So how do you teach swimming

[Jimjams2]

Just back from the swimming club. DS1 loves the water, always has, but just doesn't seem to grasp the whole kicking and moving the arms bit. He's happy to float around on his front holding onto me, or will lie on one of those huge floats things, but I cannot get him to kick, or paddle.

I seem to remember a previous thread mentioning a particular named technique used with people with learning disabilities, but can't find the thread.

Help!

does your local authority do special needs swimming lessons? From a quick goggle it would seem that lots do.

halliwick! that's it. Will look properly later. Would you recommend it for autistic children who can't copy Christie? I'm sure you have a good idea of the sort of child ds1 is, do you think it would work with him?

We have disabled swim club, not sure about lessons, I doubt it tbh, think I would have heard. Lessons would be hard to get right for ds1 I think. He does go with school, but they have the same problem as I have. I need to talk to his teacher but unfortunately she had to take a lot of time off last term so I haven't had a chance yet.

davros uses halliwick as well- it;s all coming back, Her ds is pretty like mine, so it has a good chance I think with him.

Will investiagte.

this sounds intresting going to have to take ds swimming AGAIN soon, he really hates it he knows all the routes to the swimming baths even though we havent been for nearly 2 years, ive got to get him back in to it [nervose face!!]

We had that problem a few years ago, although ds1 was fine with a change of venue. I think the changing rooms were too dark. He;s fine in that pool now though.

its a nightmare with ds he just screams,he loves having a bath though ive arranged to take him in 2 weeks time with some family as he copys evrything his cousin does and she is a little mermaid!! would like to take him before that though.

i phoned our local baths to see if they had a specialneeds session but was told no

I've heard of other parents finding their children (ASD and NT) are scared of going swimming redbull. I guess it's potentially an extremely 'overloading' environment - bright lights, as jj says dark changing rooms where you're confined in a small space, tons of people, smell!...my goodness how smelly are s.pools!
I'm very lucky in that my ds has always loved swimming, but the sensory thing for him is the wet floors, he slips alot and holds onto my hand as if he is genuinely scared of the sensation .......still, it's worked to my advantage, as he's very keen to avoid this and gets in the water quick where he's naturally learnt to kick his legs and even go underwater now! Swimming is on his top 10 fave things in life, and its also introduced him to the hot shower! Has been such a bonus for a child who before was very underactive and tends to spend alot of his time sitting/laying on the floor.
Despite buzzing out and having a lovely time swimming, ds doesn't communicate at the pool. I definately think he's overloaded and has to expend alot of his thinking on just coping with the environment. Have made a swimming book with the bright lights, slippery floors, noise(lots of screaming), children! and included lots of positives like the snack afterwards (could you do 'first swim', 'then - treat - snack'}, the showers, ds being lifted up into the air with 'fishes in the water' bit at the end of Ring o ring o roses...do I sound mad?!. Could this help your ds redbull?........might help prevent the anxiety. Slightly flawed as you have to get him in there to take the photos first, but if poss! How does your ds communicate? Am currently trying to think of ways of making PECS work for mine there. Any ideas anyone?
Hope this helps and that I haven't yabbered on proudly about ds too much

I've heard of other parents finding their children (ASD and NT) are scared of going swimming redbull. I guess it's potentially an extremely 'overloading' environment - bright lights, as jj says dark changing rooms where you're confined in a small space, tons of people, smell!...my goodness how smelly are s.pools!
I'm very lucky in that my ds has always loved swimming, but the sensory thing for him is the wet floors, he slips alot and holds onto my hand as if he is genuinely scared of the sensation .......still, it's worked to my advantage, as he's very keen to avoid this and gets in the water quick where he's naturally learnt to kick his legs and even go underwater now! Swimming is on his top 10 fave things in life, and its also introduced him to the hot shower! Has been such a bonus for a child who before was very underactive and tends to spend alot of his time sitting/laying on the floor.
Despite buzzing out and having a lovely time swimming, ds doesn't communicate at the pool. I definately think he's overloaded and has to expend alot of his thinking on just coping with the environment. Have made a swimming book with the bright lights, slippery floors, noise(lots of screaming), children! and included lots of positives like the snack afterwards (could you do 'first swim', 'then - treat - snack'}, the showers, ds being lifted up into the air with 'fishes in the water' bit at the end of Ring o ring o roses...do I sound mad?!. Could this help your ds redbull?........might help prevent the anxiety. Slightly flawed as you have to get him in there to take the photos first, but if poss! How does your ds communicate? Am currently trying to think of ways of making PECS work for mine there. Any ideas anyone?
Hope this helps and that I haven't yabbered on proudly about ds too much

Dear All, please forgive me for double posting things all the time. I'm new to having my say on things and keep cocking up with the computer..I'm sure it will get better

cheers spriggreens, ds uses pecs and has some speach but very difficult to understand.

I think im going to have to bite the bullet and just go for it allthough if im honest dreading it my self as i know whats going to happen