Spring Break is here and Summer is just around the corner! With outdoor fun on the horizon - and a HUGE pool party at this year's Annual Retreat in Scottsdale, AZ- we wanted to bring you information about swimming safety. Our guest blogger, Angela Tollersons, tailored this article to families who have children with autism.
Did you know that some people in our CCA community also have autism? If so, these tips are especially important to check out. We welcome these suggestions and hope you can incorporate them into your fun, spring and summer plans.
Next month, April, is Autism Awareness Month.
Next month, April, is Autism Awareness Month.
How
to Keep Swimming Safe for Kids with Autism
The
benefits of swimming for children with autism are
numerous. Swimming can improve your child’s cognitive function, provide a
positive social outlet, and get your child excited about physical activity. And
since drowning accidents are extremely prevalent for people with autism, strong
swimming skills can prove to be a powerful tool for keeping your child safe for
life.
Build a
Foundation
It’s
important to make your child’s first swimming experience a fun and relaxing
one.
Take
things slowly the first few times at the pool so she’s not overwhelmed and try
to go to the pool when it’s quieter and bit less crowded than normal. This way
she’ll have plenty of space to move around and get used to the water without
distractions.
Teach
her about pool safety by talking about how deep each part
of the water is, showing her where the lifeguards are, and explaining to her
that she should only be in the water if you or another designated adult is
nearby.
Sign Your
Child Up for Swim Classes
But
not just any swim classes. An instructor who has been trained specifically for
teaching special needs swimming classes will be the
most effective teacher for your child. Some of these establishments even seek
financial aid from third party organizations in an effort to make your child’s
lessons more affordable.
Make
a mental note of you and your child’s needs before checking out potential swimming
instructors. Do you want him to learn with other children or alone? What
learning methods suit him best? Keep these things in mind when choosing a
program for your child.
Teach
Swimming Safety and Water Safety Separately
A
common practice for parents of children with special needs is to make it clear
to their child that swimming safety and water safety are two completely
separate things.
While
your child might understand the importance of swimming safety, she’ll likely
only associate those rules with being in the pool you frequent together. What
she might not realize is that these rules apply to other bodies of water, too.
This
is why you must talk to your child about water safety too. Make sure she knows that she
should never go near water without an adult with her. While she already
understands this rule for swimming pools and her swimming lessons, she should
know that this also applies to other bodies of water like ponds, lakes,
fountains, and even large puddles.
When
it comes to teaching your child how to swim, safety is the number one priority.
Make sure they know the rules before they ever dip a toe in the water and
you’ll both benefit from the joy and relaxation safe swimming can bring.
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