The other day I received a package from Pro-Spin Sports. Inside the box I found a Play Anywhere Portable Table Tennis Set (2-Player) set. Basically, it turns most tables into a playable ping pong table.

https://youtu.be/o2j22RxKW9s

We’ve never had a ping pong set in my house before and I wasn’t entirely sure how this was going to go. I don’t think I’ve played ping pong since college and even then I wasn’t very good at it. I was a little concerned about my kids getting frustrated because this game can be a bit challenging.

Having said that, in the last few days, Emmett and I have literally played dozens of matches. Turns out he’s played before at his grandparents house but just didn’t know the rules.

We spent a few matches going over the rules and practicing a bit of discipline and control because he was all about smashing the ball as hard as he could. Surprisingly, all three of the Pro-Spin ping pong balls have survived thus far.

After he got the hang of it, it’s been pretty much nonstop ping pong in my house.

This is exciting for a number of reasons. The biggest of which is that it’s fun and entertaining, without being glued to a screen. We’ve been on COVID lockdown for 270 days by the time you read this. As you can probably imagine, there’s been way too much screen time and while that bothers me, I’m also picking my battles.

In the few days since receiving this package and setting it up in our dining room, we’ve spent hours playing ping pong. At the moment, it’s mostly Emmett and I but Gavin’s played as well. Elliott is a bit resistant but seems to be showing more and more interest as Emmett and I continue having a blast.

Aside from the reduced scree time, it’s also physical activity and keeping my kids active has proven to be a bit challenging since lockdown.

I’ve also noticed that it’s helping Emmett slow down a bit and think before he reacts. Emmett is prone to impulsivity. In order to play this game, especially on a smaller table, he has to slow himself down and control his movement’s. There’s an element of finesse required to play ping pong and he’s really surprised me with his ability to adapt.

Anyway, this is such a positive experience and it’s given a something productive to do whilst continuing to do our part during the COVID pandemic.

If you’re interested in checking this out for yourself, visit Pro-Spin Sports. It’s under $40 and totally worth every penny. You can even use coupon code THEAUTISMDAD for free shipping. You can also find it on Amazon.