Ping pong

Swimming, gymnastics, dance are appropriate and have many classes available for this age group. These will also provide foundational movement activities and full body work. It doesn’t have to be what DC does for life. Right now you need classes where DC can use their whole body, gain strength and coordination focusing on individual performance within a group. And easily accessible for you and relatively affordable so DC can attend consistently. You also need to find instructors who will work with you to incorporate support and structure that will make DC successful in a group.

Eventually you can introduce other things. Just because DC has autism does not mean they won’t have natural athletic talents. Depending on functional behavior and communication skills, DC could be able to participate in high level athletics or team athletics given specific abilities, but there is really no way for us or you to gauge this right now at 3.5 years old. I would focus on finding the best classes and environments for DC to be successful and have social interactions with peers now, rather than try to find private lessons and such to make DC good at something. DC also should learn how to swim regardless for safety and social purposes.

I think swimming (and endurance activities like biking and running) are great for kids on the spectrum. I think swim team (with meets where kids sit around for hours in large, noisy groups to swim a few minutes) is often not fun for for kids on the spectrum.

Martial arts are often encouraged for kids on the spectrum, but rigid class rules and frequent physical contact is hard. I think gymnastics and dance may be better options.

I know a couple of kids on the spectrum who have done really well in horseback riding (but there are obviously a lot of costs to this)

Golf? Bowling? Poker? Darts? billiards? Auto racing? Basically, any sport where athleticism is not key.

Swimming! Plus you can join a summer team that’s super fun for everyone. Starts around age 6 and can return every year until age 18.
Amazing community.

Swimming, tennis, martial arts, baseball, gymnastics, golf

That said, body type and general athleticism still come hugely into play eventually (sooner in some sports than others). I can’t think of a sport where that isn’t true though, at higher levels.

Also- I find that my DC is so much calmer after swimming, helps to get lots of energy out.

Your DC is young- get on those lessons now- and then if you aren't pool members and you could be- a lot of pools do "mini" swim team in the summer. Ours has 30 min 5 days a week during the season. Your child will grow by leaps and bounds this way

Swimming and cross country are good sports. They both rely on what an individual can do and not so much teamwork. They are healthy exercises that they can take with them for life. Swimming has the added bonus that a strong swimmer is less likely to drown.

You really need to say if your child is a boy or girl.
Other questions:
How is your child’s hand eye coordination?
Individual sports like tennis and golf are good but with really poor hand eye coordination or will be tough.
How tall are you as parents? What is your child’s height potential and what percentile height is your child now?

Former gymnast/gymnastics coach here. Totally disagree that a "naturally tall, thick body type" cannot succeed. To be an elite you need to be 5'5" or lower in general, sure, but watch a college meet -- those girls are the best of the best and some of them are 5'9" and thick. Don't limit your kid based on your own preconceived notions of what her body can or cannot do!

I second swimming. That seems like a good fit. He/She may not end up being a college swimmer or anything, but it is something that you can do regardless of skill (summer swim, even club swimming has lower levels) and it's very good for you.

Join a summer pool if you aren't already a member!

I would look into martial arts programs to start with. My ASD niece and nephew have done really well through the focus and structure provided through the programming.

A sport that early introduction helps is wrestling.

OP. 3.5. I know this is super young but DC will probably need to work on some foundational skills first that a NT kid would naturally have.

swimming is great exercise and great for the body, and they can do it for life. How old is DC?

I have a DC on the spectrum and I am looking for something that I can intro young to hopefully provide a future social outlet and physical activity (1/3 of people with ASD are overweight). DC has a very tall, thick body type if that matters. So something like gymnastics would not work.