saturday): National Spaghetti Day – A fun day to celebrate this popular dish.
- January 13 (Monday): National Sticker Day – Perfect for creative activities or collecting!
- January 14 (Tuesday): National Clean Off Your Desk Day – Start the year organized (observed on the second Monday of January).
- January 19 (Sunday): National Popcorn Day – A great day for popcorn-based activities or a movie session.
- January 24 (Friday): National Compliment Day – Spread positivity with thoughtful compliments.
- January 27 (Monday): International Holocaust Remembrance Day – A day of reflection and remembrance.
- January 29 (Wednesday): National Puzzle Day – Perfect for recreational therapy sessions focused on problem-solving.
Get Discount with our Corporate/ Group Rec Therapy CEUs Membeship
Contact us: Danny(at)DannyPettry.com to receive your group membership.
Featured Article for the Month
Writing Effective Measurable Goals for 2025
By Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., M.S., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BHS
As we welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where we’re headed and how to get there. Writing clear, measurable goals is a cornerstone of success in recreational therapy, personal development, and professional growth. Let’s dive into how you can create goals that drive results and inspire action.
Why Measurable Goals Matter
Measurable goals provide a clear roadmap for success. They help you track progress, stay motivated, and adjust strategies as needed. In recreational therapy, measurable goals are essential for creating effective treatment plans, ensuring accountability, and demonstrating outcomes.
The SMART Framework
A tried-and-true method for writing effective goals is the SMART framework:
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Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
Example: Instead of saying “improve physical fitness,” specify “increase upper body strength by completing a 10-minute resistance training routine three times a week.” -
Measurable: Quantify progress with clear criteria.
Example: “Complete a 30-minute guided relaxation exercise twice a week” is measurable because you can track how often it happens. -
Achievable: Set goals that are realistic given your resources and timeframe.
Example: Setting a goal to “complete a marathon” is admirable, but if you’re new to running, aiming to “run 5K within three months” might be more achievable. -
Relevant: Ensure the goal aligns with your broader purpose or treatment objectives.
Example: For a client focusing on social engagement, a goal like “participate in two group activities per month” is relevant. -
Time-Bound: Assign a deadline to your goal to create urgency and focus.
Example: “Develop a personalized fitness plan by January 31, 2025.”
Tips for Writing Goals in Recreational Therapy
-
Focus on Functionality
Goals should address specific needs and functional improvements, such as physical, emotional, or social skills.
Example: “Client will increase social interaction by initiating conversations with peers three times during weekly group therapy sessions.” -
Collaborate with Clients
Engage clients in the goal-setting process. This ensures their buy-in and aligns goals with their personal values and interests. -
Break Goals into Steps
For larger goals, outline smaller, manageable steps to build momentum and confidence.
Example: A client aiming to rejoin a community sports team might start with attending a local practice as a spectator. -
Use Action Verbs
Action-oriented language clarifies the expected behavior or outcome. Use verbs like demonstrate, complete, participate, and improve. -
Regularly Review and Adjust
Revisit goals periodically to assess progress and make necessary adjustments. Celebrate milestones to keep motivation high!
Examples of Effective Goals
Here are a few examples tailored to different domains:
- Physical: “Client will improve endurance by walking 10 minutes daily, increasing to 20 minutes by March 31, 2025.”
- Cognitive: “Client will complete a 20-piece puzzle independently within 15 minutes by February 15, 2025.”
- Social: “Client will attend one social activity per week and engage in at least two conversations per session for three months.”
- Emotional: “Client will identify three positive coping strategies for stress and use one strategy weekly over the next month.”
Your Call to Action
Whether you’re writing goals for your clients, your career, or your personal life, remember: clear, measurable goals are the foundation of meaningful progress. Take time this January to reflect, plan, and write goals that will make 2025 your most impactful year yet.
Here’s to achieving great things together! 🎉
What goals are you setting for this year? Share them with us on social media using #RecTherapyToday! We’d love to hear from you.
January Activity Ideas
1. New Year Vision Boards
Supplies Needed:
- Magazines, newspapers, or printouts
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Poster boards or large construction paper
- Markers, pens, and stickers
Instructions:
- Begin with a group discussion about setting intentions or goals for the new year.
- Provide each participant with a poster board and encourage them to cut out images, words, or phrases that represent their goals or aspirations.
