There are numerous benefits of swimming for kids with autism. Who doesn’t love a good dip in the pool? For children (or anyone) on the spectrum, swimming can be a great outlet for exercise, sensory soothing, socialization, and even improving cognitive function. In this article, we’ll go over the benefits of swimming for kids with autism, and list some resources for where you can enroll your child in swim lessons in Kentucky.
Safety Benefits of Swimming for Kids with Autism
Swimming is fun, relaxing, and in some cases, life-saving. Elopement is a common issue for children on the spectrum, and the risk of drowning is particularly dangerous. According to the Autism Society of America, children with ASD are 160x more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. Equipping your child with the tool of water safety can be the difference between life and death. To address this issue, there are many swim programs designed specifically for people on the spectrum. These classes are tailored with common access needs in mind, so that every individual can learn proper aquatic safety skills. Together, we can decrease the number of drownings that occur each year, one student at a time.
Physical Benefits of Swimming for Kids with Autism
Though swimming is a low-impact sport, it can still pack in quite the workout! Swimming utilizes your entire body, including your brain. Learning proper swim techniques like the backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly builds and tones muscles. But that’s not all! Swimming also helps to improve cardiovascular health, since it raises your heart rate without putting stress on your body. Additionally, people who swim have increased lung health.
Exercising helps us to release feel-good hormones like endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and more. Not only do these hormones help to boost a person’s mood in the moment- they help regulate emotions all day long! Aerobic exercise, like swimming, is also linked to improved sleep at night. You will notice that exercise helps children on the autism spectrum feel fully stimulated, and they may struggle less with needing extra physical stimulation.
Swimming is a great alternative for children on the spectrum who struggle with “traditional” sports. In the pool, no one is waiting on you to throw a ball, or yelling at you to pass. There are no loud crowds cheering. You are able to focus on going at your own pace. Children on the spectrum are able to play at their own pace in the water.
Sensory Benefits of Swimming for Kids with Autism
Come on in, the water’s fine! Swimming can be a special sensory experience for children on the spectrum. The atmosphere of the pool has a naturally calming, almost meditative, effect on people. The water seems to dampen everyday sensory inputs. At the same time, it has its own unique way of feeling, smelling, reflecting light, and creating sound. To quote Autism Parenting Magazine: “One of the main benefits of swimming for autism is that it’s stimulating, but it’s the right kind of stimulating.” The benefits of this soothing effect will be felt long after your child leaves the pool
Cognitive Benefits of Swimming for Kids with Autism
Swimming provides surprising cognitive benefits. Scientists have discovered that aerobic exercise plays a significant role in building new neural pathways for both adults and children. This development seems to be linked to the production of special proteins released in the brain while exercising. Children who swim are often developmentally ahead of their peers. It’s not yet clear to scientists why swimming is so uniquely good for the brain, but we encourage you to reap the benefits!
Swim class can be a great place to practice taking instructions. Children on the spectrum often have difficulty in the classroom setting. While there are lots of therapy options out there to help your child learn how to engage these skills, swimming and other physical activities will help your child build their mind-body connection. When an instructor gives your child a physical instruction, its up to your child to figure out how to make that action occur in their body. This may be challenging at first, but over time, will help your child build body awareness in and out of the pool.
Social Benefits of Swimming for Kids with Autism
Swimming can be a great environment for your child to engage socially with others. You meet lots of new people at the pool. Even if you don’t engage with each other head on, there’s a community bond created by sharing the space together. You can choose between group classes where your child can be part of a cohort working towards similar goals, or one-on-one lessons where your child can bond with their instructor.
A great benefit of swimming compared to other sports is that children can experience camaraderie, while also being given the space to do their own thing. The pool is ripe with opportunities for parallel play, where children participate side-by-side in similar activities, without interacting. Children engaged in parallel play may learn from observing each other, but their focus remains on their own individual experience.
Swim Lessons for Kids with Autism in Kentucky
When choosing a class and instructor, be sure to consider your child’s learning style and individual needs. Every child, regardless of disability status, has their own unique way of doing things. The swim schools we’ve listed below all offer classes aimed at neurodiverse children. However, as a parent you should still play an active role in investigating if this class/instructor/activity positively benefits your child, and how their needs might be met better. Sometimes finding the right teacher and the right activity can feel a bit like a rubix cube!
Louisville
https://allaboutkids.cc/special-needs-swim-lessons/
https://www.ymcalouisville.org/programs/swimming/sensory-friendly-swim
https://www.bearpaddle.com/locations/louisville-kentucky-swimming-lessons/
https://www.aqua-tots.com/swim-levels/additional-swim-services/
Lexington
https://goldfishswimschool.com/nicholasville-rd-lexington/programs/golden-learners/
https://www.aqua-tots.com/swim-levels/additional-swim-services/
Northern Kentucky
https://www.myswimlife.com/kentucky
About ABA-LLC
ABA-LLC is one of the largest suppliers of Behavior Support in the State of Kentucky. Since 2007, the agency has created innovative strategies to improve the lives of unique individuals. ABA-LLC works with over 150 contractors, each dedicated to building an inclusive culture that celebrates individuals of all abilities. No matter who you are, you can reach your goals at ABA-LLC.
In everything the agency does, ABA-LLC is set apart from its competitors by its uniquely person-centered approach. The agency strives to provide services from a place of deep love for the population they serve. Their work exemplifies the belief that every individual has a right to live a fulfilling and independent life integrated within their communities. There is no objective to change a person, but rather to give them the tools they need to succeed. B.F. Skinner summarizes this vision in his quote: “I’m not trying to change people. All I want is to change the world in which they live.”