Children love sports and now that summer is here there's more time to be active and more opportunities for participation. For children with challenges, it can be difficult to find the right fit. .All children need to move, stretch, test their limits, and let off steam. It’s just a matter of matching them up with the correct sport.
Let’s look at different activities that are appropriate for a variety of students:
If your child struggles with coordination and balance, swimming may be the right activity. Moving about in the water is not only fun, it is good exercise and helps to develop and strengthen all muscles. An additional benefit is that your child can improve at her own pace because it’s an individual activity. Judo, tae kwon do, karate and other martial arts also help to develop muscles and coordination. They are taught in a slow, patient, structured way and allow children to achieve new skill levels at their own pace. If your child is interested in a team sport, consider signing her up for soccer. On a beginning level, a defensive position does not focus quite so much on running and tactical strategies and it allows players more time to prepare for blocking a shot or kicking the ball away from the danger area.
If your child has listening or comprehension issues, consider cycling as it provides a good workout! Once a child has learned how to ride a bike and understands basic safety rules, riding through nice quiet neighborhoods or through local parks is a fabulous summertime activity. Once she's mastered the bicycle, parents might look into riding stables in the area. Horseback riding helps to improve balance, teaches responsibility, and allows the child to communicate nonverbally with the horse. Additionally, many stables now offer therapeutic riding programs for those with special needs. For more information on the benefits of therapeutic riding, click here.
If your child is not comfortable socially, consider involving her in track and field activities. While the focus is on the individual and she is only competing against herself to better her time or distance, she is still part of a team. The opportunity for socialization is there, but the child won’t feel the pressure of participating in a group activity…unless she wants to. The same goes for tennis, an activity that can be found readily in most communities. Group lessons are available for socialization, though the focus is on the instructor rather than the player, making it a great activity for a child who struggles with social skills. During match play, the child can play singles or doubles, depending on her comfort level. Yoga and martial arts also offer positive body-mind activities for children who prefer to work out alone.. Neither activity involves competition, but yoga is very calming and it's great for improving balance and strength; martial arts builds self-esteem, self-control, and concentration.
Two other non-team activities that allow for self-paced practice and social opportunities are skating and swimming. Other than learning the basic skills and safety rules, these activities allow a child to have fun and have a good work-out on their own or with friends, without the pressure of being on a team.
Children who have trouble attending might not prefer team sports, especially those with rules and strategies that they have to remember on the spot. Wrestling allows children to master different moves, learn discipline, and helps them strengthen the ability to stay on task. Competitions are one-on-one rather than team-based, and the matches themselves are very quick so the ability to focus for long periods of time is not required. Again, swimming and track and field are other good options for those with attentional challenges. However, if your child wants to participate in a team sport, then have them give basketball a try. The rules are few and easy to understand and players are in constant motion.
With a little forethought regarding your child’s individual needs and abilities, research into local opportunities, and enough motivation, your child will be able to learn, grow, and shine as an athlete while enjoying the benefits of good physical activity.
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