Guest guest Posted June 10, 2001 Report Share Posted June 10, 2001 Hi, Can anyone give me their experience on whether or not having ASD or Asperger's Syndrome impacts the child's ability to learn how to swim? My son is Asperger's and six. He is verbal and able to function/follow along in just about everything these days. He has his obsessions though, and when he gets locked onto one it interferes with his willingness to listen to and follow directions. He also still has significant language delay. I am wondering if he is going to be able to learn to swim in a regular group class. When we go to the pool he follows along happily, splashes and plays along. He shows an appropriate and typical amount of fear/caution. He has limited exposure to pools but it is not totally new to him. Is there something about his learning differences that is going to make it hard for him to learn with a group of typical kids? I don't swim very well myself and I am determined my kids will learn to swim no matter what. I know my son can learn. I am just wondering if he will need a special type of instruction. This summer will tell, as I have enrolled him in a beginner's class at the community Rec center. I plan to be there to watch every minute too! Any advice, experiences shared would be greatly appreciated, Charlene Mommy to ie (6), Caroline (6), (3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2001 Report Share Posted June 10, 2001 I would think it would be about the same as any situation. We tried private lessons and it was very good - only 3 in a class in a quiet pool. My son started at age 4 and did beginner's three times. But now he is quite good. Once he " got it " , it stuck and he is now at Red Cross level advanced. He loves the water. Last summer he was 8, and we tried Red Cross at the local pool. It was a zoo. Kids everywhere in a loud, noisy facitily. 6 to a class, with about 8 feet between classes. He didn't learn a thing, and I can attribute it directly to the crowdedness and chaotic noise in the place. . > Hi, > > Can anyone give me their experience on whether or not having ASD or > Asperger's Syndrome impacts the child's ability to learn how to swim? My > son is Asperger's and six. He is verbal and able to function/follow > along in just about everything these days. He has his obsessions though, > and when he gets locked onto one it interferes with his willingness to > listen to and follow directions. He also still has significant language > delay. I am wondering if he is going to be able to learn to swim in a > regular group class. > > When we go to the pool he follows along happily, splashes and plays > along. He shows an appropriate and typical amount of fear/caution. He > has limited exposure to pools but it is not totally new to him. Is there > something about his learning differences that is going to make it hard > for him to learn with a group of typical kids? I don't swim very well > myself and I am determined my kids will learn to swim no matter what. I > know my son can learn. I am just wondering if he will need a special type > of instruction. This summer will tell, as I have enrolled him in a > beginner's class at the community Rec center. I plan to be there to > watch every minute too! > > Any advice, experiences shared would be greatly appreciated, > Charlene > Mommy to ie (6), Caroline (6), (3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2001 Report Share Posted June 10, 2001 Our experience, too. Even smallish " regular " classes were miserable for one and all. Finally when he was 7, I hired a private trainer who took him to a private pool, and he was swimming laps by the second lesson. Between the 2 classes, I had him sit in a chair and I would move his arms, while he moved his head. Then we'd reverse. Next I'd hold his legs straight while he practiced kicking. Then at the 2nd lesson, he put it all together and stunned the instructor by swimming laps. It seems like the noise, competition, instructions, pool chemicals, poor coordination, etc. all added up to too much for him. Each movement had to be broken down, practiced, then put together. He swims fine now, not great style, but safe and happy. Meanwhile, we've been searching for a martial arts instructor and last month finally found one who appreciates the spirit to try. He's met several times alone with my son for 1/2 hour sessions (free, God bless him). Every form was broken into little steps, which the instructor calls out while lightly tapping the body part that's supposed to move and praising each effort. Karate ABA. Ian's in a regular class now, too, and moving up the ranks. His coordination and self-confidence are blossoming. But if he had to learn solely in the large class, I think it would be a different story. [ > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone give me their experience on whether or not having ASD or > > Asperger's Syndrome impacts the child's ability to learn how to > swim? My > > son is Asperger's and six.... Is > there > > something about his learning differences that is going to make it > hard > > for him to learn with a group of typical kids? ... > > Any advice, experiences shared would be greatly appreciated, > > Charlene > > Mommy to ie (6), Caroline (6), (3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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