Re: different therapies

[Guest guest]

I have always thought this was the case for all children. Kayla used to do

the horse therapy, dance and swim. She loved it and it was a wonderful

experience. My son (NT) did all sorts of sports. He never stuck with one,

but tried them all. He loves to ride his bike and skate board. He doesn't

like to be structured either. With Kayla it works better if she is going to

be in a structured thing that the children are on the spectrum.

When we move she will have access to a pool all the time and she is

thrilled.

T-

> I wanted to comment on what I'm perceiving to be a very important

> aspect of helping our kids. Reading about Ruthie's child calming after

> riding horses, I think 's daughter does some physical activities

> to help her calm, Kassi had/has tumbling, etc. While there one day I

> ran into a former teaching assistant who had an adult with severe

> autism there. She said just a 30 min time to sit & splash in the

> shallow end would calm him for the rest of the day.

>

> In just joining our YMCA I'm seeing that it's very good for Allie Kat

> to get to go to the pool & workout room for a while. I've tried to get

> her involved over the years in gymnastics then dance, but she never

> seemed to enjoy it for a long time. I think this is very different. We

> go to one of the indoor pools and she finds what she likes & does it,

> jumping off the deep end & swimming down low, going down indoor

> slides, doing fitness equipment. It's not highly structured, so she

> doesn't feel the stress of constant group input, but she's still

> getting social opportunities. In fact, she told me she wants to be on

> a swim team, so this will get interesting; maybe we've found her

> physical niche.

>

> I just wanted to through it out that finding something for our kids

> that can give them a physical outlet can be very helpful, especially

> for problem behaviors. I remember I think it was Temple Grandin once

> saying for hyper/aggressive kids, intense 45 minute workouts

> twice/daily could significantly calm a child.

>

> I'm so glad my friend Shanna got us into going to the Y. I think it

> will be very good for Allie Kat and wanted to through out my thoughts,

> especially for those of you with younger kids. It's so hard when life

> revolves around therapies, IMO finding naturalized approaches can be

> really good, too. I remember when Allie screamed for a whole hr while

> swinging or would barely walk at 24 mos, so maybe it's too hard right

> now.

>

> HTH,

> Debi

>

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