How does autism impact a child’s interpretation of games and activities?
Children with autism can have trouble with responding to and understanding sensory experiences. Sensory (smell, taste, sight, texture, and sound) activities are well-suited for children on the spectrum because they allow them to learn how to respond to stimuli and process information. Exploring senses, shapes, and colors is a great way for children with autism to get creative, feel calm and focused, and have fun. When appropriate activities are chosen and adapted, children on the autism spectrum can learn how to cooperate, take turns, interact, develop relationships, behave in a group setting, and more.
What is the best way to go about setting up structured play?
Because structured sensory activities can have a number of benefits for children on the autism spectrum, it’s important to find ways to adapt or develop activities that suit the child’s specific challenges and skills. The right activities can also help the child sharpen skills or learn new ones. Over time, parents and caregivers will learn to accommodate the child’s needs and use their many strengths as an advantage to create new games or activities in which the child can thrive and succeed. Some basic guidelines for setting up structured activities for a child with autism include:
Prepare your child by describing what to expect during the game or activity.
Let your child express themselves by asking questions or communicating anxious feelings.
Clarify the rules or expectations before beginning.
Give the child plenty of time to practice the game or activity before allowing him or her to participate in the activity with others.
15 Activity Ideas
Matching Games:
Matching is an easy-to-customize activity, and it’s perfectly suited for children with autism because they typically appreciate simplicity and order. The options are vast when it comes to matching games. Draw simple shapes on paper, then cut each sheet of paper in half and have the child match the shapes. Write words (such as dog) on index cards, then draw those objects on separate index cards and have the child match the word to the illustration. Based on your child’s skill level, you can use this game to teach the child about numbers, foods, colors, animals, and so much more.
Shredded Paper Crafts
Children with autism and other special needs tend to enjoy the sensory stimulation that comes from tearing paper into different shapes. Give your child tissue paper, magazine pages, and construction paper in a variety of colors and prints, then allow them to tear and shred the paper. Help your child make one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork by gluing the shreds and shapes to a piece of paper to create a fun scene or design.
Memory Games
Children with autism have a number of strengths, and memory is a common one. If you’ve noticed that your child excels at memorizing things, a memory game might be a great way to sharpen that skill. Begin by laying out 4 to 6 matching cards and allowing the child to examine them. Turn them over, then encourage your child to tell you where each card was. As your child masters this game, you can increase the number of cards you use when you play. There are a number of memory games available, so it’s easy to find one that features your child’s favorite things - fun colors, farm animals, cartoon characters, and more.
Hide and Seek
A classic game of hide and seek can be a surprisingly useful way to help a child with autism focus on gross motor skills in a game that involves minimal social interaction. It’s easy to adapt the game to suit your child’s skill level. First, be sure to play indoors or in another safe area with clear boundaries. Explain the rules clearly, using visual aids whenever possible. Children on the spectrum may need a secondary activity, such as a book or a toy, to focus on while they “hide.” Use recognizable phrases if your child understands verbal cues. In some cases, hide and seek might work best as a one-on-one activity.
Ice Painting
Children with autism often love ice painting because it allows them to learn about solid and liquid states, observe the changes that are taking place, and recognize colors. This crafty activity is easy to set up. First, pour acrylic paint into the wells of an ice cube tray. Next, freeze the ice cube tray with a craft stick in each paint-filled well. When the paint has frozen, it’s time to get creative. Take the frozen paints out of the ice cube tray and allow the child to swirl the cubes and create designs on paper (tip: watercolor paper is a great choice for this activity). As the frozen paint melts, interesting designs will begin to form.
Cars and a Race Track
Many kids love pretend play, such as pushing toy cars around a track. Setting up a small track and giving your child one or two cars to push around can be an easy and fun way to encourage interaction, teach the child words associated with cars (such as “zoom” or “stop”), and teach the child about cause and effect (for example, if you put the car at the top of the ramp, it will roll down quickly on its own).
