This article was originally written by myself last year and the plan was to have it published. I then became pregnant with the twins so that plan was put on the back burner so now I have decided to share it with my fellow Urbanmoms.It should be noted that this article can apply to children with ADHD and Learning disabilities as well.
For many typical children each season brings forth the excitement of participating in popular team sports such as hockey, soccer, basketball and baseball, either through sports clubs or at school. But for children living with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) the thought of such sports may not evoke such enthusiasm.
Those who live with an ASD are uncomfortable making eye contact, and have difficulty interpretating social rules and facial expressions. Most prefer to spend time alone or with a close friend or two, and tend to find environments that are noisy, and chaotic to be extremely disorienting and stressful. As well, some children may struggle with activities that require coordination and balance, and often have difficulty understanding the rules and social aspects of team sports.
Unfortunately in today’s society, how well a child performs in a sport can lead to determining how popular that child is. For any child with ASD, being expected or forced to participate in such athletic activities, under the scrutiny of peers, teachers, coaches and other parents, can create a lifelong aversion to sports. This is particularly true if the child has experienced public embarrassment due to their inability to be physically on par with their peers. If this is the case, it may be tempting for the child with ASD to decide not to engage in any form of physical activity all, but to spend time alone. This type of sedentary life style is not healthy for any child and can lead to other issues such as worries about body type, weight concerns, and self-image.
Years ago before my son Joshua was diagnosed with Aspergers, I signed him up for a week long soccer camp with his older sister and younger brother. He had begged me to go and although he hadn’t been diagnosed yet, I knew that he was by no means a typical child. However, despite my reservations I signed him up. That was a big mistake.
Throughout the week I had nothing but problems, from Joshua being teased because of his obsession with Pokemon and collecting garbage, to not understanding the social rules of the game, to him thinking he knew more than everyone, to daily meltdowns over the most trivial things. The list went on and on and I thought the week would never end. I know how much stress I was feeling, and now that we know he has Aspergers I can only imagine the stress that he must of being going through!
Yet, despite the common belief that children with ASD dislike sports, it is actually quite common to find many of those who do enjoy sports and several who even go on excel in certain sports of their choice. What is the key to their enjoyment? Perhaps it is Individual athletic pursuits, instead of team sports.
Taking part in an individual sport such as trampoline or swimming for example, can be practised in solitude. Once some relative success has been reached, a child with ASD may develop a specific interest in the sport and with extensive practice and single minded determination, (a wonderful quality seen in almost all ASD children) a child may very well achieve a level of proficiency that reaches a very high standard.
There are many individual sports that may be enjoyed by children living daily with ASD. Swimming, Rowing, Fencing, Trampoline, Golf, Horseback riding, track and field, gymnastics, pool, snooker, skiing, Martial arts and skating are just a few examples.
Being physically active is important for all children whether they are typical or courageously living with an ASD. However, if your ASD child shows no interest in sports, then respect that decision and don’t force it. There are several other activities to be enjoyed such as camping as a family, going on long walks with you, playing tag, going to the park, hiking, and just being a child, that they can take part in which are all physically active and fun.
Remember your ASD child is special and talented in many ways, and being physically active is what’s important, whether it is through sports or other avenues.
What about your child or children? Are they more of a team player or an individual player?