There is no doubt that physical activity has positive physical and psychological benefits for children and adults. However, with an immeasurable amount of important items on the to-do list, finding the motivation to get up and get moving can feel all but stimulating. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes a host of behavioral and social factors that can make it even more difficult to facilitate exercise.
It is heartbreaking for a parent to see their child battle with anxiety. Parents want the best for their children, and they want them to grow up happy and emotionally resilient. But anxiety prevents children from enjoying things other children enjoy like making friends and attending school.
Parents and educators dealing with children (or adults) with ADHD are likely to have heard increasing references to the terms “executive functioning” (EF) and “self-regulation” over the past few years.
The most obvious difference for autism mama bears is that those seemingly insurmountable and often surreal scenarios that we all go through as humans occur with more intensity and frequency than one might expect from the family of an average Joe (pun fully intended).
