About Our Special Needs Programs
Learning life skills for health! We partner with schools serving children with special needs to design hands-on life skills curricula to meet their students’ needs. These interactive programs are customized to include:
- Culinary skills development through cooking healthy recipes;
- Gross motor skill development through gardening, yoga and active movement;
- Practical nutrition knowledge through games and scavenger hunts;
- Self-esteem development through the encouragement and support of our professional team.
About Our Special Needs Programs
Learning life skills for health! We partner with schools serving children with special needs to design hands-on life skills curricula to meet their students’ needs. These interactive programs are customized to include:
- Culinary skills development through cooking healthy recipes;
- Gross motor skill development through gardening, yoga and active movement;
- Practical nutrition knowledge through games and scavenger hunts;
- Self-esteem development through the encouragement and support of our professional team.
“The parents of our students have seen a positive difference at home as well. Many of the students are open to trying new foods and have been more health conscience about what types of food choices they are making for their well-being. As a result of these healthy changes, parents are seeing the results at the doctor’s office as well. We will be celebrating our 10th year of our public/private partnership next year and feel strongly that this healthy-lifestyle programming is making a difference for our school community.”
– Principal Robert Mortano, Transition Center, Bergen County Special Service, Woodridge, NJ
The experience can be modeled as a one time workshop or weekly life skills adventure to HealthBarn USA. Each session lasts two hours. This time helps the students improve their attending skills as well as their work endurance. All students follow directions whether they are following a recipe, planting in the garden, or cleaning up.
Real life Math Skills including counting and addition, measurement, and fractions are also used each week. Students learn to work together in small groups as well as with the full time professional and dietetic interns. The students receive the recipe of the week to encourage them to cook at home with their families.
In collaboration with your teachers and aides, all activities are modified so each student is able to participate according to their academic level and leaning style. Students who cannot communicate utilize pre-programmed teaching pages that include pictures of related vocabulary, ingredients for each recipe and the basic concepts being taught. Also, Educational Interpreters guide the hearing impaired students through the learning process.
Do Your Students Want More HealthBarn USA Time?
We can also customize our school field trips and school assemblies to meet the needs of all children and make learning healthy fun!
Do Your Students Want More HealthBarn USA Time?
We can also customize our school field trips and school assemblies to meet the needs of all children and make learning healthy fun!