Kids Club: Making a Difference

At this time of the year, it is important to reflect on how we make a difference in the community. Nazareth College is committed to improving the quality of lives of those in the greater Rochester area in many different ways with programs such as Kids Club.

Kids Club is a program for children ages 5-10 who have a physical or communication disorder. It was started because children with such disabilities rarely have an opportunity to participate in recreationally focused health and wellness activities. To fill this gap, faculty and students from Nazareth’s School of Health and Human Services developed Kids Club. It began as a week long program during the children’s spring break from school. It has evolved into an after school program that spans eight weeks in each semester. The children come to Nazareth’s campus two afternoons a week for activities that are supervised by faculty and students from our physical therapy, communication sciences and disorders, art therapy, and music therapy programs.  About 30 children currently participate. But, with additional funding we could grow the program and even expand it into the summer months.

Last year, Nazareth College was one of 190 colleges and universities in the country to be selected by the Carnegie Foundation for its community engagement classification. Kids Club is one more example of our commitment to that kind of engagement and to taking steps to improve the quality of lives of people throughout the region.      

Comments

[Celia Lambert Forbes]

I would like to find out if Nazareth offers a program like this for children with autism. My 12 year old son is diagnosed on the autistic spectrum and we'd love to have this sort of outlet for him during schoolbreaks....especially summers. They are the hardest/loneliest. He has had very positive experiences with the NAZpartners at his school. Thanks
Celia

[Taylor]

That is the best thing ever! Helping children with physical of comunication disiblities. I've wanted to go to Nazareth College since probably 3rd grade and I'm in 7th grade now. I hope this program is still going when I graduate High School, because I'd love to help with this!

[health and Wellness]

Kids Club really a very inspiring one to those who have disorder. This could help to motivate to all kids who have such kind of problem. Because usually these people have a low rate of confidence.

So , good idea!
Thumbs up!