Children with ASD may have more gross and fine motor skills challenges than their peers. Typically, an at-home child exercise routine will work well for children diagnosed with autism as they may feel overstimulated in public spaces. Read on for our list of exercises for kids with autism.
Benefits Of Exercise For Kids With Autism.
Creating a custom exercise for your autistic child may have many different benefits. Some of the benefits of exercise for autism include:
- Autism and exercise work precisely as with other people. It helps them stay in shape and gain strength. This can be crucial as there is a widespread phenomenon of autism muscle weakness.
- Aids in developing motor and social skills that can help your child play and participate in group activities to build relationships.
- Helps with coordination for routine activities such as catching balls and working with scissors.
- Some autism exercises also help create improved sensory responses and improved communication skills.
Bear Crawls.
When practicing bear crawls, children gain a better sense of body awareness and help them improve coordination and strength in their upper bodies and trunks.
Steps for a bear crawl:
- Kneel on all fours. Ensure that the hands are under the shoulders and the knees under the hips.
- Extend legs until they are only slightly bent.
- Spread fingers wide to have optimal contact with the floor.
- Walk on hands and feet for 10-20 feet.
- Walk backwards while maintaining this position.
- Switch up directions and speeds.
Medicine Ball Slams.
Throwing weighted objects will improve your child’s core strength and balance. This exercise can also stimulate parts of the brain responsible for short-term memory!
Steps for successful medicine ball slams:
- Hold the medicine ball in both hands while standing up straight.
- Raise the ball overhead.
- Slam the ball down to the ground as hard as possible.
- Bend at the knees and pick up the ball.
- Repeat.
Star Jumps.
Star jumps are a full-body workout that can help your child create bodily awareness and cardiovascular endurance. This exercise will strengthen core and leg muscles too.
Steps for star jumps:
- Squat with arms tucked close to the chest.
- Jump up quickly, extending your arms and legs into an X-shape.
- Land on the ground and return to the original position.
- Repeat.
Arm Circles.
This is a slower-paced that helps to develop upper body strength. This exercise may also aid your child in reducing repetitive behaviours as the movement created is similar to common autistic movements.
Steps for effective arm circles:
- In a standing position, stand with feet apart.
- Raise arms to shoulder level at their side.
- Spin arms in small circles.
- Gradually make the circle bigger.
- Repeat and switch directions.
Mirror Exercises.
We also need some fun workouts for kids with ASD, and this is definitely one. Children with autism often have difficulty interacting with others or their environment. This exercise encourages autistic children to mirror the actions of another person, thereby increasing their awareness of others, their own body, coordination and social skills.
Steps for mirror exercises:
- Stand face to face with each other.
- Make small, slow movements with your arms that your child can mimic.
- Have your child mimic these movements as if they were looking in a mirror.
- Lightly touch hands for physical interaction and awareness as well.
Remember to always consult with your child’s doctor before starting any home exercise program; start slow and monitor your child’s progress, fatigue and dizziness. Stay hydrated and have fun!
For more information on physical activities for special needs children, contact Autism Centre for Kids today. We’d love to hear from you!
