Football

Football plays a huge part of many people's lives in the UK either as participant or observer and often both. I have to confess that for many years I couldn't see the attraction of the game and as none of my friends seemed interested in it I had no opportunity to develop understanding or interest. However, I have recently been forced to reconsider this sport as my daughter is now training in an under-12s team and I have also been going to Conference South matches to see my friend's son playing. Surprise, surprise I really enjoy myself! Better late than never is all I can say in my defence. I will leave it up to others to draw out the benefits of involvement in football as a player or supporter but I did find some interesting links to stories that show that many people are aware of the power of this occupation so please read and comment (while I slink away in shame at my ignorance ;-) First is a story about football being used to improve health, self-esteem and social skills in young boys Second an article about the blind football league And last an article about young people learning about football and health at Aston Villa So why do you think football promotes health and wellbeing?

Knitters of the world, unite!

There has been a knitting revival in the affluent West. If you doubt this just type 'knitting' into Google and see how many entries are found (23,500,000 the last time I did it). Recently I came across this site organising the 2006 Knitting Olympics (linked to the Winter Olympics). Yes, that really is nearly 4000 people (knitting 'athletes') from around the world entering. What is awesome is that it isn't an official event, it's just something organised by some knitting bloggers who thought it might be fun. What has given rise to this craze? Well apparently some Hollywood film star was spotted knitting and everyone wanted to join in. Frankly I don't believe this - I suspect they were the one jumping on the bandwagon, not wanting to look old fashioned and out of touch. A more interesting question perhaps is why so many people (of both sexes) are spending time on this traditional pastime when most of us could pop down to a shop and find a jumper or scarf in virtually any pattern, colour, style and price we could want? The inevitable answer seems to be that people want to do it and want to continue doing it. But why? To those of us interested in occupation, the reasons are because there are possibilities inherent in the occupation of knitting which engage people. Talking about the therapeutic benefits of craftwork have become unfashionable in some occupational therapy circles but movements like this knitting revival remind us the danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. So what are the possibilities in knitting? It provides a combination of process (doing the knitting) and end product. The process involves different levels of complexity. So you can start with an easy item, easy stitches, one colour, a comfortable size needle and type of yarn and gradually work your way up to making Torino, the ultimate Knitting Olympics challenge . The end product can be practical, beautiful, worn, admired, given away, treasured... It requires both physical and cognitive skills, but because the process can be simple or complex, it is accessible to a wide range of people. It involves choice (and we humans do like to be able to choose for ourselves). There is an almost endless choice of yarn types, colours, patterns and types of finished product. It involves creativity. Apart from the choices mentioned above, one can alter a pattern or create a new one. It can be a social activity; witness the rise of knitting groups around the UK What else do you think makes knitting so popular?

Finnish playground therapy

On the BBC Today Programme this morning there was a report about the use of playground activities to improve health and well-being in older adults. Apparently a study has shown great improvements in the participants' health and mobility through regular use of playground equipment. The great thing is that the participants used normal playgrounds alongside children. Finland boasts that it is family-friendly and this initiative certainly seems to bear that out. All ages are encouraged to use a playground together as a family activity and Finnish playground equipment manufacturers are providing extra-strong ("for use by all ages") equipment. There was a great visual image created in my mind by the newscaster's description of two old ladies being bounced high in the air on a seesaw - I could hear them giggling in the background. In terms of occupation, this is much more natural than isolated exercise and movement. It draws on previous experiences, engages the whole body and takes place in a normal environment. It promotes social inclusion by strengthening family and community participation. Thanks to Julie b. for the links to the story and research.