Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Children with autism often have sensory processing issues, which means they may have difficulty processing and responding to sensory input. Sensory activities can help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their overall well-being. In this article, we will discuss the best sensory activities for children with autism.
Most Sensory Activities for Autism fall into these groups:
- Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are containers filled with materials that provide a tactile and visual experience. Children with autism can explore the materials with their hands and engage in imaginative play. Sensory bins can be filled with a variety of materials, such as rice, beans, sand, water beads, or shaving cream. To make the activity more engaging, you can also add toys, figurines, or other objects to the bin.
Swings and hammocks provide vestibular input, which means they stimulate the inner ear and help children regulate their sense of balance and spatial awareness. Swings and hammocks can be used indoors or outdoors and can be hung from a tree, a ceiling, or a swing set. Children with autism may enjoy swinging back and forth, spinning, or rocking in a hammock.
- Trampolines
Trampolines provide proprioceptive input, which means they stimulate the muscles and joints and help children regulate their sense of body position and movement. Trampolines can be used indoors or outdoors and can be customized to fit the child’s needs. For example, you can add a safety net, a padded frame, or a sensory panel to the trampoline.
- Sensory Rooms
Sensory rooms are designed to provide a safe and calming environment for children with autism. They can be customized to fit the child’s needs and can include a variety of sensory experiences, such as soft lighting, calming music, tactile materials, and visual stimulation. Sensory rooms can be used for relaxation, sensory integration, or behaviour management.
- Yoga and Mindfulness
Yoga and mindfulness can help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their emotional well-being. Yoga and mindfulness can be practiced at home or in a group setting and can be adapted to fit the child’s needs. It can include breathing exercises, stretching, meditation, and relaxation techniques.
- Water Play
Water play provides a tactile and visual experience and can help children with autism regulate their sensory input. Water play can include activities such as swimming, splashing, pouring, or spraying.
- Art and Craft Activities
Art and craft activities provide a tactile and visual experience and can help children with autism express their creativity and improve their fine motor skills. They include painting, drawing, colouring, or sculpting. Art and craft activities can be done at home or in a group setting and can be adapted to fit the child’s needs.
- Sensory Walks
Sensory walks provide a multisensory experience and can help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their physical fitness. Sensory walks can include activities such as walking on different surfaces, feeling different textures, smelling different scents, and listening to different sounds. Sensory walks can be done indoors or outdoors and can be customized to fit the child’s needs.
Here are 27 Sensory Activities for Autism that can be beneficial for children:
- Sensory Bins: Fill a container with materials like rice, beans, sand, or water beads. Add toys, figurines, or other objects to the bin and let the child explore with their hands.
- Yoga and Mindfulness: Breathing exercises, stretching, meditation, and relaxation techniques can help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their emotional well-being.
- Water Play: Swimming, splashing, pouring, or spraying water can provide a tactile and visual experience and help children regulate their sensory input.
- Art and Craft Activities: Painting, drawing, colouring, or sculpting can provide a tactile and visual experience and help children with autism express their creativity and improve their fine motor skills.
- Sensory Walks: Walking on different surfaces, feeling different textures, smelling different scents, and listening to different sounds can provide a multisensory experience and help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their physical fitness.
- Playdough: Kneading, rolling, and shaping playdough can provide a tactile experience and help children with autism improve their fine motor skills.
- Bubble Wrap: Popping bubble wrap can provide a tactile and auditory experience and help children with autism regulate their sensory input.
- Sensory Bottles: Fill a clear plastic bottle with materials like glitter, beads, or sand. The child can shake the bottle and watch the materials move around.
- Fidget Toys: Fidget toys like stress balls, squishies, or fidget spinners can provide tactile and proprioceptive input and help children with autism regulate their sensory input.
- Weighted Blankets: A weighted blanket can provide deep pressure sensory input and help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their sleep.
- Kinetic Sand: Kinetic sand can provide a tactile experience and help children with autism improve their fine motor skills.
- Music Therapy: Listening to calming music or playing musical instruments can provide auditory sensory input and help children with autism regulate their sensory input.
- Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of tactile objects for your child to find around the house, such as a soft blanket, a rough sponge, or a bumpy toy.
- Sensory Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course with sensory activities, such as crawling through a tunnel, jumping on a trampoline, and balancing on a balance beam.
- Sensory Bath Time: Add sensory materials to your child’s bath, such as bath bombs, bubbles, or foam soap.
- Sensory Cooking: Let your child help you cook and bake using different textures and smells, such as stirring batter, kneading dough, or smelling spices.
- Sensory Play Dough: Make homemade play dough with different textures and smells, such as adding glitter, essential oils, or food coloring.
- Sensory Story Time: Read books with sensory elements, such as scratch-and-sniff books, pop-up books, or books with textured pages.
- Sensory Dress-Up: Create a sensory dress-up box with clothes and accessories with different textures, such as silky scarves, fuzzy hats, or shiny jewelry.
- Sensory Nature Walk: Take a walk outside and let your child explore different textures and smells, such as feeling tree bark, smelling flowers, or touching grass.
- Sensory Memory Game: Create a memory game with different sensory materials, such as matching pairs of textured objects or scented items.
- Sensory Water Balloons: Fill water balloons with different materials, such as flour, rice, or glitter, and let your child play with them to provide tactile and visual input and improve their hand-eye coordination.
- Sensory Water Painting: Set up a sensory water painting station with watercolor paints and paper, and let your child paint with water to provide tactile and visual input and improve their creativity and imagination.
- Sensory Sock Walk: Have your child wear socks with different textures, such as fuzzy socks, bumpy socks, or silky socks, and walk on different surfaces, such as carpet, tile, or grass.
- Sensory Calming Jar: Create a calming jar with glitter and water, and have your child shake the jar and watch the glitter settle to help them regulate their emotions.
- Sensory Smelling Jars: Fill jars with different scents, such as lavender, peppermint, or lemon, and have your child smell the jars to help them relax or energize.
- Sensory Tasting Game: Blindfold your child and have them taste different foods with different textures, such as crunchy, smooth, or chewy, and guess what they are.
In conclusion, Sensory Activities for Autism can help children with autism regulate their sensory input and improve their overall well-being. Sensory activities can be customized to fit the child’s needs and can include a variety of experiences, such as tactile, visual, auditory, and proprioceptive. Sensory activities can be done at home or in a group setting and can be adapted to fit the child’s interests and abilities. By incorporating sensory activities into their daily routine, children with autism can improve their sensory processing skills and enhance their quality of life.
