April 2018

This unit provides lessons and activities that assist team members in making informed decisions about what they do in their free time. This includes selecting, planning and participating in a variety of leisure activities. As we assist our young adults in the transition from school to work, it is necessary that they receive direct instruction on how to use their free time to participate in activities that are both enjoyable and rewarding. This unit will provide our young adults with the tools needed to identify their interests, find and plan new activities to try and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The unit stories help young adults learn the importance of making well-informed decisions about leisure time activities. In the first story, a young woman finds out that having too much free time can get boring. She learns that it is important to find a healthy balance between work and play. In the second story, a young man watches his family have fun as they try new things at an amusement park. He learns that to know what he does or does not like, he must try it first! Three articles offer more information about important leisure time choices that team members must make for themselves, including how to choose and plan for the right leisure activity.

Regular monthly lessons offer our young adults the opportunity to practice making choices. The importance of planning ahead for expenses related to free time activates is addressed in banking and budgeting lessons. Team members are given the opportunity to explore their interest in cooking as a leisure activity during the monthly recipe lesson. Community living skills related to recreation and leisure activities are the focus of the daily social trivia lesson, offering more opportunity for our young adults to make smart choices about how they spend their free time.

The opportunity to build upon employment skills and job awareness is emphasized across several lessons each month. Vocationally-focused lessons include the opportunity to discuss maintaining a realistic balance between work and play while also refining important work skills. The final lesson highlights volunteering to practice job skills and gain practical work experience.