- Glue the cutouts onto the board and decorate with markers and stickers.
- Once complete, invite participants to share their vision boards with the group if they feel comfortable.
Potential Outcomes:
- Improved concentration and focus
- Enhanced self-expression and creativity
- Healthy distraction and relaxation
- Goal-setting skills
- Social interaction through sharing
2. MLK Jr. “I Have a Dream” Journaling and Art
Supplies Needed:
- Journals or plain paper
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Inspirational quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.
Instructions:
- Read aloud a short excerpt from MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech or share inspirational quotes.
- Encourage participants to write about their own dreams for themselves, their community, or the world.
- Optionally, participants can create a piece of artwork inspired by their writing.
- Facilitate a discussion where participants share their dreams or artwork with the group.
Potential Outcomes:
- Self-reflection and personal growth
- Increased self-expression through art and writing
- Improved interpersonal skills during group discussion
- Positive focus on hope and aspirations
3. New Year Resolutions Game
Supplies Needed:
- A large sheet of paper or whiteboard
- Markers
- Index cards
Instructions:
- Write “New Year Resolutions” at the top of the whiteboard or paper.
- Provide each participant with an index card to write one fun or serious resolution.
- Collect the cards, shuffle them, and read each aloud.
- Group members guess who wrote each resolution.
- Discuss steps to achieve resolutions as a group.
Potential Outcomes:
- Enhanced social interaction and communication skills
- Fun and lighthearted distraction
- Problem-solving and goal-setting
- Group cohesion and bonding
4. MLK Jr. Community Service Project
Supplies Needed:
- Small care package supplies (e.g., socks, snacks, hygiene products)
- Bags or boxes for packaging
- Markers and blank cards
Instructions:
- Discuss MLK Jr.’s legacy of service and giving back to the community.
- Work together as a group to assemble care packages.
- Write encouraging notes or draw pictures to include in each package.
- Deliver the packages to a local shelter or community center (or prepare them for delivery).
Potential Outcomes:
- Increased sense of purpose and community connection
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Emotional fulfillment through acts of kindness
- Fine motor skills during package assembly
5. New Year Gratitude Jar
Supplies Needed:
- A large jar or container
- Slips of paper
- Pens or pencils
Instructions:
- Introduce the concept of gratitude and its benefits.
- Invite participants to write down one thing they’re grateful for or a positive memory from the past year on each slip of paper.
- Collect all slips in the jar and read them aloud as a group, fostering a positive atmosphere.
- Encourage participants to continue adding to the jar throughout the year.
Potential Outcomes:
- Improved emotional well-being
- Focus on positivity and gratitude
- Social connection through sharing
- Enhanced self-reflection
6. MLK Jr. Collaborative Mural
Supplies Needed:
- Large roll of butcher paper or poster board
- Paint, markers, or crayons
- Inspirational quotes and images related to MLK Jr.
Instructions:
- Discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of equality and unity.
- Work together as a group to create a collaborative mural featuring symbols, quotes, and artwork inspired by his legacy.
- Display the mural in a common area as a reminder of the group’s shared values.
Potential Outcomes:
- Enhanced teamwork and collaboration
- Improved fine motor skills through art
- Greater understanding of cultural and historical significance
- Increased pride and group identity
These activities encourage creativity, self-expression, and meaningful reflection while fostering a sense of community and skill development.
Book of the Month
Summary:
In Atomic Habits, James Clear provides a practical guide to building better habits and breaking bad ones. Clear introduces actionable strategies grounded in behavioral science, including the “Four Laws of Behavior Change”:
- Make It Obvious – Design your environment to promote good habits.
- Make It Attractive – Pair habits with positive emotions or rewards.
- Make It Easy – Simplify your routines to reduce friction.
- Make It Satisfying – Create a sense of accomplishment to reinforce habits.
Through real-life examples and science-backed methods, Atomic Habits demonstrates how small, incremental changes can lead to remarkable results over time.
Why Recreational Therapists Can Benefit from Developing Effective Habits
As recreational therapists (RTs), starting the new year with effective habits can set the tone for personal and professional success. Here’s how Atomic Habits can benefit RTs:
-
Enhancing Time Management
Clear’s methods can help RTs streamline their daily routines, freeing up time to focus on creating impactful programs and meaningful client interactions. -
Promoting Personal Well-Being
Developing self-care habits, such as mindfulness or exercise, ensures RTs maintain their energy and resilience to support others effectively. -
Improving Client Outcomes
RTs can use the principles of habit formation to help clients establish routines that support their therapeutic goals, such as increasing physical activity, practicing relaxation techniques, or improving social skills. -
Fostering Professional Growth
Small, consistent actions—like dedicating time to continuing education or documenting sessions promptly—can lead to significant progress in professional development.
