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Autism-Friendly Sensory Activities.-10 Examples of Autism-Friendly Sensory Activities

    Autism Center For Kids-Autism Services Vaughan

    Sensory play is a game or activity that stimulates the five senses of sound, sight, smell and taste. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who may struggle to process sensory information, need this. They might be sensitive to certain sounds, or find bright lights distressing.

    Children love using their hands during play, touching, building, painting and moulding items to gain essential skills for their future. This is why kids enjoy toys that involve more than one sense at a time. 

    The Benefits of Sensory Play.

    All young children can benefit from sensory play activities, as they help develop different parts of the child’s brain. For children with autism, this can be important as a sensory activity can help them regulate their responses to sensory information that might otherwise overwhelm them.

    The benefits of sensory activities for autistic children include:

    • It can be calming and have an impact on the child’s development.
    • It stimulates the brain.
    • It helps boost creativity and imagination.
    • It improves problem and conflict solving skills.
    • It helps them develop language skills.
    • It increases their social skills.
    • It aids in the development of coordination and fine/gross motor skills.
    • It helps them self-regulate.
    • It helps them have fun.

    10 Sensory Activities You Can Try.

    It is important for parents/caregivers to be aware of the sensory information that triggers their child. From there, you may be able to determine which sensory activities for ASD are best suited for your child. 

    Here are 10 activities for autistic kids that you can try:

    1. Finger painting and footprint painting. This is an excellent way for kids to express themselves without words. Think of a fun topic to paint and encourage your child to get messy.
    2. Put toys in jelly. Hide toys in different moulds in jelly, and encourage your child to remove them from their jelly prisons. Create fun plotlines to how they got in there for added fun.
    3. Make your slime. Mix cornflour and water in a bowl and watch as it becomes a slimy liquid. For added appeal, add food colouring, glitter, shells, beads, etc.
    4. Play with scented playdough. Take regular playdough and add things like oils, extracts, cinnamon, flavouring, etc. Make several different scents and ask your child to guess what each one is.
    5. Create a sensory ocean. What sensory crafts can you make with a large storage container, sand, water, shells, toy fish and other ocean-themed toys? Simply place the sand on one side of the container and the water on the other. Place the toys around the scene and encourage your child to find them.
    6. Make your own musical instruments. You can create tin drums, shakers with rice, spoons and buckets or tine guitars. Be creative and create your own song as well!You can also try to make other DIY autism toys from similar objects. 
    7. Play with water beads. Buy non-toxic water beads and let your child squish and pop them in their hands. You can also use water beads of different sizes and colours and create a sorting game.
    8. Seek and find bottles. Fill various bottles with different substances and contents. Show your child these substances and contents and ask them to find all the bottles. E.g. show your child some rice, let them touch it and ask them to go search for a bottle that contains rice.
    9. Paper emotions cutouts. Draw emotions or emoticons on paper. Help your child to cut out these emoticons and ask them to assign each one to an emotion like sad, angry or happy. Discuss these emotions as you go on.
    10. Paper fortune tellers. These sensory games are great for teaching communication and social skills. With a paper fortune teller, you can make any topic and learn skills such as asking questions, handling teasing, identifying emotions, giving and receiving compliments, working with others, and resolving social situations.

    These are just some ideas parents, teachers, caregivers, and others can use to make learning fun for children with autism. People closest to children know how to create activities based on their strengths and interests. Activities for kids with autism, such as these, are also fun for all ages, so make sure you get the entire family involved. These group activities for kids with autism will also help them interact with others and share the fun.

    For more information and resources on sensory activities for autism, contact Autism Centre for Kids. We’d love to hear from you!