Tips for Your Autistic Child Doing Sports

Sports can be challenging for your child with autism. But that doesn’t mean they should avoid it. Although it comes with challenges, it also comes with an array of exciting possibilities and opportunities for growth.

Coordination may be difficult for your child, so team sports that involve a ball may discourage them if it’s their first experience with sports.

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Some good beginner sports may include:

• Swimming
• Track and Field
• Bowling

While bowling does use a ball, all of these sports mostly rely on big gross motor skills instead of fine motor skills like baseball. These sports allow for individual competition while being a part of a team.

Social communication may also be difficult for a child with autism.

Here are some no-team sport options:

• Horse Riding
• Cycling
• Martial Arts
• Skateboarding

This will allow them to play or do a sport on their own, at their own pace, without feeling any serious amount of group pressure.

Getting your child involved in sports is beneficial, but remember not to pressure them into it. Allow them to take things at their own pace, while giving them loads of encouragement and positive affirmations. It may also help to find private instructors who have experience with training kids who have autism. Someone who can assist them hands-on in a way that a normal coach or trainer couldn’t.

So in conclusion, just because your child has autism doesn’t mean they can’t play sports. Find the right sport for them with the right coach or trainer, and support them every step of the way.

ABA Therapy Can Help With Your Child’s Sports Skills

Reach out to us at Triangle ABA to start your child’s social skills training to help them be a team player in Raleigh, North Carolina and the surrounding triangle area.