Our house rule is that the kids have to participate in a seasonal sport and additionally a sport or exertion activity year round as well. The boys’ year round sport used to be martial arts which was wonderful but after a break during covid, they weren’t able to get back up to speed as was expected by the dojo and it became an unhappy chore for them to go. So we allowed them to switch to swim team. My oldest needed lessons first to get ready for swim team which he took through the City of Mesa. My youngest who is the most athletic jumped right into swim team (also through City of Mesa) without knowing any strokes beyond dog paddling and picked it up immediately. He went on to place 8th out of 56 peers in the Divisional Swim Meet in the backstroke. This 8 year old (at the time) ended the summer with nearly a 6-pack abdomen. I couldn’t believe what a transformation that had occurred in this little boy’s body. He’s always been extremely tall for his age and has been mistaken for a boy usually 4 yrs older than he is at any given time. But the swimming made him practically look like a teenager. Swimming made the boys work every single muscle in their bodies. What a gift!
After that summer, I knew that swimming was the new year round sport for them. We found a newly opened indoor swim school that was developing their own swim team just down the road from us. We joined Swim Life swim team and the boys got amazing one on one hands on training twice per week for an hour long session. They were exhausted but got so strong and proficient in their strokes. I couldn’t have given Swim Life more praise. Unfortunately, they had to close down about 4 months after we started going there due to issues with that landlords who owned the building. So we are on the hunt for a new swim team to join as the boys truly love the sport now.
If I could go back, I would have gotten both of them involved in competitive swimming when they were 5 or 6. It’s an incredible sport that is autism friendly because while you do compete against others, you really are mostly competing with yourself and your own times. This has become my oldest boy’s favorite sport. There were other children with disabilities competing at the events. It was heartwarming how everyone cheered them on to complete their laps no matter the time they made. What a confidence boost it must have been! Swimming is also so incredibly good for all kids developing bodies to be exercised so completely. I just love it and know you will too!