Most kids love to jump in the pool or a lake on a hot summer day. A water park can be the most popular place in the neighbourhood. As beneficial as the exercise and recreation is to kids, it offers even more benefits to children with autism, from sensory processing to motor skill development. Parents usually don’t think twice about letting their kids splash and run around and turn their attention elsewhere. However, safety should remain a top priority, as children with autism may have challenges with following verbal instructions and consequently an increased risk of wandering. There’s simply more at stake around water. Drowning, unfortunately, is the leading, and yet one of the most preventable causes of death amongst children 1-4 and the second leading cause of death amongst children 5-14. It’s possible to drown in an inch of water. So it’s important for parents and caregivers to stay vigilant, even at the water park.

Here are ten ways to encourage safe water play and swimming skills while ensuring a fun and secure experience for children with autism in Toronto.

1. Enroll in Adaptive Swim Lessons

Your child needs to learn how to swim. No exceptions. It’s a skill that could someday save their life. Many pools offer swimming lessons for children with autism in Toronto. For example, there is a program called School In The Pool in North York that teaches children with autism how to swim and be comfortable in the water. The University of Toronto has a program called Junior Blues Swim Adapted that offers swim training to children with neurodiversity. Kaylas’s Children Centre in Toronto focuses on teaching swimming to children with special needs and disabilities. These programs offer certified instructors who specialize in adaptive swim lessons use individualized approaches, incorporating sensory-friendly techniques and communication strategies to teach swimming skills effectively.

2. Ensure One-On-One Supervision

Accidents around water can happen in the flash of an eye. Unlike other slips and falls at playgrounds or on the soccer field, a misstep at the pool or water park can have fatal consequences. For this reason, you should never leave a child with autism unattended near water. If you are in a group, designate a responsible adult who understands the child’s needs and can provide constant supervision. Another option is to consider one-on-one supervised swim training for children with autism with an instructor. In Toronto, SWAM offers a program like this, which is perfect for children in the early stages of familiarizing themselves with water.  Bear in mind, however, that even children who are strong swimmers require close monitoring to ensure their safety.

3. Start With Water Familiarization

If you live in Toronto, Ontario, taking your child with autism out to Donald D Summerville outdoor pool for the afternoon might sound like a great idea. Before you go, however, maybe start with a smaller pool in a controlled environment. Introducing water play in a safe and familiar environment can help your child become comfortable with water. So start small. Begin with activities such as playing in a bathtub, engaging with water toys in a sensory-friendly way, or using a small pool in the backyard. This gradual exposure can ease anxiety and build confidence. Then they’ll be ready for the crowds, the slides, and maybe even the diving boards. 

4. Use Sensory-Friendly Swim Gear

Does your child make a scene every time they get their face wet? This might be discouraging to parents trying to introduce water play to their child. But don’t let up, getting wet is a part of swimming, and swimming is a skill that cannot, under any circumstances, be overlooked. It’s not uncommon for children with autism to be sensitive to water on their face or dislike certain textures. If this is the case, be proactive. Source some sensory-friendly swim gear such as goggles, nose plugs, swim caps, earplugs, or wetsuits to make swimming more comfortable and enjoyable. Brown’s Sports on Bloor Street has most of the accessories you will need. If there are other issues, such as glaring overhead lighting, or the rambunctiousness of the crowds, there are other options too. In Toronto, the Snoezelen Pool is designed specifically around sensory sensitives, with light and noise levels deliberately kept to a minimum for children with autism. 

5. Teach Floating And Basic Water Safety Skills

Get your child comfortable with water as soon as possible. This means starting with swimming familiarization in the pool when they are little more than newborns. In Toronto, there is a program called Water Babies, that will teach your infant how to be comfortable around water. Learning to swim can come with time. To get the ball rolling, children should be taught essential water survival skills, such as floating on their back, treading water, and learning how to safely exit the pool. Practicing these skills regularly can help build their confidence and ability to respond to emergencies.

6. Create A Safe And Structured Routine

One of the easiest ways to go swimming every day is to make it into a consistent habit. Leave at the same time. Follow the exact same order of events, from locker, to hot tub, to sauna, to X amount of laps. Make it a ritual. Children with autism often thrive on routine and predictability. Establish a structured system for swim sessions, including consistent arrival and departure times, clear instructions, and familiar warm-up activities. This can reduce anxiety and increase participation.

7. Use Positive Reinforcement

A hug, a treat, more screen time, a sticker, a special trip somewhere, or even just an encouraging word. You need to be your child’s cheerleader when they are first learning how to navigate water in order to keep them going. No one likes to get their face wet, but with a gentle push and reward, you can keep them going even when they feel uncomfortable. Positive reinforcement is an excellent way to encourage safe water play and skill development. Sit poolside and give praise for each of their accomplishments, offer rewards, or use a token system to motivate progress. Reinforcement helps build confidence and makes learning an enjoyable experience.

8. Be Mindful Of Sensory Needs

Water can be wet, and cold, and let’s face it, if you’re not in the mood, kind of unpleasant. It’s just one of the many shocks to the system that deter adults from swimming, and this sensory overload is particularly jarring to children with autism. Work on overcoming this. Once you are past this barrier, you’re one step closer to having your child learn how to swim. There are other sensory challenges as well. Pay attention to potential sensory triggers, such as loud pool environments, strong chlorine smells, or cold water temperatures. If needed, choose quieter swim times, use nose clips, or introduce water play in a warmer pool to make the experience more comfortable. Some programs in Toronto offer set swimming times at local pools for children with autism. 

9. Educate Family And Caregivers On Water Safety

It’s one thing that your child knows how to swim. But do you? If anything were to happen, you want to be confident that you can dive in the water and pull out your child in a heartbeat. Ensure that all family members and caregivers understand water safety guidelines and are up-to-date on their First Aid. Make sure they understand your child’s specific needs. In Toronto, Saint John’s Ambulance offers First Aid training that covers drowning resuscitation. Before embarking on a swimming or water park outing, discuss safety rules, emergency procedures, and supervision strategies to create a secure environment both at home and in public swimming areas. If you don’t know how to swim yourself—learn. 

10. Use Social Stories And Visual Supports

There are things that you can cover before you get anywhere near the pool. Many children with autism benefit from structured learning tools like visual schedules. Create a visual guide, storyboard, or pictograph that explains water safety rules, proper pool behaviour, and what to expect during swimming lessons. This can help your child understand expectations and feel more prepared before setting foot in the water. 

Swimming is one of the only sports that can save your life. At MIT, you cannot graduate unless you can swim. That’s how important they feel that swimming is, and at Monarch House we feel the same way. If you live in Toronto, there are resources everywhere to help you get your child familiar, comfortable, and eventually active in the multiple pools and water parks in the region. Start by incorporating these ten strategies. It’s possible for parents and caregivers to help children with autism develop swimming skills while ensuring a safe and enjoyable water experience for everyone involved. At Monarch House we have a professional, interdisciplinary staff of occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, psychotherapists, and speech pathologists that are here to help you source swim lessons, locations, and activities for your child, as well as coach them on how to work one-on-one with a swim instructor. With patience, encouragement, and proper planning, water play can become a fun and beneficial activity for children with autism in Toronto.