I myself am a good swimmer. That said, I've always been terrified of water for my children. An accident happen so fast! To overcome this fear, I made it a point to teach my children to swim at an early age. They all followed by swimming lessons with the goal they are strong enough to swim in a pool, any depth confused with adults on the site, without being in water. Thus, Antoine swam alone in 7 years. Lolo, my hyperactive champion, swam unassisted to 5 years! My 5 year old daughter swims with a slight help. And Thomas did not swim more than 30 seconds before the rest off the bottom of the pool looking its air. And yet, he loves the water! I therefore set a challenge for him was to teach myself to swim. Allez hop! on the back! It is the star. It is not moving and you float ... Go flop on his belly! It is the little dog. Raise your buttocks and move your hands! ... But it didn't had the expected success ... In fact, it's a complete failure!
And I asked myself: why? What's wrong?? I watched him move, then I realized! HE HAS NO COORDINATION! Like most children aspergers, he is waiting for this facility .... Not that he has little, is that none at all in the water! Yet he goes on a bicycle with two wheels since he was 3 years .... Sigh! Therefore I find a solution before next year to make the presence of Thomas near the water safe, but also more fun!
Tania, my CLSC social worker, told me about of Gymn-Water, an organization specializing in teaching swimming to children with learning difficulties in promoting their development and growth. Their activities are conducted in a climate of non-competition and recovery effort, allowing the child to increase his confidence and his self-esteem. And, of course, the ratio of intervention is low. And great happiness among their target audience, we mention the high functioning autism and PDD children - which includes Asperger syndrome. Hooray!
Then there is the price ... not given! I am therefore a request for assistance in order to give Tom the basis of swimming, reassure me when it is near water, and allow him to enjoy an activity he loves!
There. I just discovered another symptom, hitherto unknown to me. Another turn of the wheel brings us one step further in its adaptability. Add to his learning because coordination is a big, big plus for his life!
To be continued ....
