Finding the right fit

Wrong.  Cuyler is NOT a sporty kid.  Never has been.  

Campbell said to us, several years ago “I wish Cuyler didn’t have autism so he could play mini sticks with me.”

It broke my heart but I had to make Cam understand that even if Cuyler didn’t have autism – he still might not like hockey.  The autism might have nothing to do with his disinterest.
I hated that Cam played hockey, soccer, baseball and lacrosse and Cuyler did none of those things.  He had nothing for himself.  There were no activities I could take him to.  
Just therapy.   Which drove me nuts.  I never imagined that any of my kids would be sedentary kids.  I just needed to find something that fit his needs.
I wanted to exercise his body as much as we were exercising the pathways in his brain.
He hated skating.  
Wouldn’t go into the pool.
He had zero interest in the parks and rec sports programs for young children.  He would bounce and stim in the back of the room.  I was searching and searching with no success.

Then last year a friend told me she was opening a gymnastics centre in town.  
As soon as it opened – we were in!  And the rest – as they say – is history.
We integrated him into a smaller group of 6 (typical) kids.  This encourages social interaction – throughout the class they are paired up to work on strength skills (sit ups etc…)  
His mind is working on sequencing as he goes through each set of activities in each area (beam, bars, floor, trampoline etc…) 

His body is working on things like balance, coordination and spatial awareness. It helps him focus as he needs to pay attention to each skill while harnessing his need for constant movement.
I am so grateful to the ladies who run it.  

They “get” my boy and they have given him a place where he can be strong and competent and can develop the skills sometimes put on the back burner with autism – the gross motor skills.

This is the kid who would gladly stay at home on his laptop.  
Unplugged and active is the better choice!