By adopting the strategies in Atomic Habits, RTs can make 2025 a year of growth, balance, and success for themselves and their clients. Let’s start the year strong—one small habit at a time!
Game of the Month
What’s That Sound? – A Hilarious Charades Game with Sounds
Bring the laughs and energy to your group sessions with What’s That Sound?—our January 2025 Game of the Month! This unique twist on charades will have everyone acting, guessing, and making some of the weirdest and funniest noises you’ve ever heard.
Game Highlights:
- Players draw cards with quirky sounds to make and actions to perform, challenging their creativity and quick thinking.
- Perfect for groups of all sizes and ages, making it an excellent choice for recreational therapy settings.
- Encourages participants to step out of their comfort zones while having a great time.
Why We Love It:
What’s That Sound? isn’t just fun—it’s a fantastic tool for building interpersonal skills, fostering teamwork, and boosting mood through laughter. It promotes creativity, concentration, and healthy social interactions, making it a hit for therapy groups or family game nights alike.
Grab your copy today and watch as your group bonds over the joy of goofy sounds and hilarious guesses
Rec Therapist of the Month:
Tracie Ball
This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight Tracie Ball, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) from Elkhart, Indiana, who has dedicated her career to empowering individuals through recreational therapy.
About Tracie
Tracie earned her B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and has since worked in the community setting, primarily through the Medicaid Waiver system. She provides services to individuals across the lifespan, from children to the elderly, with a special focus on those with intellectual disabilities.
Tracie’s interventions include:
- Community Integration: Helping clients build meaningful connections within their communities.
- Social Skills Training: Equipping individuals with the tools to form and sustain relationships.
- Leisure Education: Teaching the value of recreation for personal fulfillment.
- Physical Activities for Health: Promoting fitness and wellness through tailored activities.
Why Recreational Therapy?
Tracie was drawn to recreational therapy because of its versatility and the joy of helping people see tangible progress. She shared, “I’ve always enjoyed helping people and seeing progress, and what better way to do that than recreational therapy!”
What She Loves About Her Work
For Tracie, the most rewarding aspect of her profession is “giving people tools to fill their toolbelts and then watching them independently use them.” Her passion for empowering her clients shines through every aspect of her work.
Advice for New Recreational Therapists
Tracie encourages new professionals to:
- Take care of yourself: Prioritize self-care to stay energized and focused.
- Educate others: Spread awareness about the value of recreational therapy.
- Be confident: Believe in your skills and the positive impact of your work.
Future of Recreational Therapy
Tracie is optimistic about the field, envisioning increased awareness of the benefits of recreational therapy.
Who Inspires Her
Tracie names none other than Danny Pettry as a source of inspiration. “I am amazed at what he’s done with his career, and he has done a lot I have wanted to do! His attitude and stale jokes are always a pleasure!”
Beyond Work
When she’s not helping her clients, Tracie enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and relaxing whenever she can.
What She Loves About Rec Therapy Today
Tracie appreciates the easy access to continuing education opportunities offered by Rec Therapy Today. She’s especially interested in obtaining specialty certifications and would love to see more webinars on how to achieve them.
Thank you, Tracie, for your dedication to recreational therapy and for inspiring us all to empower others through meaningful interventions. Congratulations on being our January 2025 Rec Therapist of the Month! 🎉
🌟 Be Featured as Rec Therapy Today’s Rec Therapist of the Month! 🌟
Are you passionate about recreational therapy?
Do you want to inspire others in the field?
Here’s your chance to shine!
It’s easy to apply:
✅ Answer a few simple questions.
✅ Share your story and insights.
✅ Submit and let us celebrate YOU!
Your work makes a difference—let us highlight your dedication and inspire others in the RT community. Apply now and take the spotlight as a Rec Therapist of the Month!
✨ You deserve to be recognized! ✨
Video of the Month
In this insightful video, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, discusses the concept of continuous improvement by focusing on getting 1% better every day. He explains how small, consistent changes can lead to remarkable results over time, emphasizing the power of tiny habits in achieving significant personal and professional growth.
