Time Management and Movement Exploration

I have plenty of work to do in order to ensure that every child and young adult on the autism spectrum has access to a well-developed, functional physical education program. I will author many articles beyond this one,  perform plenty of presentations and workshops, meet dedicated parents and progressive educators who recognize the vital importance of physical fitness. In the process, I will learn and develop new methods. I will share discoveries and successes with those close to me. It is, and will continue to be a journey and a constantly evolving process. As I am so fond of reminding everybody, physical fitness is a gateway towards optimization in other areas of life. Therefore, I often take the liberty of relating health and wellness to aspects of life that, initially, seem to have little to do with climbing ropes and tumbling. Still, the art of allocating time is one that corresponds directly to a balanced wellness lifestyle.

I advocate fitness from a family perspective because in the vast majority of situations, a child on the autism spectrum is going to have similar lifestyle patterns as his/her parents, at least in terms of access to opportunities. Have a household with a TV in every room? Greater access to a sedentary, couch-based home life is created. Cabinets filled with edibles (I resist the initial impulse to call anything in a box food) high in sugar, trans fats, and devoid of nutrients? A greater tendency for the curious combination of obesity and malnourishment exists. Children on the spectrum have enough challenges without medical complications due to a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. As do most parents. Developing a time budget to include exercise and begin a more balanced diet may prove difficult initially, but will ultimately prove to be the most valuable investment a family can make.

Establishing a joy of movement with young individuals on the autism spectrum requires a steady focus on developing skills and consistently reinforcing successes. Regular access to exercise modalities and situations is crucial. It is important to consider that individuals who have difficulty moving correctly are often reluctant to move. Adults with social phobias do not typically decide to begin holding court in the middle of a busy shopping center, attempting to address as many passer-bys as possible. That’s usually my job. Point being, we are unlikely to master skills that we have limited access to practicing regularly. If skills remain poor, the likelihood of developing a desire to engage in these activities remains low, except in the case of karaoke. Since the focus here is on the young ASD population and not who sings the best version of Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual” down at the Ale House on Thursdays, we’ll limit the focus to implementing family-based exercise programs.

I have spoken with parents who cite a “lack of time” as the primary reason for not working on movement regularly with their children. Granted, their lives are significantly full with commitments to work, family, and the daily nuances that arise. The most prevalent issue, however, is that exercise and wellness are not considered priorities in the household, and are subject to being overshadowed by other activities. If you have 45 minutes to watch television, stop watching television. Take some time to learn about movement and begin incorporating it into the daily routine. I’ve been asked about time limits on exercise programs, typically in the form of “How long should each session be?” For younger children, movement should be practiced throughout the day. Half hour to 50 minute movement specific sessions are fine, however a  five to 20 minute family movement break can be just as effective, fun, and productive in establishing a routine and ensuring healthy bodies. Decades ago, when physical education, recess, and after school play were the norm, all-day interval movement was a regular occurrence. Now that same proposition seems completely alien. This, coincidentally, is also why the current generation is wrought with health issues and is predicted to have a life expectancy lower than the previous generation.  This is not an issue merely pertaining to longevity, but quality of life as well.

Consider your top priorities in life. I would imagine that “family” comes in near to the top of the list. What exactly does this mean, though? Certainly providing food, shelter, and clothing are necessary aspects of attending to the best interests of your household. Health and wellness sound as though they should be considered in daily life, but often the small nuances and chores take precedence, and everyone winds up watching television and eating fast food. The priorities we claim and our actions towards making them a reality do not always match up. Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables are known to be beneficial and aid in the prevention of diseases, including some forms of cancer. How many are we incorporating into meals on a regular basis? Exercise is the other major factor in overall wellness. Knowing this is important, but incorporating exercise into daily life is necessary in order to derive its many benefits. The family fitness model is ideal because it turns healthy living into specific goals that are met each day.

The New Year is always rife with marketing ploys for fitness gadgets, gyms, and other “health” products. Fortunately, the young special needs population is largely ignored by those purveyors who profit on the common misunderstanding of what fitness is and how to achieve health through daily practice. The truth is that expensive equipment and large commercial fitness centers are not necessary to incorporate fitness for everyone in the family. Pushing, pulling, climbing, throwing, bending, rotating, and practicing picking up heavy things and putting them down safely and correctly are the cornerstone of a successful exercise program. For everybody. Developing exercise programs for young individuals on the autism spectrum does not differ all too much from working with other youth populations. The focus should be on developing sound movement patterns, strength, coordination, and body awareness using a variety of activities and progressions. Progress may be a lengthier process with the autism group, though the outcome absolutely, unequivocally justifies the time spent developing and implementing the program.

I can say that the results of well-developed physical education programs for young individuals with autism are amazing. I have seen short-term increases in attention, body awareness, gross motor skills, strength endurance, and coordination. In the long-term, these students will be enriched with the self-esteem and self-efficacy needed to succeed in many areas of life. Exercise is the gateway to optimized living. Invest the time to incorporate fitness into your home and you will not only put family first, but far out ahead.