Leisure activities for 6-16 years old Children in public and special primary schools in Reykjavík

1. Leisureactivities for 6-16 yearsoldChildren in public and specialprimaryschools in Reykjavík Sigríður Rut Hilmarsdóttir, Project managerKringlumýri SFS Knowledge center in disabilityservicessigridur.rut.hilmarsdottir@reykjavik.is

2. Kringlumýri-LeisurecentreLeading in Leisure for disabled • Kringlumýri is a Leisurecentre in Reykjvík, one of sixcentersorganizedbytheDepartment of Education and Youth (SFS) • Leisure centers dedicate their work to the free time of all Reykjavik residents, but the key emphasis is placed on working with children and teenagers. • Leisure Centres run afterschool programmes, leisure- and youth clubs in their respective neighbourhoods. Considerable effort is invested in offering diverse and stimulating leisure activities. Building up services for spare time is one of the demands of the time we live in.

3. Kringlumýri-Knowledgecenter • Kringlumýri is SFSknowledgecenter in disabilityservices • Centralizedservice • Ideology • Positiveapproach, TheCircle of Courage, GentleTeaching, Normalisering • Workingmethods • Advice • Guidance • Education • Analysis

4. Knowledge center • Afterschoolactivitycenter in everyschool • All childrenwelcome (customized) • Personalizedsupport • Postreview • Advice and education • For employees • Personal plan • Made for eachchildwithgoalsand workingmethod for theyear

5. STRATEGY Methods The child, learner, youth Resources Human resources Widespreadknowledge, skillsandsuccess Goodresources Qualified and interested employers with ambition for success Flowbetweenlevels of schooling, courses , schoolsandyouthwork Improvements, valuationsandinnovations Academicsocietybasedoninterdiciplinaryjointeffort Socialresponsibility, functionandopenmind Desirabe, friendlyandencouragingworkenvironment Jointeffortbasedondemocracyandvariety Inclusiveeducationandworkwithparticipation Leadingprofession Secutity, good health, wellbeing and happyness Efficientinformationtechnology Efficientuse of financialrecources Strongselfimageandsocialskills

6. SFS leisure core values • Communication skills • Social skills • Self-image • Social engagement Home School Leisure

7. Statistics – children in publicschools • 38 afterschoolcenters in Reykjavik • 6-9 yearsold (about 4300 children) • Serveschildrenwithdisabilitieswhogotopublicschools • Personalizedsupport for about 300 children (7%) • 4 leisureclubs for disabledchildren in publicschools • 10-16 yearsold • ca. 60 children

8. Statistics – children in Klettaskóli/specialschool • 1 afterschoolcentre • 1 leisureclub • 1 youthclub • ca. 90 children

9. Openingtime • Boththeafterschoolprogrammes and theLeisureclubs • Open fram 1:30 pmuntil 5:15 pmon regular schooldays (monday-friday) • Openfrom 8:00 amuntil 5:15 pmduringcertainnonteachingdays and schoolvacations (eastar, christmas and summer) • Closedduringschoolwinterholidays

10. Objectives • Leisure activities focusing on the development and experience of the individual • Democracy • Learn through the experience • Creative thinking • Age appropriate challenges/activities

11. Afterschoolcenters and Leisureclubs • Children´s Democracy. TheUnitedNationsConventionontheRights of theChild. • Importanttool in teachingchildren: • Toinfluencetheirownlives. An activechildren´s democracy • Increasesinitative, independence and responsibility • Waystoimplementchildren´s democracy, including: • Children´s counsils (meetings) • Lettingthemchoosetheiractivities • Allowingtheirinput in planningthedailyactivities

12. Afterschoolcenters • Areimportant for children and especiallydisabledchildren. • Theyhavehugeimpactonchildren´s socialdevelopment. • Theyprovide a secure and familiarspace for work and play. • Theafterschoolcentreputschildren and theirneeds first • Theyarelistenedto, talkedto, and there is room for theirfeelings at theafterschoolcentre • Children´s leisure is important and it is theirrighttoenjoysomequalitytimeoncetheschoolday is over. • Theylearnthateveryone is unique and we all needourspace.

13. Afterschoolcentre • Offer diverse sparetimeactivitiesaftertheconventionalschooldayends. • In theiractivities, theyareguidedbytheprinciplethateachindividualhavingthechancetoprosper and mature in an environmentdefinedbywarmth, security and respect. • Stress thedevelopment of socialskills in interactionthroughplay and work, as well as self-respect and respecttowardsothers and one´s environment. • Seektoimplementdemocraticworkprocedures, increasingchildren´s abilityto form independentviews and impacttheirenvironment and circumstances.

14. Afterschoolcentersareimportant for disabledchildren • Ageappropriateactivities • Personalizedsupport – for everychildtoparticaipate in theactivitieswiththeirpeers • Democracy – helpingthechildrentoexpresstheirlongings • Givingthechildrentheopportunitytobelong in a group of peers • Givingthechildrentheopportunitytoexpandtheirhorizon

15. Leisureclubs for disabled • For 10-16 yearoldchildrenwithdisability in publicschools • 4clubs in Reykjavík • Hellir – is in Breiðholt • Hof – is in Safamýri • Höll – is in Grafarvogur • Hlíðin – for disabledchildren in Brúarskóli • For childrenwhoaretemporary in specialschool (Brúarskóli) for childrenwithsevere mental and emotioanal distress, experiencingsocial and behavioraldifficulties and/or haslead in troublebecause of drugs and/or crime.

16. Leisureclubs • Groupwork • Festivals • Seminars • Informaleducation • Events • Trips

17. Leisureclubs

18. Leisureclubs • Therole of theleisureclubs is topromotepositivedevelopment of youngpeople, helpingthemtobecomemoreindependent – both in actions and socialinteraction – and making themmoreabletoface up tolife´s challenges.

19. Leisureclubs • The role for this age group is designed to introduce the children to the programme’s diverse possibilities and offer positive options for spending their free time while they enjoy the company of other children their age under the supervision of adults.

20. Leisureclub´s Democracy • Theidea is thattheteenagersshouldinfluenzetheschedule • Theteenagers plan theactivities • Empowersteenagers

21. Whyshould all children and teenagersbeencouragedtoparticipate in organisedleisureactivities? • Participating in organisedleisureactivitiesunderthesupervision of trainedprofessionalshasgreatpreventivevalue. By offering children and youngsterspositivethingsto do in theirfreetime, withstrongrolemodels, weincreasetheirchances of choosing a healthylifestyle and avoidingriskbehaviour.

22. Thanks for listening