Occupational Therapy in the Pool

At Casa Colina, John is taking swim with an occupational therapist.  It has been so rewarding on so many levels.  John is 5.  In January, he was not water safe. 

I've had private swim instructors for 3 years try to teach him in my parents pool.  He is good at distraction and a master of manipulation.  He was in charge more than the teachers, having them resort to baby games you'd play with toddlers or use in a mommy and me classes.  He'd sit on the edge or on the step, they'd splash water on his legs and the two of them would sing silly water songs that would end with John being pulled into the pool.  John would love this so much that they would do this over and over.  He wouldn't attempt picking anything off the bottom of the pool, would get disorientated when his head would go under water, and could not hold his breath. He hated doing anything with the kickboard and refused to do "big arms".   He'd swallow lots of water and most attempts to teach him to close his mouth just didn't work.  We'd resort to him wearing a life vest every time he went in the water.  He had no fear at other times and would want to jump off the edge, but then do nothing to try to swim to the side.  The life vest made it more fun for him and put us at ease.  But, that doesn't solve the problem.

This year,  I talked to John's OT about moving an OT session into the pool.  Casa Colina (where John is in OT) advertises an 8 week swim program that is taught by an Occupational Therapist.  After speaking to her, I realized that this was the perfect fit for John.  The water provides a sensory experience for him and they can work on motor planning, as well as water safety and swim.

Watching him progress so rapidly in this class has been so awesome.  They work on strengthening his core, breath control, floating, swimming, motor planning, water games, swimming to bottom of pool, jumping in and swimming to the edge, etc.   Having an OT teach John these skills was exactly what we needed to see improvement.  He's on his second, 8-week session.  He is holding his breath, swimming to the bottom and getting rings, swimming the length of the pool, and floating on his back.  He used to avoid tipping his head back, but she got him to relax and float.  She taught him that when he is swimming or feeling like he is sinking, he can roll to his back and float.  She has worked with him, going from front to back and then back to swimming.  He has some motor planning work to do on this skill, but it's a long way from sitting on the edge singing songs and being splashed in the legs!  They work a lot on strength, endurance, muscle control, motor planning, etc., while playing games and swimming.  It's a great fit and I'm so thankful for the programs we have found for John.