This April, our Movers and Shakers school holiday group welcomed a fantastic group of kids for a day filled with movement, games, creativity and connection. The program was specially designed for children with vision impairment and focused on helping them build important physical, social and emotional skills - all while having fun.
Led by a team of caring therapists, the day was packed with activities that supported kids in growing stronger, more confident, and more connected with their peers.
What skills did we work on?
Building strength: We helped kids strengthen their muscles, especially in their core, arms and legs. Strong muscles help kids move more easily and with better control. Activities like the obstacle course and physical games encouraged kids to use different parts of their body to push, pull, balance, and stretch - building strength in a fun and playful way.
Improving balance: Balance is a big part of feeling steady and safe while moving. Through games and challenges like Red Light/Green Light and balance-focused tasks in the obstacle course, children practiced staying upright and steady while moving their bodies in different ways. This helps with everything from walking on uneven surfaces to playing on playgrounds.
Boosting coordination: We focused on both hand-eye coordination (how your eyes and hands work together - for our low vision participants) and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body at the same time). Activities like Simon Says and the Copy Me noise game helped kids plan and carry out movements while staying in sync with others - important skills for daily tasks like dressing, writing and playing sports.
Supporting movement and independence: Many of the activities were designed to help children move more easily from one position to another, like getting up from the floor, climbing stairs or walking across a room. These everyday transitions can be tricky, so we built games and challenges that supported these movements in a fun and non-pressured way.
Growing confidence in movement: Trying new movements and games in a supportive group helped children feel more confident in what their bodies can do. As kids mastered new activities, we saw their self-belief grow - many were proud to show off their skills and were eager to have another turn.
Building endurance: We also worked on stamina, helping kids keep going in physical activities for longer. This is important not only for sports and games but also for getting through the day at school or home without getting too tired. Short rest breaks and energising games kept things balanced throughout the sessions.
Encouraging social skills: Every session included group activities that gave kids the chance to take turns, listen to others and share ideas. For children who may find social situations tricky, this kind of gentle practice helps build confidence and communication skills. Games like Musical Statues and partner-based tasks made connecting with others feel natural and fun.
Supporting play and creativity: Creative activities like the Skeleton Pasta craft and reading Me and My Amazing Body helped children express themselves, follow instructions and explore their interests. These types of play-based learning also support thinking skills and emotional development.
A special story from the day
One of the most touching things about the day was seeing children, who may find it hard to connect with peers, form strong friendships with other children in the group. Sometimes, children who are blind or have low vision can, during school breaks, struggle to find their friends in the school yard. Peers may take a little while to learn how to include kids who need to do things a little differently due to their vision impairment.
At groups like Movers and Shakers, where all the children participating understand vision impairment inside out, we see kids just click - playing together, partnering in activities and spending their breaks talking and laughing. This is a nice confidence booster for kids and their families, bringing home that children who are blind or have low vision can easily and happily enjoy active time with friends.
A place to grow and belong
It was also lovely to see kids who had been part of our previous group programs return with excitement, ready to reconnect with friends they’d made before. These returning friendships, and the joy of reuniting, show just how important our school holiday programs are for building lasting social connections.
Looking ahead
The April 2025 Movers and Shakers group wasn’t just about movement, it was about helping children feel stronger in their bodies, more confident in themselves, and more connected to the people around them. We’re so proud of every child who took part and can’t wait to welcome more smiling faces in future groups.
