Famela Restrepo

LEI 4724
Activity File 10

Activity title: Ha
Source: Dattilo, J., & McKenney, A. (2000). Therapeutic Use of Humor. In Facilitation
Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation (Second ed., p. 508). State College, PA:
Venture.

Equipment: none
Description of activity:
Has participants lie on the ground on their backs in a circle. Participant can be arranged in a
number of ways. For instance, they can arranged so that they resemble the spoke of a wheel with
either their heads or their feet touching in the center of the circle. However they are arranged, it
is important that participants are close to one another. Tell participants that, no matters what, they
are not supposed to laugh during the activity. Choose one participant to begin the activity.
Instruct participant that the first person will say ha, then the second person will say Ha ha, and
then each person will add one additional ha as it becomes their turn. So, by the time the
seventh person speaks, he or she will say Ha seven times. Usually, the combination of the
laughter restriction and the absurdity of the activity will create an irresistible urge to laugh. The
facilitator can process the activity with a discussion of the value of laughter.
Leadership consideration: this activity is best perform in medium groups (maximum of 15
participants) Contemplate using a room or space with an area where participants could sit in a
circle. Therapist functions as a moderator first by explaining the activity, then by instructing
participants to take their places and helping them to accommodate if necessary. Once they are in
the correct place, therapist functions as facilitator by giving pointing the first participant to
initiate the activity.
Adaptations:
Participants with Cystic fibrosis (CF). When there is more than one person with CF participating,
it is essential that they be kept a minimum of 6 feet (2 meters) apart from each other. Germs can
spread as far as 6 feet through droplets released in the air when people cough or sneeze. The
facilitator has to make sure that there are tissues readily available and encourage people to cough
or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away immediately before washing or cleaning hands. If a
tissue is not available, encourage everyone to cough or sneeze into their inner elbow.
Participants with asthma. An adaptation for this activity will be trying to make another child
laugh via grimaces, jokes, etc., with asthmatic participants first attempting to laugh silently and
then laughing aloud. This will help to increase abdominal muscle as participant breathes in and
out.