It’s natural for children with special needs to only want to engage in preferred activities. Who wants to exercise when they can relax and play with their phone or iPad? It may take a little creativity and positive reinforcement, but we have to try to include a healthy balance of exercise, good nutrition, and community engagement. I know it's easier said than done, believe me. I started taking small steps to help our family with developing better eating habits and adding more exercise to our daily routines. Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference. We replaced high sugar drinks with water, added more fruits, vegetables and salads to our meals, and we try not to snack late at night.
We recently obtained a family membership to a community recreation center nearby. There’s a gym, swimming pool, fitness classes and other activities included. At first, I wasn’t sure how Richie would do going to an actual gym. My thirteen year-old boy may have autism, but like any other teen, he's happiest playing with his devices at home. I knew he used a treadmill at school, and at his dad’s, but this is a different setting with rows of different, intimidating looking machines, other people, and plenty of distractions.
First, we asked the folks at the gym about their busiest and least busiest times, going during off-peak hours means less distractions. Then, we allowed Richie to use the iPad for keeping him comfortable through the introduction of the different machines and their many uses. He was able to set the device on the base of most machines while he did the exercise. Once we taught him how to position himself and use the machines, he moved like a pro! It was fun to watch him challenge himself each time he tried a new machine!
First, we asked the folks at the gym about their busiest and least busiest times, going during off-peak hours means less distractions. Then, we allowed Richie to use the iPad for keeping him comfortable through the introduction of the different machines and their many uses. He was able to set the device on the base of most machines while he did the exercise. Once we taught him how to position himself and use the machines, he moved like a pro! It was fun to watch him challenge himself each time he tried a new machine!
If you don't have a gym membership, there are other ways to introduce movement and exercise to your kids. Take a walk around the block and set small goals adding distance little by little. Start by walking around the cul-de-sac or use a destination marker for a goal, for example a light-pole, a neighbors house, and just try to add a little more distance as it becomes easier to walk. I also think playing tag in and outside the house can be a fun way to get moving as well. You can try chair squats as well. I held Richie's hands and let him sit down and get up while I did them standing opposite him.
We live in a digitally driven world and it’s a wonderful thing. I love technology and the advancing possibilities it brings, but I also want my children to engage in non-digital activities that not only increase their ability to socialize with others, but also strengthens their critical thinking skills. When you’re moving, so is your brain. Like everything else, it’s important for us to do all things in moderation. Maintaining an awareness of how much we eat, how much we move, and how often we use our phones, tablets, video games, or other electronic devices, is one step closer to healthier living.
Our next family visit to the gym was without the Ipad. Richie smiled as we walked through the gym doors, and he was able to use all the same machines he tried before without any issues. We stayed for about forty five minutes. The plan is for this to become a new routine for us as a family.
Unfortunately, statistics reveal that children with special needs are at greater risk for obesity. Healthier changes won’t happen overnight, but you can begin to take small steps to get your family moving and learning healthier habits. About two months ago, while my ten-year old step-son Tiki was at football practice, I started taking Richie to walk the high school track nearby. Of course, that was short lived, because with the fall came earlier sunsets, and the no see-ums were in a rampant attack mode!
If you're trying new activities with your child with special needs, and your experience isn't as positive, please remember that it won't always be for any of us. It's not just your child that struggles. Richie has good and bad days, I know there will be days that I will need to leave the gym within five minutes of our arrival. I expect them. I don't always feel well, or not up to the physical challenges of exercising, and I know Richie will have those days too. His not being able to communicate those feelings makes things even harder. Please be patient, it takes time to adapt to new changes. For more ideas, or if your child has physical limitations, please check out this cool site for ideas and tips on healthier living. Their theme is all about: Building Healthy Inclusive Communities.
Now, with our new memberships to a nearby family center, we’re able to go the gym as a family as often as we want. As with any new activity, it takes time, patience, and sometimes a little creativity to get Richie to engage in different activities with us. Richie has shown us time and time again, that he can learn new things, and that his interests can broaden and change just as ours do. I caught Richie smiling while walking on the treadmill. We were all using treadmills that were lined up side-by-side. He kept looking over at us and smiling. The best part of seeing him smiling, was knowing he enjoyed doing something together as a family.
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