Simon Says
While this classic game has all the makings of an overwhelming and overly challenging experience for a child with autism, it can easily be adapted. Use words the child recognizes, try visual aids, demonstrate the actions expected of the child (for example, “jump!”), and limit the number of actions Simon can choose. Be sure that the child is never “out,” even if he or she acts when “Simon” didn’t prompt them to.
Sensory Bottle
Sensory bottles are a fun way to keep children focused and encourage engagement. They’re also incredibly easy to make! Simply clean out a plastic bottle, then fill it partially with water. Add food coloring, marbles, glitter, sequins, buttons, and other fun surprises to the water. Use hot glue to seal the lid in place, then let your child explore to their heart’s content!
Coin or Object Rubbing
Help the child develop his or her hand-eye coordination, strengthen their hand muscles, and explore textures, shapes, and colors with a rubbing craft or activity. Simply place coins, sandpaper, leaves, or other flat, textured objects under a sheet of paper. Use crayons to rub over the textures below, revealing a pattern. Take this activity a step further by incorporating numbers, different colors, and a variety of textures.
Tag
Physical play in the form of a classic (but modified) game of tag can be ideal for children with autism because they encourage exercise, teach the child beneficial skills, and allow for endless fun. Be sure to play in a well-secured yard or an indoor environment to keep the child safe and to define the boundaries. Tag is easy to adapt to suit your child’s specific needs and skills. When a person is “it,” he or she could wear a special vest or other accessory to help the child understand the concept. Visual aids can be a helpful way to teach the rules and concepts of tag.
Tactile Collage
Kids with autism tend to become overwhelmed by certain sensations and textures, and they often avoid making a mess. Sensory collages are a great way to introduce a variety of textures and materials, including foam letter or number stickers, magazine or newspaper clippings in various colors, glitter, uncooked noodles, aluminum foil, and more. Encourage creativity and ease your child into new sensory experiences by adding different elements each time.
Home Made Dough or Slime
Slime and dough are fun, sensory-stimulating, and versatile ways to help your child practice motor skills and experience new textures. Involve a variety of senses by adding essential oils to change the scent of the slime or dough. You can also get creative and encourage your child to have more fun by adding food coloring, small objects, and more.
Sensory Table
Create a sensory table where your child can explore, pour, sort, squish, dig, sift, play, make a mess, discover, and learn. The options are truly endless! Add soap and water, dry potato flakes or pasta, paper shreds, shaving cream, and so much more.
Smelling Station
Children on the autism spectrum enjoy learning about each sense, and scent is no exception. Gather a selection of small containers and fill them with scented household items like coffee, lemon slices, cinnamon, or soap. Cover the container with a fabric scrap and secure it with a rubber band. Many children with autism will love guessing the scent of each container.
Homemade Musical Instruments
Music is a sensory-stimulating, relaxing experience for many children with autism. While traditional instruments are always a great option, there are also a number of homemade instruments that can be just as exciting for your child. Fill plastic Easter eggs with beads, rice, beans, or coarse salt to create maracas, or place similar items inside a paper towel roll to form a crafty rainstick.
These games and activities are just a few of the many things a child on the spectrum might enjoy and benefit from. The basic idea is to provide your child with resources, offer clear guidelines or directions, and join the child (or get them started) in playing or taking part in the activity. As opposed to free play, in which children simply play independently with things they’re interested in, structured play takes a more methodical approach. This structure is important for children with autism because it encourages them to learn necessary skills and try new things by giving the child a clear goal and specific guidelines.
A structured approach helps children with autism comprehend the ideas, steps, activities, and/or skills they need to play or complete an activity. Structured play allows for a less stressful environment, which fosters success. Often, the child will learn from repetition and later be able to complete the activity independently. As you become more confident in creating activities and games for your child, you’ll see that it’s easy to tailor them to include some of your child’s individual interests. Try incorporating the child’s favorite cartoon character or favorite toy, or expand on his or her favorite activity by making it more challenging.
