Swimming in children with ASD: our experience as parents 2026

Since our children: Junior and Elías were diagnosed with ASD, we have tried many things as an adjunct to their therapies, something that is also recreational for them, in the end they are children and they also have to have fun and enjoy themselves.

We have tried many alternative activities and the reality is that we have learned a lot in each of them. Having two children with different tastes has made it somewhat complex for us to find an activity that they both enjoy equally, what one loves the other doesn't like... The ideal would be to be able to offer each one their activity, but when we put the issue of work, costs and conciliation into the mix, it becomes practically impossible.

Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge - Summer 2026 Promotion

Our greatest learning is that we have to find the activity that each child enjoys the most and this will only be achieved by trying. There is a wide variety of activities adapted to people on the autism spectrum, such as:

• equine therapy
• therapy dogs
• Music therapy
• Art therapy
• sensory rooms
• Sports

This time we will focus on swimming and the pool, because it is the activity that we have seen that both of them enjoy the most. It is surprising when we tell them that we are going to their swimming session how excited and prepared they are. Even the use of a swimming cap, which used to be a problem, is now seen as something positive before getting into the water.

After reading several articles about it, I would like to share some points that I consider very positive about it.

The first thing is a safety issue, and that is that in children with ASD a taste for water can be combined with a lack of fear, this equation can be very dangerous.

Secondly, it is well known that swimming is a very complete exercise, so for children who have sleeping problems, as is the case with Junior, it is very positive for being able to sleep better. It is true that on the days he has swimming lessons, he and everyone at home sleeps better.

The third point is just my perception, but when the child is in the water and does not know how to float, he or she needs someone, and this favors interaction. I remember perfectly that the first time Junior called me dad was in a swimming pool. The position inside the pool favors eye contact since when floating with them it is almost impossible for them not to look us in the eyes.

It is important to be able to differentiate between a swimming class and a recreational one, the first seeks for the child to learn to float and swim, and the second is something more focused on fun, but from the point of view of a parent I can recommend both.

Other benefits that swimming provides for children with autism are:

• A dynamic way of doing therapy
• Strengthens the cardiovascular system
• Increases family unity
• Improvements in breathing
• Improvements on a psychological level

As we have mentioned repeatedly, each child is different and surely not all of them will love water, the important thing is to detect what they enjoy and make the most of it. In our case it has been a very positive experience and we would recommend it to other parents.

It is important to take into account when looking for a swimming school some important considerations such as the experience of the professionals, the environment, the anticipation and above all that this is something pleasant for the child and not quite the opposite, at the end of the day the important thing is that they are happy.

We hope that very soon we can return to normal and take advantage of the summer to get into the pool together.

Article offered by Ernesto Larre, President of www.autism4good.org