How do you ensure your child with severe learning difficulties/severe autism gets enough exercise?

[gess]

I was pondering this yesterday. I went with one of my direct payments girls to a local park. She looked after the younger 2 whilst I glued myself to ds1. He doesn't really use the equipment much these days- prefers to run around a field and up to houses and into gardens (given half a chance). Left alone he is extremely fast, which means that he really can't be more than a foot away from me, because with a head start he'll outrun me (roads/cars/private property problems etc). All of which means he needs to go at my speed, which is getting slower each year

I can't think what to do with him. If he didn't have autism I'm sure he'd be playing football or rugby or something, or cycling or whatever, but that's not going to happen. I'd like to do some moor walking perhaps but he often refuses to go in certain directions so it all becomes a scrap and a nightmare and we never seem to get a good walk in. How can I let him run off all that energy? I feel a bit like I'm caging him. Has anyone found a solution for this sort of problem (daft asking today I know as Davros is away, so I may have to bump!)

No, no way! He's just fight to get off. I've looked at all the highly expensive SN bikes as well and just can't see what will work.

He's quite slim, and very fast; has loads of energy- just nothing to channel it into that's also safe. Mind you attention span (lack of)/compulsions are probably one of the biggest problems.

Thought you would probably say that - I'm sure you have considered all the obvious ideas. Has the school got any ideas - I don't suppose they would do anything like book a local soft play for a while for a group of their children?

Apparently the old softplay place used to do SN sessions. The people who have taken it over have said no, but I'm goig to suggest that the local branch of the NAS approaches them. It would be ideal- no problem about going on the equipment and no PITA staring parents (always the biggest problem )

Hi

Don't rule out canoeing or even sailing. Our DS though GDD not AS just, but fast uncontrollable and needs to be either in the pushchair or held when out and about,loves sailing and canoeing. a refted canoe would be really stable. Seems to feel safe in the confines of a boat and able to concentrate on a simple task such as holding a rope, paddling. DH is a very experienced paddler and sailor so quite prepared to haul him in if he hops out, but he hasn't yet. If you know someone experienced who could take your DS for a gentle paddle then give it a try- would send DH but you are too far away!
Have recently bought DS a giant 3-wheeler that we are enjoying as it means he can be safely transported to somewhere to chase around (eg a field) and we can at last get some exercise ourselves without battling with him running in the opposite direction/lying down, etc I can't quite believe how much it has improved the quality of my life. hope it means I can keep fit enough to keep on top of the daily battles as he gets bigger and harder to manage.

We have taken a wide rangeof kids canoeing and as long as he had a buoyancy aid may be worth an experience, we raft a couple of Canadians together so they can't capsize.Thiough he could still jump in (would float though )

Gess have you seen the tandem buddybike (can't do links so you'd have to google)? designed by the father of a child with autism. Very expensive to import, but if you found a good welder I should imagine easy to copy!
I'm on the lookout for someone to build one for my ds.

my autistic 10 year old daughter loves trampolining. according to her psychologist autistic children 'need' to bounce. it helps with their sensory needs in some way. anyway, she loves it. great exercise.

He won't use the trampoline at the moment, no idea why, freaks if the other kids go on it as well. Will use the tiny one.

I have seen that bike mymate- emailed for some advice, but they didn't reply. I don't think it would suit ds1 as he has a tendency to leap off (as he did off a donkey a couple of weeks ago). Perhaps I should try an exercise cycle???? He's skinny at the moment, no weight problems, but full of unused energy.....

joggeroo - where did you get the three-wheeler from????

How about gymnastics? See if a local club has beginner sessions, so he can give things a try and thus may find something he likes.

I think classes/public sessions are out tbh. He couldn't even manage the SN donkey rinding; it was a bloody disaster.

gess, I was given a x-trainer recently, i'm meant to be using it but ds2 loves the swinging motion.
Its not an expensive hydraulic electric one just a cheap one that works on the momentum.
DS2 cant co-ordinate or doesn't have the balance to get his 4 limbs working together but he just stands on one foot plate & swings back & forth for ages.
its been useful at the moment as its constantly peeing down outside

oh that's a good idea mymate....

