Swimming

Activities are a great way to encourage an autistic child, to learn and in some instances, to develop skills which go beyond the average levels of achievement. Swimming can be such an activity. With many children on the spectrum, loving water play and the sensory benefits of contact with water, learning to swim, can bring many rewards.

We signed Raya up for classes quite recently. It was near enough impossible to find a swim class, catering for children with special needs and in fact we ended up using the same swim school as her brother. The lessons are held in a smaller pool, within a school and has therefore less issues to deal with. There are fewer children, less noise and it feels safer.

We were nervous and unsure how Raya would react during lessons and whether the swim school would have the capacity to teach a child with special needs. Thankfully, the school has been very accommodating, taking each week at a time. Raya is supervised really well in the water and is given the same opportunity to learn alongside the other children. Her behaviour in the pool improves week by week. The ecstatic screams of pleasure in the water, is now less audible and she is beginning to understand the instructions given.

It is such a pleasure to watch Raya in the water and we are happy we opted for a try out at the regular swimming club - otherwise we would still be waiting for a specialist swim school. She may take a longer time to learn to swim, but for now, can feel included, in a fun activity, with other children her age.

Post Views : 87