ASD and Exercise: A Practical Guide for Parents
Movement and exercise support ASD kids’ motor skills and emotional equilibrium. But sometimes it is not so easy to get an ASD kid moving. Many Aspie kids have more sedentary passions and may thrive in introverted, indoor activities. Here are some concrete tips for getting your ASD kid a healthy hour of exercise every day:
Create logical, purpose-driven physical activities
Aspie kids tend to love an activity with a concrete purpose. For some kids, “because you need to get fit” is not tangible enough. While you are still trying to establish a new routine, motivate your child with immediate rewards and objectives. Our kids’ favorite is a 1 mile jog to the ice cream store.
Many Aspie kids love step counter watches, which can make exercise exciting in a mathematical way! Try establishing family goals and encouraging your child to record their progress in a chart displayed prominently in your home.
Introduce exercise as a routine
In my family practice, I have helped many clients establish new routines around bedtimes, family bonding, and exercise. A popular arrangement is a daily family walk, which can eventually become part of the fabric of a family’s daily life. Children will no longer question or give push back once a routine is cemented.
Honor their aversions.
As a therapist, I often use systematic desentization to help my clients cure aversions. However, when we are trying to encourage fun exercise, we should aim to respect our ASD kids’ aversions. Set them up to succeed! For example, for a child with sensitivity to sound try to avoid crowded, overstimulating indoor play areas. Many businesses host special hours for ASD kids, during which they turn down the lighting, turn off the music, and make other accommodations.
Add a bit at a time.
Sometimes we as parents push too hard and end up activating our childrens’ rigidity. ASD kids will almost always win if exercise becomes a battle of wills.
Instead, find a way to introduce these changes within your children’s comfort zone. For example, the family walk routine might have to be 15 minutes to start! We can always work up to our loftier goals (like the 1 hour of kids daily exercise recommended by CDC), but not if we get stuck in a power struggle with our ASD kid. Start with modest, sustainable goals with an eye towards long-term wellness.
Learn more about how ASD Counseling at South Boulder Counseling can help you here.
