Top At-Home Activities for Children with Autism

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face unique challenges when it comes to play. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy helps to bridge sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, and differences in social interaction that make it hard for them to fully engage in play activities.

In this blog, we will discuss the best at-home activities for children with ASD, why they are necessary for overall well-being, and how to choose the right ones for your child.

How Autism Spectrum Disorder Affects Play

Play is a fundamental part of childhood development. It helps children learn social, communication, and problem-solving skills, fostering their imagination and creativity. However, for children with ASD, play can be a more complex experience due to their unique neurological differences.

Social Communication

Children on the spectrum often struggle with understanding social cues, interpreting facial expressions and body language, and engaging in reciprocal play. This can make it challenging for them to understand the unspoken rules of games, take turns, share, or communicate their needs and interests effectively.

Sensory Processing

Some children with ASD may have heightened sensory sensitivities or difficulties processing sensory information. They might be overwhelmed by loud noises, bright lights, certain textures, or even the feeling of clothing. This can lead to them avoiding certain activities or reacting with distress, making it difficult to enjoy play.

Repetitive Behaviors

Children with ASD may engage in repetitive behaviors and obsessions or have limited interests, which can affect their ability to participate in a wide range of play activities. They might prefer predictable routines or engage in repetitive actions that provide comfort or sensory stimulation. This can make it challenging for them to engage in spontaneous play or explore new activities.

Executive Functioning

Children with autism might struggle with planning, organizing, and managing time, which can affect their ability to play games with rules, follow instructions, or engage in structured play activities. This can lead to frustration and difficulties in participating fully in play.

Why Is Play Important for Children with Autism?

Despite these challenges, play remains a vital part of a child's development, and shouldn’t be overlooked. Play-based activities can provide numerous benefits:

• Developing Social Skills: Play provides opportunities for children to practice social interaction, learn to take turns, share, and understand social cues.
• Improving Communication Skills: Engaging in play with others helps children develop and refine their language skills, improve communication skills, and express their thoughts and feelings.
• Enhancing Sensory Processing: Sensory play activities can help children with ASD develop body awareness, regulate emotions, and manage sensory sensitivities.
• Boosting Cognitive Skills: Play can foster cognitive growth, including problem-solving, critical thinking, logical reasoning, and memory skills.
• Building Fine Motor Skills: Many play activities, such as building with blocks, drawing, or using puzzles, enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Developing Patience and Emotional Regulation: Engaging in structured activities like board games or puzzles can help children develop patience and learn to follow the rules.
• Promoting Emotional Recognition: Playing pretend, role-playing, or expressing themselves creatively can help children understand and express emotions.

It is essential to remember that every child with autism is unique, and their experiences with play will vary. Some children may have minimal challenges, while others may encounter more significant difficulties.

At-Home Physical Activities

Encouraging physical activity for children with ASD allows them to develop gross motor skills, coordination, and even organizational skills. Here are some ideas for physical activities at home:

• Obstacle Courses: Create an obstacle course using furniture, pillows, cushions, blankets, and other household items. This can teach children to follow directions and plan their movements, and help with balance, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Stepping Stones: Place stepping stones (like pillows or beanbags) across the floor for the child to step on, promoting balance and coordination.
• Dance Party: Turn on some music and get dancing! This is a fun way to improve gross motor skills, coordination, and rhythm.
• Sensory Walks: Take a walk in nature, focusing on different textures, sounds, and smells. This fun and engaging activity allows children to explore colors, textures, and movement.

Physical activities can help your child improve their coordination and balance, but you need to adjust activities based on the child's age, abilities, and sensory needs.

Creative At-Home Activities

Creative activities can foster imagination, expression, and cognitive development for children on the spectrum:

• Art Projects: Engage in art projects like drawing, painting, coloring, or clay modeling.
• Music: Encourage exploration of musical instruments to develop fine motor skills, rhythm, and self-expression.
• Building Activities: Use blocks, LEGOs, or other construction toys to develop spatial reasoning, problem-solving skills, and fine motor skills.
• Storytelling: Encourage storytelling, whether through drawing pictures, acting out scenarios, or writing stories.
• Puzzles: Puzzles are a great way to develop problem-solving skills, spatial reasoning, and fine motor skills.

You can adapt creative activities to meet a child's individual needs and interests. For example, if a child is overwhelmed by sensory input, you can use calming colors, offer sensory breaks, or provide headphones to reduce noise levels.

At-Home Sensory Play

Sensory activities can help children with ASD manage their sensory processing abilities and explore their senses in a controlled and enjoyable environment. Here are some ideas for sensory activities at home:

• Sensory Bins: Fill a bin with items of various textures, like sand, rice, beans, or water beads. Children can explore, sort, and play with different sensory experiences. This can be an excellent way to address sensory seeking or to help them self-regulate.
• Tactile Activities: Engage in sensory play with shaving cream, play dough, finger paint, or textured materials like slime.
• Sensory Bottles: Create bottles filled with colorful water, glitter, small objects, or beads for visual and auditory stimulation.
• Stress Balls: Provide balls of various textures for squeezing and tactile stimulation.
• Finger Painting: Finger painting can be calming or stimulating, depending on the child's preferences. It can help with developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creative expression.

Sensory play is a valuable tool for supporting children with autism and helping them reach milestones down the road.

How to Choose the Right Activities for Children with Autism

Here are some things to consider when choosing activities for children with autism:

• Child's Interests: Engage your child in activities that align with their passions. Whether it is dinosaurs, space, or music, incorporating their interests will make play more enjoyable and engaging.
• Utilize Visual Aids: Visual cues, like pictures, diagrams, or written instructions, can help children understand and execute tasks more easily, especially if they are visual learners.
• Play to Their Strengths: Choose activities that match your child's strengths. If they excel at puzzles, consider complex building sets, logic games, or coloring books. Pay close attention to their sensory preferences and incorporate activities that align with their sensitivities.
• Keep It Simple and Direct: Break down tasks into manageable steps to avoid overwhelm and encourage independence. Clear and concise instructions will help them follow along and feel successful.

At Rise Up For Autism, our Board-certified behavioral analysts help children with autism improve communication and social interaction, as well as promote school readiness, and self-care — all of which can be incorporated into play activities.

Enjoy At-Home Playtime with Rise Up For Autism

Indoor activities can be a wonderful way for children to explore, learn, and have fun, especially when the weather is not cooperating. Finding engaging play that meets the needs of children with autism can be especially rewarding.

Reach out to Rise Up For Autism in Illinois today to learn more about how our ABA therapy can help your child enjoy a more fulfilling and enriching life through the power of play.