Fun Activities for Children with Autism

Children love to engage in fun activities, and kids with autism are no exception. Generally, craft activities are fun for all kids. Still, for those on the autism spectrum, the chance to explore shape, color, and sensory experiences can foster calm, stimulate attention, and be extremely fun. Check out these fun activities for children with autism. 

• Finger Painting and Coloring

Finger painting can be a bit messy but helps your kid learn much about colors. It is a fun activity that makes your kid feel different textures by touch and lowers sensory issues. Create tiny paint blobs of different colors on paper. Ask him/her to mix the paints using their fingers. 

You can also create different patterns, shapes, words, or numbers in the paint and place a white paper on top to create a finger painting stamp. 

• Play A Smelling Game

Fill different small containers with a mix of fragrant items such as soap, coffee, or lavender. Seal the containers using fabric and a rubber band, then ask playfully ask your child to identify the smells. Kids with autism are often eager and thrilled to learn about their senses and how they fit in the environment. In addition, some of these fragrances are often relaxing for the child, which might also be your end goal. 

• Try Ice Painting

Holding ice in your hand is considered one of the most effective physical grounding techniques. Kids love to watch the paint melting into the paper as they create beautiful, imaginative designs. Pour acrylic paint into ice trays and put wooden craft sticks in each color compartment. 

When it freezes into solid, allow the child to paint by swirling the melting ice paint over the paper. Ice painting improves their color observation and recognition skills. 

• Make Number Rubbings

Children love to use crayons for almost everything. Introducing them to rubbings helps to improve eye-hand coordination and stimulates the small muscles of the hand. Moreover, they will experiment with different surfaces while practicing numbers and shapes. 

• Play the Matching Game

Matching games are exciting activities that improve learning, especially for kids with autism. However, there are different variations for the matching game. 

Place craft sticks with only half shapes. Then ask the child to find the sticks with the missing halves and place the side of the stick by side to complete each stick. 

Alternatively, try placing different printed words on one table side and have the kids match the words to their corresponding pictures on the other side of the table.

Whether it is foods, numbers, animals, or plants, it helps your autistic child with brain development.

• Create An Obstacle Course

Outdoor activities are also recommended for kids with autism since it stimulates their senses around different objects and people. An obstacle course does not necessarily require purchasing any equipment. 

You can ask the child to run around a bush, jump over a small crate, go down a slide, ad hug a tree. The point is to be creative. This activity enhances your child's mind and behavior by learning how to overcome obstacles. You can make it an exciting, family activity.

• Card Games

Card games vary. They can also be exciting and also insightful. For example, you can use printable cards for children with autism to help them recognize different emotions inside them and others.

If your child feels aggravated and emotions are all over, calm down cards help to acknowledge these emotions and learn to fight them off peacefully. 

• Create A Shredded Flower Bouquet

This activity involves ripping and shredding paper to design colorful compositions that make attractive decorations for your kids. Children with autism love the sensory experience of handling paper and manipulating shapes and colors.

• Board Games and Puzzles

It is essential to work on visual skills while engaging in fun activities. Play board games with a twist, depending on how creative you can get. How can these games engage your kids emotionally, socially, mentally, physically, or psychologically? Such activities can be useful to improve certain skills such as visual scanning and problem-solving. 

As a parent, engaging your kids in these activities can be a strenuous part of daily living. However, the best way to approach it is by communicating openly with the whole family, loving your child unconditionally while being proud of him/her for every milestone. Finally, you can consult with an expert to help you understand the different ways and fun activities to engage your child for optimum brain and character development.

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