Haven't read this thread properly but scanned it. I have to say, SPECIAL sessions have been an absolute godsend for us, and not just ASD or child specific, gen disability. Also, try the opposite as it might help with managing the more active activities By which I mean yoga, aromatherapy massage, general relaxtion techniques. I was amazed that DS could not only participate (with a bit of time and effort on my part) with aromatherapy massage, yoga etc but he really enjoyed it. Relaxation can really help and give you an opportunity to practice. We are lucky because we have so many clubs and activities around us but there are still many we haven't tried inc sailing which someone else mentioned, a friend's DS with ASD does this. Bike riding we found minimally useful tbh.

He helps me walk the dog, we have a trampoline, he swims once a week and he has special needs gym at local leisure centre.

Oh Davros I am getting nowhere with setting up trampolining sessions down here. Feeling very disheartened about special sessons tbh because the SN donkey riding was such a bloody disaster. I have spoken to school about what went wrong (he goes there with school) & they agreed that it just wasn't set up in a way he could access. I'll talk to the people who run it before the next session, but I'm a bit dubious that it can work for him really. I'll try paying someone to come with me as well. Perhaps it will work better 2:1.

If you remember from MN passim, we had the same experience with Riding for the Disabled. It just wasn't ASD friendly. Our best successes have been SN trampolining at local sports centre, disabled swimming session with all sorts/ages plus helpers and extended family, aromatherapy massage, "sports" session for all disabilities run by local charity (DS hated it at first, we kept going now and then over at least 2 years and now he can tolerate/enjoy it but DD can also participate), adventure playground organised by NAS branch.
Other things we've done are Dance session for ASD, basketball for ASD (both set up by a good friend of mine) DS could take or leave but not convenient, yoga for mixed disabilities run by local charity, DS could take or leave and again not convenient and tricky with DD hanging around, bowling and soft play on inset days if it is an odd one when other schools don't have inset - MIXED!

Oh I remember that vaguely davros. I had heard similar of riding for the disabled from other people, but I thought the donkey people would be fine as they have a lot of experience with his school, and have always accomodated the severest learning difficulties. TBH the people running the centre were fine, and it was set up well (very similar to his classroom, double handled doors, high handles to open doors etc) it just failed at the volunteer level. I will probably try again because he will be going with school fairly regularly.

I'm jealous of how many activities you have! We have disabled swimming (which is good) but that's it. Anything else needs to be set up (by muggins) & I'm reaching end of energy levels at the moment.

The good news is that for the first time in at least 18 months he went in the big pool (his request) so did actually do something resembling swimming (think upright arms and legs splaying randomly in all directions). A start!

If anyone wants an old (but still functioning) exercise bike, they can have it for the delivery costs....which will be massive as the thing weighs a bloody ton.

On second thoughts it will probably cost mre to send than to buy a new one.......

Ah yes, exercise bike! They have one at school he uses and I have toyed with buying one. Also those big exercise balls, we have those at home as a sort-of trampoline substitute. DS also loves his rocking chair (surprise, surprise!) and I bought him a massage pad thingy at Xmas which I have tried and it is quite firm, he likes it. I am planning on getting him a foot spa for his birthday. I think combining physical with sensory works well if poss.
Yes, we are quite lucky although many activities are not ASD-friendly enough or are at difficult times or places. Many have been set up by friends of mine who are parents of children with ASD and, of course, most of these charities started out as parent groups. Isn't there anyone else in your area who could take some of it on Gess? People love it when someone else (muggins, i.e. you!) organises something but getting other people to do the same or help out is much harder.

Oh don't get me started Davros....... It's not all me, but there is just nothing here, really nothing, so we're starting from a very low place iyswim. TBH I'm too knackered now anyway, have zero childfree time & am soon to start paid work so someone else will have to do it (mutter, mutter)

Well, maybe stop worrying about it and hope he is getting lots of exericse at school. You could specifically ask them to increase physical activity. I did as it definitely reduces anxiety so now poor DS does circuit training and all sorts! It has taken us years to try out various activities and find ones DS likes, ones that are convenient and, of course, it changes. So maybe just keep your ears and eyes open and try stuff if and when it comes up. Being a serial joiner like me helps though as I get quite a lot of newsletters and comb through for anything useful.

I think I have joiner fatigue..... They are pretty good exercise wise at school, must admit. They're rebuilding the school adventure playground as well.....