The benefits of swimming for children with autism are not only fun!

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or more commonly known as autism have a greater risk of drowning than children in general.

Reporting from the CNN page, Dr. Guohua Li, a researcher with the Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention at Columbia University has conducted research to look at the relationship between autism and injury. As a result, nearly half (46%) of deaths due to accidental injuries in children with autism occurred due to drowning. Therefore, equipping children with autism with the ability to swim is very important. So what are the other benefits of swimming that can be obtained by children with autism?

What are the benefits of swimming for children with autism?

In addition to preventing drowning, there are various benefits of swimming that children with autism can get. Gentle and repetitive movements that are carried out while doing activities in the water can provide calm for ASF children. Swimming also helps with frustration or feelings of anger that are being experienced by children. The reason is, when exercising in the pool, children release endorphins which make them feel more positive, or feel happier.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation notes that many sports are difficult for children with autism because they have to focus on several different aspects at once.

This is different from swimming. Swimming is a sport that can be done alone so it is much easier for children with autism to do this sport. Children with autism who learn to swim for a long time will improve their ability to coordinate their body movements and strengthen their physique.

Reporting from the Autism Speaks page, children with autism who learn to swim have better body balance, flexibility and muscle endurance.

Basically, children with autism have disorders in processing sensory stimuli, such as being sensitive to sound, light, or touch. By learning to swim, this can help overcome these sensory processing problems.

Tips to teach children with autism to swim

The uniqueness of the behavior that a child with autism has makes you have to teach with great patience and persistence. Apart from that, there are a few things to be aware of:

1. Don't use complicated language

Use clear and direct instructions in easy to understand words. This will help the child with ASD learn to understand what to do. Avoid saying, "Don't be his feet!" because the child is confused about what to do.

Better to say right away what the child should do, for example, "Straighten and relax your legs."

2. Be consistent

You will need extra patience, especially since you have to repeat the same commands over and over. Continue to repeat each movement being taught and observe the progress. Before mastering a swimming technique or style, don't try new techniques because the child will get confused later.

3. Give compliments

Praise all the successes the child has made when they can do a movement well, for example giving a big round of applause.

4. Let the child play

Playing time is a chance for children to swim freely, without rules. Let the kids move freely in the water to explore their curiosity in the pool.

Even though this is free time, you have to keep an eye on and on the alert if there is any emergency needed to keep your child safe.

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