Engaging Weekend Activities for Autistic Children

Fun and Cheap Weekend activities for autistic children

Weekends offer a refreshing change of pace from the school routine. For families with autistic children, weekends are an opportunity to prioritise quality time while nurturing skills and interests and getting children/teenagers off their screens. Weekend outings and activities can be fun for the whole family. We have a range of ages in our family so wrote a post about ideas for when your children have a large age gap. I hope this post provides some ideas for occupying your Saturday and Sunday with something your child will love.

Getting Outdoors in Nature

Spending time outdoors provides a wealth of benefits for all children. The multi-sensory experience of a nature hike or park visit stimulates the senses through sounds, smells, textures, and visual input. Simple activities like feeding birds or squirrels can spark curiosity and turn an ordinary park trip into an engaging adventure. Being outside also allows children to expel energy through running, jumping, climbing, and exploring tactile environments like playgrounds.

Autism-Friendly Attractions

Many local attractions are well-suited for autistic children. Museums provide highly visual, hands-on exhibits ideal for learning about topics like science, art, and history in an immersive way. Checking ahead for sensory-friendly programming and quiet spaces can enhance the experience. One of our local museams, The Powell Cotton Museum provides these great little backpacks with sensory and other resources in.

Creative Projects at Home

Artistic outlets like painting, drawing, sculpting, and music-making nurture self-expression and creativity. Not only are these engaging activities, but they also provide a calming influence through repetitive motions and sensory input. Reading books aloud together, acting out stories, and imagining new worlds through pretend play enriches creative exploration.

Sensory Activities

Sensory activities offer numerous benefits for children with autism. They stimulate the brain, creating more neural pathways to improve sensory processing. Additionally, sensory play can enhance language skills through dialogue and roleplay, even benefiting non-verbal children. These activities also aid in the development of social skills, coordination, and motor skills. Importantly, sensory play helps autistic children learn to regulate their responses to sensory stimuli, promoting self-control.

Create a sensory ocean

Construct a sensory-rich environment with sand, water, shells, and toy fish. This activity promotes tactile exploration and imaginative play, mimicking the sensations of the ocean.

Painting with food

Combine art and sensory exploration by using edible materials like chocolate sauce, blackberries, and yogurt to create colorful masterpieces. This activity engages multiple senses and is safe for children who mouth objects.

Water beads

Provide a satisfying tactile experience with non-toxic water beads. Children can squish, squeeze, and explore these beads, promoting sensory engagement.

Toys in jelly/Ice/Mud

Create a fun and edible sensory activity by hiding toys in bowls of jelly. Children can dig through the jelly to find the hidden treasures, stimulating tactile and visual senses. You can easily freeze some toys in Ice over night that requires some experimentation to release. This is a great summer actity.

Pouring station

Promote fine motor skills and sensory exploration with a pouring station. Children can pour water between containers, mixing colours and textures while developing coordination. Water play is perfect for a summer day.

Encouraging Special Interests

A key aspect of supporting autistic children is recognizing and facilitating their special interests – intense areas of focus like trains, animals, space, or fiction series. Libraries are great resources for fueling these interests through books, movies, and events. Leaning into preferred topics boosts motivation and feelings of competence.

The Importance of Free Play

While planned weekend activities are enriching, unstructured free play is equally vital for all children’s development. Setting aside independent play time allows children to independently explore their own ideas and problem-solve through imaginative games with toys or preferred hobbies. This autonomy nurtures crucial critical thinking abilities.

Top Tips for Weekend Fun:

• Check community event listings for autism-friendly programs, shows, and activities.
• Bring preferred toys/objects, noise-cancelling headphones, and sensory tools for outings.
• Use a visual schedule to prepare for transitions between activities.
• Celebrate special interests by incorporating them into art projects, books, and play scenarios.
• Allow unstructured downtime to recharge and engage preferred interests independently.
• Set reasonable expectations and leave activities early if frustrations arise.
• Bringing a small sensory bag filled with preferred calming tools can prevent sensory overload and behavioural dysregulation during outings. It helps meet individual self-regulation needs.

FAQs

Q: How can I make community outings autism-friendly?
A: Call ahead to ask about accommodations, request a staff guide if needed, and preview the space online or with pictures if possible to prepare your child, our daughter enjoys watching youtube video reviews of the places we will visit. Bring sensory tools and take breaks as required.

Q: Do I have to entertain my child with scheduled activities all weekend?
A: Definitely not! Balancing structured and unstructured time is ideal. Allow lots of room for independent play and relaxation based on your child’s needs and interests.

Q: Will my child be left out if they can’t participate in group activities?
A: Many community autism programs and inclusive playgroups are designed to allow flexible participation based on individual needs. Focus on activities your child enjoys and seems motivated to engage in.

Q: How do I prioritise self-care when my child requires so much energy?
A: Self-care looks different for every parent, but even small pockets of respite time can be restorative. Ask friends and family for occasional childcare help or look into respite care services. Prioritize personal interests weekly.

With preparation and realistic expectations, weekends can become a treasured time for families to explore new experiences together, while nurturing life skills and priority interests. The key is finding activities everyone can enjoy.