Benefits of Gymnastics

While I was researching more information about children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I came across a blog by Jourdan Saunders. The title of the blog post is “Moving Therapy to the Gym: Benefits of Gymnastics for Children with Autism.” Saunders, who has a 23 year background in gymnastics, discusses the advantages of using the sport of gymnastics as an alternative and creative approach for teaching children new skills. In the field of Speech-Language Pathology, professionals are continuously creating and searching for new ideas and strategies to use in therapy sessions. I personally love sports and I agree with Saunders that gymnastics “provides an enriching environment filled with opportunities for sharpening the mind.”

Gymnastics is a combination of athleticism, balance, and coordination. It consists of several events such as the beam, vault, floor, etc. These events can be modified for children with ASD and toward the skill areas they need to work on. For example, to work on social skills the therapist can set up a beam where the children will wait in line until it is their turn, thus practicing turn taking. With the same activity children can also develop and increase their attention span. Focusing on a task can be very difficult for many children with ASD. Creating structured activities, such a walking across the beam, encourages concentration. Children will have to pay close attention to their balance so they do not fall.

      Using gymnastics as an alternated learning experience promotes development of spatial awareness, being aware of your body and its movements. In addition it increases gross motor skills. The therapist could make an obstacle course involving running, jumping, and climbing. To build fine motor skills a ribbon dancing activity can be incorporated. All the activities require the children to listen and follow directions, essential skills in every day life.

I love the idea of using gymnastics as another technique to teach children with ASD. Children are naturally active and being in the same setting each session can be tiring. Switching the therapy to a more stimulating environment may be more motivational.

References:

• http://blog.asha.org/2011/09/06/moving-therapy-to-the-gym-the-benefits-of-gymnastics-for-children-with-autism/