guest blogger: patricia sarmiento

Author: one tough job

3 Alternative Therapies for Children with Special Needs

When my son was diagnosed with autism, we learned about all kinds of therapy options.In our experience, using a combination of alternative therapies has helped us better connect with James. Whether you plan to use them as all-encompassing treatment or to complement other treatments, there are different types you can try to benefit your child.

Image via Flickr by midiman

1. Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy uses the healing power of water to develop physical control and grow self-confidence.

The buoyancy and pressure in water makes it easier for a child with autism to feel his body in space, and even helps build muscle memory.Further,holding his breath underwater can teach him how to control his breath while speaking and improve speech abilities.

Perhaps the greatest perk is the confidence aquatic therapy gives to accomplish goals and interact with others. It can help develop social skills, give the self-confidence to make friends and improve focus.

With James, we saw significant changes in his willingness to engage. Usually content to play on his own, he began to invite us to join him while playing with building blocks, even guiding our hands to pieces. And though he’s still not always the chattiest little boy, he now makes clear efforts to join conversations and interactions with others.

2. Music Therapy

Musical therapy can benefit your child in many ways, including providing an outlet for emotional expression. Since playing instruments is nonverbal, it’s a great way for children with special needs to express how they feel when they might not know how to do so with words.

James was a clear music lover even before birth, “dancing” in the womb whenever he heard it. We bought him a keyboard around age 3, and he quickly realized he could use it to express himself. On bad days, it’s an outlet to vent frustration without resorting to self-harming behavior. On good days, he shows excitement by tinkling over the keys with a giant smile on his face. It seems to make him feel more heard, more understood, which – as any mother of a special needs child will tell you – is a beautiful gift.

3. Animal-Assisted Therapy

Connecting with others is a critical part of emotional development, but it’s often difficult for children with special needs to connect with others their age.

Animal-assisted therapy is a great solution. Caring for and interacting with animals like horses, dolphins, and service dogs can grow self-confidence in children with special needs and nurture a love for beings around them.

If you’re considering alternative therapy for your special needs child, it’s worth giving one (or all) of these methods a chance. For our family, it’s given our child a chance to grow and strengthened our family bond.

Patricia Sarmiento loves swimming and running. She channels her love of fitness and wellness into blogging about health and health-related topics. She lives with her husband, two children, and their shih tzu in Maryland.

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