AUTISM & Related diagnoses

Little boy with a map. How to navigate autism as a parent.
“Have you ever thought about your own experience of daily living? Consider for a moment the first half of your day and the many sensory experiences that encapsulate it... These experiences pass without us giving them any thought. They’re our norm. What if there was no comfortable norm?”
— Ann J. Fowler
Colorful letter tiles spelling out 'Autism' surrounded by scattered black, white, and orange letter tiles on a white background.

SENSORY INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES

Children on the autism spectrum experience sensory input differently. Their sensory integration is disorganized, resulting in discomfort and adverse behaviors. Though I cannot offer medical advice, I have compiled a list of potentially helpful sensory-organizing activities to be used under the guidance of your child's doctor or occupational therapist. When a child’s sensory system feels organized, they can focus on enjoying childhood.

Adult and child hands. Tactile activities that build tolerance for children with autism. A parent guide.

Tactile activities that build tolerance:

  • Assemble a dried-bean bowl the child can freely play with as often as they like

  • Fill a large bowl with shaving cream the child can immerse their hands into, increasing tolerance for messy hands

  • Purchase a sand and water table for outdoor sensory play

  • Have the child help clean out the inside of a pumpkin and separate the seeds, increasing tolerance and improving fine motor skills

  • Play a game where the child is blindfolded and must guess diverse objects by the way they feel

  • Provide a sensory drawer where the child can choose from a variety of simple sensory toys when needed (spinning toys, clicking toys, putty, PlayDoh, Slinky, squishy rubber toys, blowing toys, chewy tubes—anything that provides sensory input), encouraging self-regulation

  • Wilbarger Brushing Protocol (*must be prescribed by an occupational therapist specifically for your child): requires brushing of the child's arms, legs, and back with a surgical brush using firm pressure, with quick swipes on the palms and soles on a regular schedule in a prescribed method specific to your child's needs

Little girl blowing bubbles. Blowing activities that calm children with autism. A parent guide.

blowing activities that calm:

  • Have the child blow through a straw into a bowl of soapy water to create bubbles

  • Provide bubble bottles for outdoor fun blowing bubbles together

  • Hold a race by blowing pom-pom balls or feathers across the floor together through straws

  • Purchase the vintage-style floating ball blower toy that you use to keep a ping-pong ball suspended in the air

  • Invest in a pack of pinwheel party toys for children. The child can keep the toy spinning with gentle blowing for as long as they like

  • Provide opportunities to have your child practice blowing up balloons

  • Consider exploring your child’s interest in wind instruments

Little boy climbing rope ladder. Large motor activities that help children with autism increase focus. A parent guide.

Large motor activities that increase focus:

  • Invest in a small indoor trampoline

  • Purchase a weighted therapy ball, like the Yuk-E Medicine Ball (it comes with numerous therapy ideas) to toss underhand with both hands back and forth for a count of ten with your child

  • Engage the child in running activities or take them to a local track

  • Play a game of hop scotch

  • Spin in circles together with both hands joined

  • Have the child swing on a swing set

  • Take the child swimming

  • Play a game of catch or kick a large kickball with your child

  • Provide an exercise ball to play, sit, or bounce on

  • Allow the child to play in a ball pit

  • Visit a playground often where the child can climb and play

  • Perform joint compressions on a regular schedule (*only as prescribed by an occupational therapist for your individual child)

Child hiding in blanket. Comforting activities for a child with autism and overwhelmed nervouse system. A parent guide.

Comforting activities for an overwhelmed nervous system:

  • Create a visible daily and weekly written schedule so your child knows what to expect each day

  • Provide a weighted therapy blanket

  • Roll a child up tightly in a blanket, like a burrito, for a few minutes

  • Lay on a child's back (if your body weight is tolerable) for the time it takes the child to verbally list 20 different types of sandwiches

  • Hug the child tightly for a few minutes, rubbing their back vigorously

  • Pick the child up and spin together in a circle if the child is small and is calmed by spinning

  • Provide a quiet, secluded space for the child to retreat to when overwhelmed (a blanket fort or pop-up tent)

  • Provide a large beanbag chair for the child to retreat to in a quiet corner to read or rest in

  • Purchase an inflatable wobble cushion for sensory input in both sitting and standing to help the child focus on a task

  • Use red graph paper for organizing math problems (red is calming while white paper is alerting)

  • Turn on a sound machine with white noise for sleeping

  • Have a variety of crunchy foods available: pretzels, carrots, celery, apples, crisp crackers, crusty breads, Cheerios (choose alternatives if your child is gluten-free)

  • Provide chewy foods (chewing gum for older children, fruit snacks or fruit leather roll-ups, string cheese) or look for Chewelry options (wearable chewy jewelry)

  • Make available plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, as well as dairy products like yogurt (alternatives are available if the child is dairy-free)

  • Allow sour foods as tolerated (sour candy in moderation)

  • Offer a cool drink with a straw if the child appears flushed

Little boy writing. Fine motor activities for children with autism. A parent guide.

