The Wonders of Water

Posted on by Malin - Sensational Learning with Penguin

On Sunday we went to Port Lympne. We’ve visited it a couple of times before, and as I wrote about in a post from our last visit, it’s not ‘just’ the amazing animals there that make it a wonderful place to visit, but also the impressive gardens around the manor house (which serves as hotel & restaurant), the dinosaur forest, the safari tour, and the surroundings. It’s a great place for Penguin and us to roam around, and he also likes to have a look in the shops (one at the entrance, plus a dino-themed one by the dinosaur forest), and there are playgrounds and a maze to enjoy too.

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On this latest visit of ours, it was the wonders of water that brought the most enjoyment for Penguin. Watching water is something that he’s always liked to do, and it’s something that is relaxing for most of us. For a person with autism, who doesn’t filter out sensory input in the way that most people do, focusing (maybe I should even say hyper-focusing) on something like moving water can be a way to screen out the surroundings. Other things can fill a similar function, screens (tablet, phone, tv etc.) for example. Penguin had seemed a little bit tired before we set off from home on Sunday, probably due to the beginnings of a cold. So he wasn’t quite as energetic as on most days, and with so much to take in at the park, the water features offered a welcome relief as well as sensory joy.

A fascination with water is quite common amongst autistics, and along with this follows worrying statistics about drownings. So never ever leave your child unattended by water, and don’t let your phone or other distractions take your attention away. Drowning is quick and quiet. This of course applies to neurotypical children as well, even if the risks increase in combination with autism. More information on these dangers can be found in this post by Spirit of Autism LLC.

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On this February visit, the weather was mostly sunny and bright, but with a distinct chill in the air. We started off with a look around the shop, before walking past the wolf enclosure on our way to the big steps that lead down to the manor house and gardens.

In front of the house there’s a large square pond with lovely big carp fish in it. There was a heron strutting around on the side of the pond when we arrived, but he quickly made his escape.

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The small, well-like pond pictured above is a big favourite of Penguin’s. There’s a trickling stream of water coming down from the half-dome above, and it makes little ripples on the surface as well as reflections on the bottom and surrounding walls.

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We did manage to see some animals too! Here’s a giraffe I got a shot of as we went on the safari tour (you can see the edge of our trailer at the bottom of the pic). It was chilly ride on the trailer, and bumpier than I remember it from last time, which was good fun! After the tour, we walked through other parts of the park, including the dino-shop, one of the playgrounds, and the maze, before we ended up back at the water features again.

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If it looks as if Penguin might be about to get into the water on the last picture above, that’s about right… He did however stop to take his shoes off, giving us the chance to talk him out of it, which thankfully wasn’t too difficult this time. ☺️

The light was getting low and the temperature was dropping, so we made our way towards the exit, with a couple of laps around another pond on the way.

IMG_1642IMG_1641Although you can’t quite make it out in this picture, we could actually see a hint of France on the horizon across the channel, as we made our way back up those big old steps. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view, nor the wonders of water!

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51 thoughts on “The Wonders of Water”

  4. This is another beautifully written post about something so very simple! I love your style of writing. We only live about an hour or so from here and have never visited so must add it to our 2018 list – we’ve tended to go to Howletts instead. Love the pics of Penguin around the water – you can sense his curiosity!!!! I think you make a very good (and chilling) point about the dangers of water. Well done for persuading him not to get any closer to it then just looking! #PointShoot xx

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    1. Thank you Hayley, that’s so lovely to hear!! 💖
      I hope you enjoy your visit when you go there, and as you live fairly close you should have a look at maybe getting a joint membership for Howlett’s and Port Lympne. If you’re likely to go a few times it could be well worth it.
      When it comes to getting into water, we’ll have to wait for warmer weather – and somewhere more bathing friendly than a pond! 😆😄xx

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    1. Thank you! Not everyone is aware of how silent a drowning normally is. I’ve seen a young child fall into a pool once, and he just sank, I was the only adult who noticed (this was at a kids party, with loads of both kids and adults about) and I of course screamed and got help quickly, so the child was fine. But it was terrifying to think ‘what if I hadn’t seen it happen’. I was watching Penguin, so just a coincidence that we were in the right place at the right time. x

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  7. what pretty gardens! My asd son has a fascination with water too – we always know that if there is a pond or a beach or even a puddle that he is the one who will end up soaked. I’ve never been to port lymne – good to know they have such pretty grounds there too. #countrykids

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  8. Wow such a clear day to be able to see across the channel like that. I think if I lived near this safari I would visit a lot. Seems there is too much to see in one visit! Interesting water facts, we often walk our 2 year old by the canal and rivers, I’m always super alert to the fact he might fall in as he loves chucking stuff in. Starting swimming lessons recently too. #countrykids

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  9. This is an amazing read. I have learned something new today about water and autism! Water is amazing isnt it. Can be really dangerous (like what you have mentioned here) on so many levels but if you work with it it can really help you in so many ways. I am lucky to be living near one. In my country I live near a river. Every time I am homesick I go to the seafront and imagine that the island that I saw in the horizon is where my family lives and me seeing that island is like seeing them. Like they are not really that far. I try to survive here and the sea helps me to do that always. #countrykids

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  13. Gorgeous photos! I especially love the giraffe (one of my favourite animals). I never heard that about autism and drowning – that must be an extra worry for you – but I do agree that water is very mesmerizing and lots of fun to play with in the right context #blogcrush

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    1. They are huge, yes! Though the ones at Bodiam castle are even bigger!! (Same kind of fish, I think it’s probably the environment allowing them to grow even bigger there.)
      I too find water incredibly relaxing, and/or uplifting, depending on how much it’s moving about 🙂x

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  22. This looks such a beautiful place. I’ve always been fascinated by running water and I could watch koi carp for hours! Thank you for linking up with us for #DreamTeam x

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  23. What an amazing place. I love the gardens and the views are stunning. I bet the animals and dinosaurs are fun too, I know that my family would have hours of fun here. I don’t have much experience with autism, but I can imagine how calming the water is, I know it fascinates my son. Thanks so much for sharing #AdventureCalling

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  24. I too find water utterly hypnotic and relaxing I could spend hours and hours waterside. I never knew about the links between autism and water so I’ve certainly learned something from your post! Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling

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