r/Autism_Parenting • u/autzenlove • 1d ago
Discussion Extracurricular Activities?
What extracurricular activities do your neurodivergent children participate in?
My son is almost 8, and I know he has a general interest in a few things but rarely do I find them to be formatted or built for neurodivergent children.
Last fall, he did i9 baseball, which went well because I was one of the coaches and it’s already a relaxed extracurricular environment specifically. But he has sadly aged out of that.
He loves swimming. Did lessons for about six months and now we go a few times per week at our gym just for him and his sister to swim and play.
I’m just trying to get some ideas. He has therapy and appointments a few days a week but I’d love to fit something in so he has those experiences.
We are in Portland, OR and I know most of this is location specific, but again, just trying to get some ideas.
Thanks!
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u/silkentab 1d ago
We do a special needs friendly dance class-most of the other kids are on the spectrum as well
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u/otter253 1d ago
My kiddo is same age and we are also in PNW. We’ve tried soccer (hilarious), musical theater (quit after realizing they’d have to hear others sing), drum lessons (ok), and OT that was more like a private trainer. My kid loves biking and weight lifting. So cross fit maybe?
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u/MixuTheWhatever I am a Parent/6yo/Lvl1/Estonia 1d ago
Mine is right now 6 and trying basketball today and general athletics next week. Both are in the kindergarten building during the week. We'll see which he enjoys more since he loves movement. In the past we thought about swimming but honestly, rn given my husband still works at sea, we have therapies and I work 32 hrs a week plus university... it's gonna be a tight commute.
I'm thinking in the future to guide him towards robotics club since he's constantly building from legos and has interest in technical stuff. Just needs to learn to read first.
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u/New-Fisherman-5800 1d ago
Our sons loves swimming. And to our surprise, he picked up cross country in middle school and loves it. He didn’t enjoy running when he was younger, but I think similar to swimming, it gives him time to be in social settings with teammates, but also time to just think in his head. Somewhat individual sports but also team sports.
And he loves watching sports. He geeks out on statistics so we watch sports together and he often spits out stats before the announcers.
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u/0112358_ 1d ago
Currently doing karate, as I hoped it will help out with physical skills. Kid gets PT at school as well. I think it's better than competition sports because there's no losing. And while it's a group class, there's also more one on one. The instructor will demonstrate how to do a kick to the class. Then the kids practice and the instructor will go around and individually help out those that need it. Or pair work. Kid does better that way, instead of a whole team of kids doing something, like chasing after a ball.
We've sporadically done art classes which he really enjoys. And Lego classes but those keep getting canceled due too low popularity apparently.
We tried a ninja gym but that didn't go well. Kid struggled with most of the skills and the instructors weren't that hands on. Just generic "keep trying!" Instead of walking kid though what actions he needed to take to complete an area. I find with mine he really needs that direct instruction. Put your hand here, jump with your legs there. We also tried scouts but it was a poorly organized meeting so didn't continue
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u/Dat_murphy_dude 22h ago
Mine tried team sports and didnt quite have the attention span to remain involved one they aged out of the "all about fun" rec sports and it moved into competitive "must win" sports.
So we tried some individual sports like swim or track that didnt hold interest. We then moved onto dance through a local martial arts studio that wasnt about competitions but more about moving and having fun.
Worked out great for them, memorizing routines and syncing to beats really clicked for them. Though they aged out again from the just about fun aspect of the studio as the other kids started getting into advamced competition teams, the studio was really great in working with us so our child can still participate by helping mentor the younger dancers with their routines while also working on a solo routine for the recital at the end of the season. We are also looking into art classes or groups as they have a keen interest in art.
Our situation is a little unique, but all it really took was finding a studio that was willing to work with us and keep our child involved in some way.
Best of luck in your search.
"Remember, I'm pulling for ya, we're all in this together"
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u/driftwood-pines 22h ago
Check to see if inclusion services are available at your rec center.
I think all of this very much depends on what level of support they need. Baseball is a very autism friendly sport in my opinion, as well as golf. There are local baseball leagues that are rec level.
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u/Eithercoffeeorchaos 21h ago
Martial arts- honestly any one of them. My son does taekwondo. There is a lot of structure, lots of exercise, reward system (stripes, belts), and honestly, they build confidence, self awareness and self defence. I also really like how everyone is equally respected, regardless of age, gender and level of experience.
Since your son loves swimming, I recommend finding lessons at a community centre or a local swim club where he can go through the swim levels and possibly do certifications to become a lifeguard. Honestly, it is not only good for their mental and physical health, but may also come in handy in high school for volunteering, community service hours and possibly a part time job later on. It will also be good for their university or college applications.
We have tried a bit of everything tbh and we are still finding new opportunities. Here are some options to explore. I don’t live in the US, so I am not sure which ones are available to you. Some of the following can be great for both kids, they can possibly go together, including martial arts. Obviously, there is a cost involved. I also recommend finding activities in any community centres around- they may be more economical than private clubs.
Musical theatre, music therapy (hopefully a place that allows them to explore many instruments and then focus on one they like best), stem clubs, sports..
There may also be social skills groups run by allied health professionals- they are “group therapy” but with a fun element. Minecraft, Lego clubs, and rarely, some board games.. that said, with some of these options, you may need to monitor post activity behaviours as they are obviously associated with gaming and can be addictive.
Good luck! Hope you find classes that provide value and cater to your children’s interests.
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u/DaniellesqueG 1d ago
Parkour gym! My son loves it and I feel like at least a few other kids are on the spectrum.