Autism: Best Sports for Children

Sports are a big part of most people’s lives. However, being a sports fan and playing a sport are two completely different things. You probably know enrolling your child in a sport has tremendous benefits such as endurance, strength and general fitness. But as you might have known for many children with autism, finding the appropriate sport can be challenging. The large-team sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, and football might not be the best choices for children with autism. In all of these sports, the demand for social interaction, physical movement and managing noise are almost certainly too high. these multiple commands at same time are difficult to process and communication skills can be challenging for an individual diagnosed with autism.

There are many sports and ways for children with autism to participate successfully in sports. Each child is unique in his or her diagnosis. These characteristics shape their particular interests, strengths, and challenges. So, parent should be encouraged to explore these qualities within their child, so as to understand what their child can shine in. For example, if your child is socially less interactive or has communication problem then traditional team sports may not be appropriate for your child. An alternative sports which involves the child’s individual role is more likely to satisfy the child after the completion of the task.

If you want your child to participate in group sports but feel that traditional sports might not be the best idea, it may be a good idea to start with sports activities where each member of the team contributes independently play their role. For examples are bowling, swimming, tennis, and gymnastics, golf, and karate etc. are also individual sports where you are part of a group. These sports allow your child to be part of a team but ease the group dynamics of being fully dependent on each other every second of the game.

Few steps for choosing best sports:

Communication:-

It is important that your child’s interest, abilities, and strengths are considered when choosing the sport. As a parent, one can only want what is best for their child. A suggestion would be to try to communicate clearly with your child by setting realistic expectations to try and really understand their perspective. Choosing a sport that will allow your child to successfully participate and excel in might help minimise the anxiety of trying something new and promote independence and self-confidence.

Consideration:-

Does your child have sensory sensitivity? If your child is sensitive to loud noises, then a sport with irregular whistling, such as volleyball might not be a good ideal. It is important to consider the environment of each sport for the purposes of avoiding extra challenges that might prevent your child from successfully participating and enjoying the activity. After all, playing a sport should be a fun experience and not a stressful one. If you are unsure, try going with your child to watch the sport before making a commitment.

Cooperation:-

The ability to cooperate with another child and communicate with them is key for a child’s success. Parents should take some efforts to demonstrate this cooperation by partnering with coaches or instructors to get the best possible experience for their child. At first, your child might not be able to do everything the other children can do. Working on too many points of detail at once, or spending too much time on a task, may be overwhelming and may cause frustration. Talk to the coaches or trainer to see if skills and activities can broken-down into smaller, in more manageable parts, so your child can feel successful each time. If it seems your child is frustrated or fatigued (if possible) have the coach allow for a short break. In the early stages of playing a sport, it is important to foster your child’s love for the game.

Compassion:-

If initially it seems that your child has been making little progress, it is important to be positive and provide encouragement. Going the extra mile to help your child whenever possible and being compassionate is a must. Whether that is spending the time at home to practice their skill or just being there for your child with relentless support will really make a difference.

Suggested Sports: Swimming, Bowling, Horseback Riding, Track and Field, Biking, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, fishing,

#Autismsports #occupationaltherapy #healthandfitnessatsameplace