Activity File 11

Activity Title 3: Sunprints

Source:
Hart, R., & Rollins, J. (2011). Therapeutic Activities for Children and Teens Coping with
Health Issues. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Equipment: Assorted hospital implements and supplies that will cast interesting
shadows (i.e., gauze, tubing, bandages, swabs, syringes, etc.), sunprint (light-senstive)
paper, cardboard, basin filled with water and paper towels.
Description of Activity:
The activity will begin by the therapist explaining what are sunprints. The
therapist will tell the participants that sunprints are are photographs made from
materials that create shadows on light-sensitive paper. In the area where participants
will be sitting let them select object they wish to use, then experiment arranging them
together on a flat surface to make an artistic composition. When they are satisfied with
their arrangement, darken the room and give the participants a sheet of sunpaper to
place, blue side up, atop a piece of cardboard. Tell the participants to recreate their
arrangement of objects on top of the sunprint paper. Instruct the participants to place
their sunprint paper in direct sunlight, and then wait three minutes. When then three
minutes have passed, tell the participants to remove the objects quickly. Then tell
participants to immediately place the sunprint paper into water and gently swish it
around for about a minute. When the time as elapsed, tell the participants to remove the
paper from the water and place the paper on a flat surface to dry. Once the sunprint
have dried, the participants will sit together and talk about their artwork. The therapist is
to encourage participants to demonstrate their activity to the other participants. He/she
will ask participants what they enjoyed the most about the activity and how they feel the
activity can get better.
Leadership considerations:
This activity is best performed in small groups of participants, around 6-8
participants. The activity can only be done on a sunny day and requires a room that can
be darkened, so it has to be performed in an indoor setting. The therapist during this
activity is very directly involved with participants because of all the small details
involved. The therapist will be a moderator and explain to participants what a sunprint is
and then explain how they will perform the sunprint. As the participants perform the
different steps of the activity, the therapist will supervise them. When the step of
darkening the room comes, the therapist will become a moderator again and tell
participants when time is up, so they can dip into the water. The therapist will continue
to supervise the particiants until the end of the activity. Once everyones sunprint is
done drying, the therapist will lead a discussion about the different sunprints that
everyone did. They will develop other questions based on the participants needs and
interest. During the activity there are some safety hazards to be attentive to, such as the
materials used to make the arrangement and the basin filled with water. Depending on
the maerials being used for the arrangements, the participants are to use them only for
the arrangements not play around with. The basin filled with water can cause quite a

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mess if not used correctly. The therapist is to advise all participants to walk towards the
basins and to gently put the sunprint into the basin.
Adaptations:
*Participants with Multiple Sclerosis:
Participants with multiple sclerosis have what is a progressive disease that
affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal column. The
results of the damage that multiple sclerosis bring are numbness and tingling of hands
or feet, weakness of lower extremities, loss of voluntary movements of muscles, loss of
vision in one or both eyes, and facial numbness. Participants may also develop
cognitive problems and affective disorders, which result in personality changes, memory
loss, and decreased planning and organizational abilities (Datillo, 2012). During this
activity, participants are required to move from the window area quickly to the basin of
water. Due to the circumstances of the participants, if the participants are not on
wheelchairs they may take a longer time to walk from one spot and to the other. So, the
therapist will pair up the participants to make sections of the activity that require walking
and standing up for long times easier. So the pairs will be one participant with multiple
sclerosis and a participant who is able to walk to ease. To facilitate the activity for
participants it is recommended that the light inside the facility is adequate to maximize
vision (Rodriguez, 2015). During some portions of the activity, the room is required to be
dark, so for these parts participants will be asked to stay in their spots and their partners
will be doing the walking in the dark. Participant may also experience weakness and
loss of voluntary movements of muscles; participants should rest their elbows on the
tables to give them more motion to their wrists and hands (Make Your Home, n.d.). So
when participants are making their design with the materials on the tables, its when the
therapist advises the participants to place their elbows on the table. Some participants
may be required to use a wheelchair during the time of exacerbations and then later be
able to walk with assistance during the time of remission (Datillo, 2012). When
participants are using the wheelchairs, provide adequate space for them to move
around.
*Participants with Arthritis:
Participants with arthritis are characterized by the pain and stiffness in or around
the joints of the body that it brings. What occurs is that the joints become inflamed and
eventually a breakdown in the joint cartilage will occur (Datillo, 2012). Due to the
stiffness around the joints doing simple actions like walking and or moving objects with
their hands can be difficult and painful. For the walking and standing portion of the
sunprints, the participants will have partners. The participants will do the parts that do
not require walking quickly or standing up for minutes. When they are to complete the
design on the paper, it will take participants an above average time to complete, so
allow participants extra time. Another way to adapt the activity for these participants is to
make sure the floors are completely free of tipping hazards. Arthritis makes walking
difficult and if one participant were to fall the pain can unbearable for them (Orenstein,
n.d.). Joan and Sanford from Weil Medical College of Cornell University actually did a
study on what were some adaptations that arthritis participants did in their daily life.
From the many difficulties that they faced daily, one that around 45% suffered was not
being able to choose their own rest periods (2000). So if participants seemed fatigued,

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the therapist is to ask if they need some time to rest and if they agree to a rest period,
then make sure they are provided the significant amount of rest they desire. Although
the participants suffer pain in their joints, it believed that most people with arthritis who
use a sensible amount of exercise would ease pain and most importantly avoids
immobility (Datillo, 2012). The participants should participate in moving the paper in
basin to increase mobility if their hands and wrists.
Adaptations References
Dattilo, J. (2012). Learn About People, Inclusion, and Disability. In Inclusive Leisure
Services (Third ed., pp. 385-485). State College, PA: Venture Publishing.
Joan, & Sanford. (2000). Adaptations made by rheumatoid arthritis patients to continue
working: A pilot study of workplace challenges and successful adaptations.
Arthritis Care Res., 89-99. Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://www.
ncbi.nlm.n ih.gov/pubmed/14635282.
Make Your Home Work for You When You Have MS. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16,
2015, from http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/multiple-sclerosisadapting-your-home.
Orenstein, B. (n.d.). 8 Great Home Modifications for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Retrieved
October 31, 2015, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritispictures/great-home-modifications-for-rheumatoid-arthritis.aspx#05.
Rodirguez, D. (2015). Adapting Your Home for Multiple Sclerosis. Retrieved November
15, 2015, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/multiple-sclerosispictures/adapting-your-home/#10.