April is National Autism Month

National Autism Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month. The goal of the month is to educate and build awareness about autism. Autism-society.org notes that as of 2014, more than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. And the severity of symptoms can vary greatly along that spectrum. Having a month of national awareness can highlight the difficulties and challenges many people with autism face, in hopes of creating ways to help. One of the ways can be Tae Kwon Do.

 

  • Tae Kwon Do helps to nurture social skills. As children are learning new skills and trying them out, they are often partnered with another child in class. The comradery of practicing, taking part in the same activity, can help children feel more comfortable in sharing with others.
  • It can also foster confidence. Any child can experience a surge in self-esteem, especially when learning to conquer new moves.
  • Tae Kwon Do contains a lot of repetitive behaviors, which can also be the case with children on the autism spectrum. It can be beneficial for the child to have that trait work to his or her advantage.
  • Motor skills can be greatly developed while practicing Tae Kwon Do. Learning the specific movements necessary to participate in the sport can enhance those skills greatly.