Helping Children Meet Their Full Potential Faster
Sports are integral to our existence and wellbeing just as air, water, and food. The habit of being active should be included in everyone's life at a very young age. "Catch them young" is the right motto in ensuring that all people have a happy, healthy, and fit life till a ripe old age. As parents, you know that an active lifestyle brings many benefits such as stamina & strength as in addition to teaching many social & life skills along the way. Even though you are eager to kick start their active sports life, you may know there are challenges as well that need to be dealt with background knowledge and with discretion.
As you might be aware, some mainstream team sports such as football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and so on, may not be appropriate choices for children with Autism. With social skills deficits and communication barriers, these games require a good degree of communication and may not prove to be a good fit. Plus, these sports involve high levels of social interaction, executive functioning skills, in addition to being able to handle high levels of sensory stimulation.
Therefore, certain sports that don't require teamwork may be a good choice to begin with. Some examples may include swimming, bowling, horseback riding, skateboarding, cycling, martial arts, and gymnastics. These are primarily solo activities that are easier on people with ASD and still provide the overall nourishment needed. Here are a few considerations as parents for getting your child on the sports bandwagon:
Communication with the child on their interests is the first step. An open dialogue will help your child to understand the road ahead. Plus, it is vital that your child’s abilities and strengths are kept in mind when opting for a sport for them to indulge. So, if someone is averse to water, swimming is out. If they enjoy being with animals, horse riding may be a better match.
Keep in mind the child's sensory sensitivities. Sports are all about fun, not stress. Therefore, if your child is averse to loud sounds, then team sports can be a no - no. Each sport presents a specific ambience to play and grow in. This needs to be factored before narrowing down the options for the child to dive into.
Collaboration is a key to success in sports. So, watching you collaborate with others such as coaches or your sports buddies, goes a long way in teaching your child the skills to excel in sports. Your child may learn the nuances & skills of the sport at their own pace, its fine! The coach / instructor must be sensitized to this so that your child is able to develop a love & passion for the game. If the child is tired, stressed or frustrated, call for time out or an end to the session for the day.
To sum it up, develop the love of outdoors & sports at an early age! Keep in mind the activities that comes close to your child’s likes & abilities. Don’t forget to communicate & collaborate in order to make it a winning shot!
