Autistic kids and sports

[Zooeyzo]

Shamelessly posting because it's a busy board and really want some advice.
I take my 4 year old gymnastics but he's limited verbal. He loves it but really struggles can't copy other kids and finds it hard to position his body. He gets a bit stiff when I try to position it for him. He's quite fearful of heights and falling. But he loves it so we persevere.
Same with swimming I take him because he can't follow an instructor holds on to a noodle and is happy kicking away and splashing.
My question if any autistic person or parent can help me is how do I help him more to copy? Does this come later? He tries to roll which he loves and I flip him over but he'll always get in the wrong position to start.
He loves watches his older sister do hand stands and flips.

@DaveyJonesLocker yes i was told by a martial arts teacher that he has quite a few autistic older children and adults in his classes.

My dd was 9 when she learned to swim, she was 7 when she learned to ride a bike - her motor planning simply wasn't enough until older. With most skills other than academic she is significantly behind yet even into her 20's has been progressing, currently it's like having a love struck 16 year old, she has a boyfriend.

It is hard for a direct comparison from autistic adult to help with your son because there are so many routes to bodily disregulation, although I really respect you asking. It could be dyspraxia/unawareness of body position, it could be a sensory issue, it could be that what you are asking him to do interferes with a stim.

I think the best thing you can do is do as you are doing, and the rest will follow in time. My AuDHD daughter needed extra help in her activities aged 4-5 but she got there under her own steam and is now doing it all by herself age 6.5.

Ask around on your local Facebook page for additional needs friendly activities. They don't have to be exclusively SEN but there are some real gems out there- for eg. My daughter's trampoline club actually did so well with interventions that the school copied them!

If he's still in parent and child classes then just remember it's just for fun and don't get too focused on how fast he's achieving skills, just enjoy it for what it is- quality time together ☺️

I say that like it's easy to do. My daughter used to find the swimming pool a complete sensory overwhelm and basically did nothing but float like a starfish for about 6 or 7 lessons because she liked the sensation and the sparkling of the lights in the water. That was a bit of a cringe fest when all the other kids were happily doing lengths 😂

@gogohmm yes I was told he'll always be roughly a third of his age behind emotionally. I can see now at 4 he'll want to be chased like one year olds typically do.