Employee recreation programs have been shown to reduce absenteeism, increase performance and productivity, reduce stress levels, and increase job satisfaction. Studies that present positive results of employee recreation are discussed. (DF)

Investigators studied whether a systematically designed recreation program stressing cooperation and interaction among mentally retarded adults would increase the duration and frequency of social contacts. While the program did increase the frequency of social interactions, effects did not carry over after it ended. (Author/PP)

Several aspects for the evaluation of leisure programs are addressed: theoretical frameworks for evaluation; practical rationales for instituting the evaluation process; information about evaluation for persons with varying abilities and needs; and processes for the evaluation of outdoor recreation programs and public leisure sports. (CJ)

Cable television has great potential for the future of mass communication. While some recreators lament television as an unsocial form of recreation, others see it as beneficial for its ability to reach shut-ins and handicapped groups. (JN)

The future maintenance and improvement of park and recreation programs involves: (1) remembering that access to recreation should be independent of socioeconomic status; (2) developing and using marketing skills to serve human needs; (3) expanding and using research for better programs; and (4) evaluating programs for their contribution to human…

This paper describes and evaluates a gymnastic program for children (ages 4-9) with autism and related developmental disorders. An introductory section reviews the literature on characteristics of children with autism and discusses how traditional education is inadequate for such children. Review of the literature on effective interventions notes…

Empirical research on the role of school recess is reviewed. Effects of child-level and school-level variables on recess behavior and the impact of recess on classroom behavior and social and cognitive competence are discussed. It is concluded that recess has important educational and developmental implications. (SLD)