Credit :Pexels
BY: JENNY WISE
Updated: January 19, 2022
Today’s Dietitian points out that physical activity has a wealth of benefits for children with autism. Children who exercise are less likely to be overweight or obese, enjoy better sleep quality, and have fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Regular exercise also improves motor skills, social skills, and school-related functioning in children with ASD while decreasing repetitive movements, aggression, and behavioral problems. REACH Educational Services invites you to read on for details.
Children with ASD tend to be less active than their peers. Autism Speaks notes that barriers to physical activity include motor skill limitations, medication side effects, communication difficulties, and a lack of appropriate resources and support. Children with autism also tend to have poor strength, endurance, balance, and visual-motor control compared to children not on the spectrum.
Consistency is key when it comes to exercise for children with ASD. In studies examining exercise and autism, long-term fitness participation is associated with greater improvements to ASD symptoms and behaviors.
Three hours of physical activity per day is recommended for children under five. However, it’s important to understand that exercise doesn’t have to happen all at once. Breaking physical activity into shorter chunks throughout the day works toward the three-hour goal without overwhelming children and caregivers.
A supportive environment and plenty of positive reinforcement, starting in the home, are key when introducing a child with ASD to new exercises. Children with autism may be averse to typical play settings like playgrounds which are often loud, unpredictable, and highly social. Parents can increase children’s comfort with physical activity by:
Technology is an excellent tool for developing reinforcing fitness habits in children with ASD. Autism-friendly exercise videos, instructional fitness apps, and “exergaming” video games serve as visual aids to support fitness instruction and increase independent performance. These tools also allow children to exercise at home in a familiar and predictable environment.
Parents, in particular, will benefit from the “Improving the Lives of Individuals with Autism through Exercise” video series from the U.S. National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability. This video series includes helpful tips and information on introducing children with autism to exercise. Other leading video series include children’s yoga, sing-a-long exercises, and PE sessions with extra time to demonstrate exercises.
Touchscreen devices that allow interaction are especially beneficial for engaging young children in exercise. While not a replacement for adult supervision, bumper phone cases and screen protectors help young children use tablets, smartphones, and other touchscreen devices safely.
How can parents guide children with ASD towards a physically active lifestyle? Here are seven fitness ideas to get families started with autism-friendly exercise.
Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. While children with autism face barriers to exercise, there’s a lot parents can do to encourage an active lifestyle from an early age. Use these ideas to introduce your child with ASD to exercise in a safe, supportive, and positive environment.
REACH Educational Services connect teachers, parents and students by creating interest-based, one-on-one and small-group learning experiences via tutoring and numerous educational support. For educational support, you can contact us at 803-757-0156.
My name is Jenny Wise I am a Special Educator. I am a stay-at-home parent to 4 beautiful children. My husband and I made the decision to home-educate when our oldest was four years old. During this journey, we have expanded our family, and faced many challenges along the way. With every challenge, we have experienced great rewards.
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