Physically Active Living for Individuals with ASD

Abstract

Participation in regular physical activity throughout childhood is essential for healthy growth and development of musculoskeletal tissues (i.e., bones, muscles, and joints), cardiovascular fitness, strength, and flexibility. However, many children with ASD have not mastered many of the requisite skills to successfully engage in physical activity, and parent reports suggest that physical activity participation among children and adolescents with ASD (aged 4-21 years) decreases with age. These findings demonstrate the importance of maximizing participation at school by providing positive experiences and learning opportunities for young children with ASD to develop the movement skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary for lifelong participation. This chapter will begin with a brief overview of research examining movement behavior among children and adolescents with ASD, focusing on the movement skills that span play, recreation, and physical education. Current education-based interventions and instructional strategies that have been used to facilitate the acquisition and performance of these movement skills will be discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)