Why This Video Is Excellent for Recreational Therapists:
-
Practical Strategies: Clear provides actionable advice on habit formation, which RTs can apply in both their personal development and therapeutic practices.
-
Client Application: The principles discussed can be used to help clients develop positive habits, enhancing their rehabilitation and quality of life.
-
Professional Growth: Understanding habit formation can assist RTs in creating more effective treatment plans and interventions.
By integrating the techniques from this video, recreational therapists can enhance their skills and better support their clients in achieving incremental and sustainable improvements.
Danny Pettry’s Corner
Holiday Reflections and New Year Excitement
This Christmas season, I had the pleasure of taking some much-needed time off—my longest stretch of vacation days in years! I traveled to my hometown of Beckley, West Virginia, to spend quality time with my family.
One highlight was indulging in delicious cookies baked by my brother, Jimmy, who takes his baking seriously (he even works part-time at Crumbl Cookie!). I also had the joy of taking my mom to see the new Bob Dylan movie, a treat for both of us. With my dad, I kept things low-key but meaningful—we bonded over superhero movies, a shared favorite pastime.
Despite being a recreational therapist, I admit I’m a bit of a workaholic, often immersed in my role providing services at our Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). Taking this extended break reminded me of the importance of recharging and savoring life’s simple joys.
As we turn the page to a new year, I’m filled with excitement. New Year’s Day is my favorite day of the year—a time to reflect, dream, and plan. I look forward to setting goals for personal growth and finding ways to contribute to the community that means so much to me.
Here’s to making 2025 a year of progress, connection, and meaningful impact. What are your goals for the new year? Let’s inspire each other to make it our best year yet
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Submit Your News to the Rec Therapy Today Newsletter and Blog
We’re always looking for new ways to showcase the incredible work recreational therapists like you are doing. That’s why we’re inviting you to share your insights, stories, and ideas with Rec Therapy Today!
Do you have a special program, activity, or success story you’d like to highlight? Perhaps you have tips, resources, or professional advice to inspire your fellow rec therapists?
Now’s your chance to be featured in our newsletter or on our blog!
Whether it’s a brief tip, a heartfelt story, or a unique program idea, your contribution can make a big impact in our community.
Why share?
- Showcase your creativity and expertise.
- Inspire others in the field of recreational therapy.
- Connect with our vibrant and supportive RT community.
We can’t wait to see what you’ll share! Thank you for helping us keep the rec therapy conversation alive and thriving.
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December 2024 Winners
🎉 Special Announcement: December 2024 Giveaway Winners! 🎉
Rec Therapy Today is thrilled to announce the winners of our December 2024 Giveaway! Each of the following individuals will be receiving a $10 Amazon gift card in the mail as a token of our appreciation for being part of the Rec Therapy Today community.
United States Winners
- Lynn E. – San Diego, CA
- Delinda C. – Phoenix, AZ
- Leigha R. – Indiana, PA
- Chelsea W. – Concord, NC
- Kathy P. – Sacramento, CA
- Kathleen F. – Baltimore, MD
- Devn H. – Stone Mountain, GA
- Ambrer R. – North Little Rock, AR
- Katharine Wright – Morganton, NC
Canadian Winner
Erica – Lewis Lake, NS
Congratulations to all our winners! 🎁 We hope you enjoy your gift card, and thank you for your continued support of Rec Therapy Today. Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways and opportunities in the future!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Rec Therapy Today! 🌟
January 2025 Contest —
📢 Share Your Story with Rec Therapy Today! ✍️
Calling all Recreational Therapists! 🎉
Have you been inspired, supported, or motivated by Rec Therapy Today?
We want to hear YOUR story!
Enter our Rec Therapy Today Essay Contest for a chance to have your essay featured in our 2025 booklet: “Rec Therapy Today: Stories That Inspire.”
How to Enter:
✏️ We’ll provide simple questions to guide your essay. Easy and stress-free!
📅 Submit your answers by midnight, January 31, 2025.
Why Enter?
✨ Winners will receive a U.S. Golden Dollar Coin as a token of appreciation.
✨ Your story will be published in our special 2025 booklet, shared with the Rec Therapy community!
Let’s celebrate the incredible impact of recreational therapy and the role Rec Therapy Today plays in empowering professionals like you.