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August 22, 2012 by Building Blocks

5 Ways Benefits of Swimming for Children Autism

Swimming can have many benefits for children with autism, including developments in communication, sensory integration, social skills, time and task completion, and water safety. Not to mention, swimming is fun, so let’s dive right in!

1. Communication

Children with autism can have delays in communication development. Building Blocks uses various augmentative and alternative communication tools to facilitate effective and efficient communication with our students.  One example is providing each student with a daily schedule using symbols, instead of words.

Building Blocks Summer Program Daily Schedule with Swim Practice

The vertical alignment of the symbols tells the student the order of events, while each symbol indicates an activity. From this schedule, the student knows her day will start at the lockers, followed by a bathroom break, and visit to the schedule board. Next, she’ll change into her bathing suit, then practice swimming at the indoor pool and outdoor pools. Then, she’ll change clothes and have lunch before going home.

Building Blocks Summer Program

As the day progresses, the student checks off each activity as it is completed. We find that the symbol schedule is a great tool, but of course, expressive communication is also key throughout the day’s activities.

2. Sensory integration

Children with autism can have sensory integration issues.  Swimming is a great opportunity to work on sensory integration using the texture and temperature of the water, light reflecting on the water, and sounds traveling around water.

Bethany Swimming  with  Students at the Building Blocks Summer Program 2012

3. Social skills

Children with autism can have social-interaction difficulties.  Swimming provides an opportunity to improve upon social skills by facilitating interaction between the student and the other people in the pool.  This might mean working with a staff member to practice floating, or sharing goggles with a classmate.

Building Blocks Summer Program - Swimming Practice

 

4. Time and task completion

At the indoor pool, each student works one-on-one with one of our staff members to complete one or two lists of tasks. Based on how quickly the student completes each list, he is given time for free play in the pool. At the end of a set amount of time, he leaves the indoor pool and heads to the outside pools.

The first list starts off basic, allowing the student to get used to the environment.

First and second, the student is asked to touch water with his hands, then with his feet.

Touch water with hands and feet

Third, the student splashes the water with her hands.

Bethany splashing  with  Students at the Building Blocks Summer Program 2012

Fourth, the student splashes the water with his feet.

Fifth, the student kicks his legs on the side of the pool.

Splash with feet

Sixth, the student gets his whole body in the water with an adult.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Seventh, the student “kisses” the water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Lessons

List 2 requires a bit more comfort in the water.

First, the student blows bubbles.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swim Practice

Second, the student lies on his belly in “the superman” position.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swim Practice

Third, the student floats on his back in “the big belly” position.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Fourth,  the student kicks her legs while holding onto an adult.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Fifth, the student kicks while holding onto a kickboard or noodle.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Sixth, the student goes under water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 Swimming Practice

Seventh, the student treads water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 Swimming Practice

5. Water safety

Water safety is always important, but this is especially true for children with autism because they do not always respond to verbal commands, and can be easily distracted.  Through swimming practice, we hope to increase our students’ familiarity with water, swimming skills, and understanding of water safety.

Note: Thank you to our students’ parents and legal guardians for giving us permission to use the photos above. 

 

Filed Under: Augmentative and alternative communication, Summer Program, The Building Blocks Center for Autism Blog Tagged With: autism, children, communication, development, sensory integration, social skills, swimming, time and task completion

January 18, 2012 by Building Blocks

Distractions disappear in the sensory room

A multi-sensory room for children with autism provides a stimulating yet calming, therapeutic atmosphere.  Over-responsive children can be calmed, while under-responsive children become interested.  Distractions of the outside world disappear as children explore and develop their senses in a sensory room.

Building Blocks offers a multi-sensory room that utilizes the near senses:  tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive. This  helps our students stimulate, develop and balance their individual sensory systems. We find that our students become interested in the environment around them, allowing themselves to calm and de-stress during designated sensory breaks.

Sensory rooms can be wonderful for all children, whether they have an autism spectrum disorder or not.  Here are some key ingredients for constructing a sensory room at home:
  • Dark paint on the walls and ceiling
  • Low-lighting
  • Bean bag
  • Foam crash pad
  • Rubber ball pit

Related Links:

  • Read how one family built their own sensory room at home
  • Learn more about sensory problems and autism

Filed Under: The Building Blocks Center for Autism Blog Tagged With: autism, multi-sensory room, sensory integration, sensory room

December 19, 2011 by Building Blocks

You’re Invited! Jingle Bells and Building Blocks Elves

Building Blocks cordially invites you to our 2nd annual Christmas play… Jingle Bells and the Building Blocks Elves!  The play is scheduled for Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 1pm. For more information call 434-797-5530. We hope to see you there!


Filed Under: The Building Blocks Center for Autism Blog

December 15, 2011 by Building Blocks

Building Blocks visits Santa

Building Blocks took a field trip to see Santa at the Piedmont Mall today!  This yearly trip is intended to allow the children to practice their social skills, work through sensory deficits, and of course, sit on Santa’s lap to celebrate the holiday.  Afterwards, the children spent some time personally picking out a present for their parents at the mall.

Filed Under: The Building Blocks Center for Autism Blog Tagged With: Building Blocks Center for Autism, field trip, Piedmont Mall, Santa, sensory deficits, social skills

December 14, 2011 by Building Blocks

Building Blocks kids recycle!

You have the power today to change tomorrow… Building Blocks kids recycle!  This school year, we started a recycling program at Building Blocks. Staff and students participate in the program by placing appropriate materials in recycling bins, and emptying the bins at our local recycling center. The recycling program addresses Science SOL 1.8…

Students will investigate and understand that natural resources are limited by  comparing and contrasting ways of conserving resources.  Including recycling, reusing, and reducing consumption of natural resources.

… But just as importantly, it’s a great way to demonstrate how what we do today can impact future generations!

For more pictures, follow us at www.facebook.com/buildingblockscenterforautism

 

Filed Under: The Building Blocks Center for Autism Blog

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