Fine motor activities:

  • Have the child regularly grasp, open, and close a clothespin repeatedly (create a game of racing to pick up buttons or pompom balls)

  • Practice using lace-up cards with the child

  • Practice shoe tying early and often

  • Handwriting Without Tears is an excellent handwriting program created by an occupational therapist if you need help with your child's handwriting

  • Provide pencil grips

  • Offer sensory putty for fine motor strengthening

  • String beads onto pipe cleaners to create ornaments or bracelets

  • Play games like Pick Up Sticks, Let’s Go Fishin’, and Perfection

  • Create any craft project requiring fine motor skills

  • Practice cooking with your child, incorporating tasks using various cooking utensils

  • Have the child try using a handheld can opener

Little boy with headphones. Suggestions to decrease sound sensitivity in children with autism. A parent guide.

suggestions to decrease sound sensitivity:

  • Invest in noise canceling headphones for your child to wear when they cannot avoid a noisy environment

  • Alternatively, use foam earplugs in loud environments

  • Ask your child's occupational therapist about the Therapeutic Listening program. It is a prescription program that incorporates music with intentional sound distortions over a period of weeks that can permanently resolve the child's inability to tolerate loud sounds

Mother holding upset boy. Parenting a child with autism and related diagnoses.
“The activities that are the easiest, cheapest, and most fun to do—such as singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and just talking and listening—are also the best for child development.”
— Jerome Singer

social skills training

Children on the autism spectrum struggle with social understanding. This lack of skill is often mistaken for a lack of interest in having friends. Nothing could be further from the truth! But their social skills don't develop as naturally as their typical peers. These children need positive peer social interactions, effective social skills training, and encouragement. With the right help, they have potential to be wonderful friends! 

Social skills groups are usually led by a speech and language therapist who develops individualized learning goals for each child. Within the group setting, they teach children how to: properly interpret facial expressions, develop conversational skills, play games, take turns, demonstrate encouragement, and show sensitivity to others' feelings. Most importantly, a social skills group provides a safe environment to make mistakes that allow a child to develop skills that will lay a foundation for friendships throughout life. Ask your child's pediatrician about a social skills group near you once your child’s sensory integration has improved. 

Silhouettes of three children playing outdoors at sunset or dusk, with a cloudy sky in the background.
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Children playing with parachute outdoors. Social skills activities for children with autism and related diagnoses. A parent guide.

social skills activities

Autistic children need oversight in early social interactions. Parents should plan social scenarios for success. This requires time-limited, structured activities. Typical children can be left to develop their own fun with friends. A child with autism needs to know what to expect ahead of time. The who, what, when, where, why, and how should be discussed beforehand so the child is equipped to do well. Here are a few task-focused social activity ideas that may aid success with a friend.

  • Meet for an organized scavenger hunt where children work together 

  • Invite a friend over for a guided parallel project or a planned craft activity 

  • Host a play date for pre-planned activities like lunch and a board game 

  • Invite a friend for a shopping trip to choose ingredients for make-your-own pizza or an ice cream sundae bar

  • Set up a structured outdoor game with a common goal like working together to build a fort 

  • Oversee a cooking date, like baking and decorating cookies

  • Visit the zoo or a science, history, or art museum 

  • Participate in a community art class together, like painting or ceramics

  • Visit a pumpkin patch and carve your pumpkins together 

  • Plan a lunch date and trip to the pool

  • Arrange a play date where children have a mock restaurant and create menus with real or play food, and play money. Let each take turns as guest and server 

  • Regularly practice different social scenarios with your child as if you were a peer to prepare them for real interactions

  • Purchase a set of conversation cards for kids to aid in teaching your child social-emotional and conversational skills

  • Make a daily project of prompting your child to come up with ideas about specific ways to be a good friend. Write their ideas on a growing poster board

  • Motivate your child to use their ideas by implementing a weekly sticker chart they can turn in for a reward

Several books on shelf. Recommended reading list of books and websites on autism, sensory processing, anxiety, OCD, ADHD.

REsources

Autism & Sensory Processing:

Related Anxiety & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

Related Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

Websites: