Activities as an important component of the overall development of children with developmental disabilities

In modern times, children increasingly spend their free time in front of computers and televisions, including children with disabilities, while true values such as socializing with peers and engaging in indoor and outdoor activities are often neglected. The aim of this study was to determine how successful children with developmental disabilities are in performing sports activities and to what extent these activities influence their overall development. The study included a sample of N = 13 children with developmental disabilities. Data were collected using a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (body height and body mass, BMI) and motor ability assessments (Eurofit test battery), and were processed using the statistical software IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Data processing and statistical analysis included descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. Frequencies and percentages were calculated as part of descriptive statistics. The research results are presented in tables and graphs. The obtained results indicate the presence of obesity among children with developmental disabilities. Out of 13 participants, 6 (46.2%) were overweight, while 2 (15.38%) were obese. It was also concluded that these children do not participate in sports activities for several reasons: severe intellectual disabilities, parents’ lack of understanding of the child’s need for sports, insufficient parental involvement, lack of time, as well as financial barriers, since many parents are unemployed. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that sport is an important component of the overall development of children with developmental disabilities, that it has a very positive impact on this population from multiple aspects, and that significantly more effort must be invested in adapting sports content to children with disabilities in order to increase their participation. Equally important, if not more so, is the need to educate parents and provide other forms of support to families of children with developmental disabilities.