Benefits of swimming and aquatic therapy for ASD

A family-friendly explanation of motor, sensory, social, communication and water safety benefits.

Swimming and aquatic therapy can support more than aquatic skills alone. For many children, water provides a motivating environment where physical, sensory, social and communication skills can be practised.

Five benefit areas

  • Motor: strength, balance, coordination and endurance.
  • Sensory: calming pressure, predictable routines and graded exposure.
  • Social: turn-taking, sharing, eye contact and cooperative play.
  • Communication: following instructions, requesting, visual supports and oral-motor practice.
  • Safety: safer entry and exit, breath control, floating and propulsion to exit.

Download the supporting PDF resource.