Swimming can provide recreation and therapy for everyone, including children with disabilities. Swimming provides resistance training, is easy on the joints and improves coordination. Swimming constitutes an official sport for a number of professional disability organizations including Disabled Sports USA and the National Association of Blind Athletes. Because all disabilities and individuals differ, check with your doctor before taking up swimming.
Floating Maneuver
Swimming for disabled children needs to start out slow to get your child accustomed to being in the water. Floating is a good beginning exercise. If your child is blind, thoroughly describe the maneuver. Get into the shallow end of the pool with your child and gently lift your child onto her back. Place a flotation device behind the neck and put your hands underneath your child's back for security purposes. Have your child start moving her hands and legs gently. Do this for one minute. As comfort level increases, remove your hands and have your child continue moving her hands and feet as her body propels through the water. Walk or swim alongside to provide needed support.
Backstroke
When comfort levels increase, have your child start swimming by using a backstroke technique. Get into the shallow end of the pool. Place your child face up in the water and let her float for a minute. Gently instruct your child to move her legs up and down while lifting one arm at a time over her head. Begin at a slow pace that is comfortable for your child and do not rush your child or place undue pressure upon her. Let your disabled child swim while using the backstroke for one to two minutes. Demonstrating the backstroke prior to having your sighted or deaf child perform the maneuver will be a good way to provide needed guidance and help ease your child's mind.
Swimming Laps
Disabled children benefit from doing 150 minutes of moderately brisk exercises weekly. According to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, people with disabilities have a tendency to exercise less than others. Counteract this tendency by having your child swim in 10-minute increments using a standard stroke of simultaneously kicking legs while alternating overhead arm movements. Swim across the pool's width to begin with. Relax 10 seconds. Have your child swim back to starting position. As strength increases, have your child begin swimming one entire pool length.
Partial Dog Paddling
Disabled children might need the assistance of aquatic flotation devices such as floating dumbbells. Floatation devices help increase your child's self-confidence and flexibility. Get two floating dumbbells, one for you and one for your child. Demonstrate this swimming maneuver to your sighted child prior to having your child perform it. If your child is visually impaired, describe in detail what you will be doing. Have your child sit on the pool's edge while you demonstrate, with someone else supervising, if needed. Get into the shallow end of a pool, on your stomach. Grab a hold of the dumbbell with both hands and start swimming across the pool's width by paddling your feet to propel your body. Upon reaching the opposite side. Relax 10 seconds. Swim back to the original position. Repeat the maneuver with your child.