Keep in mind that it’s also important to consider the child’s skill level and the severity of his or her autism diagnosis. Expecting too much can lead to frustration and disappointment for you and your child, while presenting activities that don’t introduce new skills can prevent the child from reaching their full potential. The child will need your support and direction, and it’s likely that you’ll have to redirect and clarify the rules as you go. As time goes on and the child becomes better at the game or activity, you may be able to try many activities in a row or lengthen the amount of time each activity lasts. Follow your child’s lead, teach him or her how to complete the activity, support them throughout, and adapt as needed to maximize the benefits of the activity!
15 Activities For Kids
How does autism impact a child’s interpretation of games and activities?
What is the best way to go about setting up structured play?
Because structured sensory activities can have a number of benefits for children on the autism spectrum, it’s important to find ways to adapt or develop activities that suit the child’s specific challenges and skills. The right activities can also help the child sharpen skills or learn new ones. Over time, parents and caregivers will learn to accommodate the child’s needs and use their many strengths as an advantage to create new games or activities in which the child can thrive and succeed. Some basic guidelines for setting up structured activities for a child with autism include:
15 Activity Ideas
Matching Games:
Matching is an easy-to-customize activity, and it’s perfectly suited for children with autism because they typically appreciate simplicity and order. The options are vast when it comes to matching games. Draw simple shapes on paper, then cut each sheet of paper in half and have the child match the shapes. Write words (such as dog) on index cards, then draw those objects on separate index cards and have the child match the word to the illustration. Based on your child’s skill level, you can use this game to teach the child about numbers, foods, colors, animals, and so much more.
Shredded Paper Crafts
Children with autism and other special needs tend to enjoy the sensory stimulation that comes from tearing paper into different shapes. Give your child tissue paper, magazine pages, and construction paper in a variety of colors and prints, then allow them to tear and shred the paper. Help your child make one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork by gluing the shreds and shapes to a piece of paper to create a fun scene or design.
Memory Games
Children with autism have a number of strengths, and memory is a common one. If you’ve noticed that your child excels at memorizing things, a memory game might be a great way to sharpen that skill. Begin by laying out 4 to 6 matching cards and allowing the child to examine them. Turn them over, then encourage your child to tell you where each card was. As your child masters this game, you can increase the number of cards you use when you play. There are a number of memory games available, so it’s easy to find one that features your child’s favorite things - fun colors, farm animals, cartoon characters, and more.
Hide and Seek
A classic game of hide and seek can be a surprisingly useful way to help a child with autism focus on gross motor skills in a game that involves minimal social interaction. It’s easy to adapt the game to suit your child’s skill level. First, be sure to play indoors or in another safe area with clear boundaries. Explain the rules clearly, using visual aids whenever possible. Children on the spectrum may need a secondary activity, such as a book or a toy, to focus on while they “hide.” Use recognizable phrases if your child understands verbal cues. In some cases, hide and seek might work best as a one-on-one activity.
Ice Painting
Children with autism often love ice painting because it allows them to learn about solid and liquid states, observe the changes that are taking place, and recognize colors. This crafty activity is easy to set up. First, pour acrylic paint into the wells of an ice cube tray. Next, freeze the ice cube tray with a craft stick in each paint-filled well. When the paint has frozen, it’s time to get creative. Take the frozen paints out of the ice cube tray and allow the child to swirl the cubes and create designs on paper (tip: watercolor paper is a great choice for this activity). As the frozen paint melts, interesting designs will begin to form.
Cars and a Race Track
Many kids love pretend play, such as pushing toy cars around a track. Setting up a small track and giving your child one or two cars to push around can be an easy and fun way to encourage interaction, teach the child words associated with cars (such as “zoom” or “stop”), and teach the child about cause and effect (for example, if you put the car at the top of the ramp, it will roll down quickly on its own).
