Dolphin / water therapy

[literarymama]

Has anybody explored dolphin / water therapy? DC's swimming teacher mentioned it at the weekend. DC (6yo) absolutely loves water and swimming. Mostly NV, diagnosed with ASD. We have often joked they would be happier if they could spend every day in the swimming pool. The way the swimming teacher described the dolphin therapy is an intensive week or so where the "bribe" of swimming/water is used to encourage a child to progress, e.g. with speaking. After googling, not sure that description is exactly accurate, and frankly I hadn't realised actual dolphins were involved.

Would be very intrigued to hear experiences, particularly for any water therapy / intensive swimming type opportunities that don't involve live dolphins!!

No experience of dolphin therapy, but many have success with other types of animal assisted therapy.

DS1 has aquatherapy/hydroptherapy (but in a normal temp pool for medical reasons). It helps with his physical difficulties, emotional regulation, sensory differences, etc. He is verbal but has selective mutism. We haven’t found it helps with that.

Not recommended by evidence, might be fun, but risky for kids and dolphins and unlikely to have any ongoing effect Dolphin Assisted Therapy (asatonline.org)

Thanks all. Yes research is also leading me to
be sceptical and def not great for the dolphins either. Just wish there was a way to have way more water time, the windows of swimming lessons and fam pool visits never seem nearly enough for DC.

Something like this might be good, depending where you live https://www.waveproject.co.uk/