Autism Cook Islands swimming lessons are well underway with both older and younger children participating at Social Centre.

Kat Jenson from Autism Cook Islands said the children were really enjoying the lessons.

“Kids with autism do tend to love the water, it’s really good for their anxiety and all that sort of stuff so the water is really good for them,” Jenson said.

“We had one boy who was adamant he wasn’t going to get in the water, wasn’t going to participate, he wasn’t going to do anything, and now he’s in there doing backstroke… they love it.”

One of the mothers, Maine Foster said her son looks forward to swimming every Wednesday.

“He loves the water, he would stay in if he could from the morning to sundown, but what they’re doing is teaching him safety and learning to swim properly,” Foster said.

“It keeps him occupied as well because he does get bored easily.”

Foster said her son was learning a valuable life skill. There were six children over the age of 12 swimming on Wednesday and eight children swimming on Monday who were under 12.