Summer camps will help build autistic children's confidence

Dubai - For children on the spectrum, activities can offer opportunities for making friends in an easier way than the usual classroom and playground interactions

Parents with autistic children are being encouraged to enroll their kids in summer activities as it gives them long-lasting benefits, a therapist has said.
Summer activities can help children with autism make friends. It also helps build their confidence, Adam Griffin, head of occupational therapy at Autism Rocks, told Khaleej Times. He said parents need to follow their child's skills and enrol them in summer activities that are best suited for them, whether that is joining a sports or music clubs.
"Taking part in summer activities can help develop self-confidence, improve mood, expose the child to new people and new experiences," Griffin said.
"All children benefit from positive peer interaction that comes with summer activities, but for children on the spectrum, these activities can offer opportunities for making friends in a way that is easier than the usual classroom and playground interactions.
"The benefits can even extend until they return to school, as engagement in activities such as these has been shown to improve academic performance across a wide range of factors, including grades and performance in standardised scores."
Griffin shared a case study of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder that he used to work with. He said the boy took on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and it helped him get better at the sport and make new friends.
Griffin said the boy had poor motor skills and low self-esteem. He was picked last for football all year, had a few friends and felt excluded from his peers. However, after participating in martial arts, he made new friends and found a new passion. "He was getting better every day and could not wait to get back to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mats. His mother reported that she had not seen him this passionate about any physical activity and was delighted to see the change in his motor skills and confidence. That September, the boy returned to school feeling like a mini-superhero. He told me that summer he was ready for the sequel," he said.
Griffin said parents should not prevent their children from engaging in activities that can have positive and long lasting benefits.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com