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Swimming

Swimming and water play are excellent recreational activities for children, offering both physical and emotional benefits 5. These activities can be especially therapeutic and enjoyable for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD 4, 1.

Development Skills

Coordination

Cognitive Skills

Social Development

Benefits

Risks

Swimming does have some risk for all kids. These can include:

  • Risk of slips, falls, or minor injuries around wet areas 9.
  • Water-borne illnesses from improperly maintained pools 6.
  • Sunburn or hypothermia from extended exposure without protection 8.
  • Ear infections or skin irritations from prolonged wetness 6.
  • Drowning risk if left unsupervised or without proper instruction 6,7.

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There are also many benefits of swimming specifically for autistic kids. These benefits can include:

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There are many strategies that parents and caregivers can use to support swimming for all kids:
  • Enroll in swimming lessons taught by certified     instructors 10
  • Use flotation devices when appropriate, especially for     beginners 10
  • Constant adult supervision around water, even shallow     pools 11.
  • Teach children about pool rules and safe water     behaviors early 10.
  • Practice emergency skills such as floating, treading     water, and calling for help 11.
  • Reinforce lessons through regular practice and positive     feedback 13.
There are also helpful actions that parents/caregivers can take to support learning to swim for autistic children:
  • Look for instructors trained to work with neurodiverse learners 10.
  • Use visual schedules or picture cards to outline the lesson sequence 13.
  • Pair swimming with a preferred activity or toy to establish trust 11.
  • Use "most-to-least" prompting (physical to verbal) for teaching safety steps 13.
  • Keep instructions short, clear, and visual when possible 11.
  • Reinforce progress with individualized motivators or rewards11.
  • Modify lessons using behavior supports, visual aids, andone-on-one instruction when needed 12.

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There are also specific risks for autistic kids more specifically. It is important to note that drowning is the leading cause of death for autistic children under age 14 living in UnitedStates6,7 : Some of the factors that can lead to this increased risk include:
  • Wandering or elopement behaviors around places with     water 9.
  • Children may lack     danger awareness or the ability to call for help 8.
  • Children may be drawn to water without understanding     its dangers 6.

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Additional Resources

SWAMCanada – Okanagan Chapter:

SWAM(Swimming with A Mission) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization thatprovides affordable, one-on-one swimming lessons for children withdisabilities. The Okanagan Chapter works to ensure each child receives theattention they need to feel safe and successful in the water.

https://www.okanagan.bc.swamcanada.ca/about-us/
CanucksAutism Network – Swim Program

The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) offers adaptive swimming lessons for children and youth on the autism spectrum. Their programs are designed to support individuals with diverse needs by offering low-ratio instruction, visual supports, and highly trained staff. Lessons focus on building comfort in the water, water safety, and fundamental swimming skills in a safe, encouraging environment.

https://canucksautism.ca/program/swim/
For more information on Drowning Prevention

Canadian Drowning Prevention Plan (2022). Resource Guide. Drowning Prevention Research Centre.
‍This document provides an overview of the priorities for drowning prevention in Canada. The 7key target areas include: children 1 - 4 years old, Indigenous peoples; new Canadians, rural and northern areas; supervised settings; recreational boating ;and behavior’s such as PDF wearing and alcohol & substance use.

https://www.drowningresearch.ca/media/592/cdpp-resourceguide-2022.pdf

References

[1] Footnote One. (2012). Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus scelerisque. Vel eros donec ac odio tempor orci dapibus ultrices. www.onlineautism.ca/reference-sample-link

[2] Footnote Two. (2022). In fermentum et sollicitudin ac. In fermentum nec tincidunt praesent semper. www.onlineautism.ca/reference-sample-link-two

[3] Footnote Three. (1997). Morbi senectus et fermentum. Tortor ornare suspendisse. Vel eros donec ac odio tempor orci dapibus ultrices. www.onlineautism.ca/reference-sample-link-three

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