Simon Says
While this classic game has all the makings of an overwhelming and overly challenging experience for a child with autism, it can easily be adapted. Use words the child recognizes, try visual aids, demonstrate the actions expected of the child (for example, “jump!”), and limit the number of actions Simon can choose. Be sure that the child is never “out,” even if he or she acts when “Simon” didn’t prompt them to.
Sensory Bottle
Sensory bottles are a fun way to keep children focused and encourage engagement. They’re also incredibly easy to make! Simply clean out a plastic bottle, then fill it partially with water. Add food coloring, marbles, glitter, sequins, buttons, and other fun surprises to the water. Use hot glue to seal the lid in place, then let your child explore to their heart’s content!
Coin or Object Rubbing
Help the child develop his or her hand-eye coordination, strengthen their hand muscles, and explore textures, shapes, and colors with a rubbing craft or activity. Simply place coins, sandpaper, leaves, or other flat, textured objects under a sheet of paper. Use crayons to rub over the textures below, revealing a pattern. Take this activity a step further by incorporating numbers, different colors, and a variety of textures.
Tag
Physical play in the form of a classic (but modified) game of tag can be ideal for children with autism because they encourage exercise, teach the child beneficial skills, and allow for endless fun. Be sure to play in a well-secured yard or an indoor environment to keep the child safe and to define the boundaries. Tag is easy to adapt to suit your child’s specific needs and skills. When a person is “it,” he or she could wear a special vest or other accessory to help the child understand the concept. Visual aids can be a helpful way to teach the rules and concepts of tag.
Tactile Collage
Kids with autism tend to become overwhelmed by certain sensations and textures, and they often avoid making a mess. Sensory collages are a great way to introduce a variety of textures and materials, including foam letter or number stickers, magazine or newspaper clippings in various colors, glitter, uncooked noodles, aluminum foil, and more. Encourage creativity and ease your child into new sensory experiences by adding different elements each time.
Home Made Dough or Slime
Slime and dough are fun, sensory-stimulating, and versatile ways to help your child practice motor skills and experience new textures. Involve a variety of senses by adding essential oils to change the scent of the slime or dough. You can also get creative and encourage your child to have more fun by adding food coloring, small objects, and more.
Sensory Table
Create a sensory table where your child can explore, pour, sort, squish, dig, sift, play, make a mess, discover, and learn. The options are truly endless! Add soap and water, dry potato flakes or pasta, paper shreds, shaving cream, and so much more.
Smelling Station
Children on the autism spectrum enjoy learning about each sense, and scent is no exception. Gather a selection of small containers and fill them with scented household items like coffee, lemon slices, cinnamon, or soap. Cover the container with a fabric scrap and secure it with a rubber band. Many children with autism will love guessing the scent of each container.
Homemade Musical Instruments
Music is a sensory-stimulating, relaxing experience for many children with autism. While traditional instruments are always a great option, there are also a number of homemade instruments that can be just as exciting for your child. Fill plastic Easter eggs with beads, rice, beans, or coarse salt to create maracas, or place similar items inside a paper towel roll to form a crafty rainstick.
These games and activities are just a few of the many things a child on the spectrum might enjoy and benefit from. The basic idea is to provide your child with resources, offer clear guidelines or directions, and join the child (or get them started) in playing or taking part in the activity. As opposed to free play, in which children simply play independently with things they’re interested in, structured play takes a more methodical approach. This structure is important for children with autism because it encourages them to learn necessary skills and try new things by giving the child a clear goal and specific guidelines.
A structured approach helps children with autism comprehend the ideas, steps, activities, and/or skills they need to play or complete an activity. Structured play allows for a less stressful environment, which fosters success. Often, the child will learn from repetition and later be able to complete the activity independently. As you become more confident in creating activities and games for your child, you’ll see that it’s easy to tailor them to include some of your child’s individual interests. Try incorporating the child’s favorite cartoon character or favorite toy, or expand on his or her favorite activity by making it more challenging.
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