When the weather is nice outside, outdoor activities are a wonderful way to bring your family together and have fun! Are you worried that your child may not enjoy them? We have shared 5 ideas for popular outdoor activities, along with tips on how they can be made to accommodate your child’s needs!
Here are the top 5 outdoor activities you can do with your whole family before summer ends with some tips on how to help your child with Autism be successful and have fun!
#5 Theme Parks
While theme parks are expensive, loud, and often over-crowded this time of year, an instant cocktail for sensory overload, there are ways your child with Autism can enjoy and have fun, too! Call your local theme park or look on their website to see if they offer disability waivers, passes, or other accommodations. Many theme parks (e.g. @Disneyland, @WaltDisneyWorld, @SixFlags) now are more accessible by offering accommodations like low wait times, front of the line passes, quiet hours, quiet rooms, diet or allergy-friendly menus, or allowing strollers to be used like wheelchairs. While you do not need to tell the park your child’s specific disability, this would be a violation of Americans with Disabilities Act (#ADA), you might need a doctor’s note stating they require accommodations. Do your homework before arriving at the park, so you are prepared.
When at the park watch your child and be sensitive to their needs. Be prepared with favorite snacks, calming or soothing items (favorite blankets, toys, fidgets), noise cancelling head phones, iPad or tablets, and other favorite activities they can use while waiting in lines. When your child seems, overwhelmed, find a corner or quiet, less crowded area to allow them to recompose themselves, then return to the fun.
#4 Backyard Fun
Summer is a great time to break out the pop-up pools, sprinklers, water tables and sand tables. All those kinetic sand, bubbles, goo and slime kits that your child got throughout the year are great to play with outdoors. Less mess for you to clean up and fun for them! If you have room, you can set up a trampoline, swings, or hammocks.
If you have a runner/wanderer, keep a close eye on your child, stay within an arm’s reach, or try to schedule outdoor fun when your #ABA behavior technician or therapist is with you. This is a great time to practice those safety instructions: wait, come here, stop, stay in the boundaries. If you don’t have a fence, set up cones or barriers for your child to know how far they can travel before they need to ask permission to leave the area.
#3 Splash Pads or Spray Parks
There are often some great local splash pads that are free or inexpensive to enjoy! You can search your county for local splash pads and spray parks. Most are open through Memorial Day weekend. Your kids can get soaked by standing under the water towers, spray cannons, or buckets. Come prepared with towels, swimsuits, sunscreen, and water shoes. Most will allow you to bring outside toys for water play. water at most splash pads and spray parks are usually only 1-2 ft. deep. Splash around, cool off and enjoy the sun!
#2 Playgrounds
Local parks and playgrounds are great this time of year! Especially when you are needing to get out of the house, but don’t want to spend a lot of money. While there, you can practice the safety skills mentioned above, communication or social skills goals your child may have. Your children can get their energy out, be social and have fun.
#1 Pools
This is my favorite, both as an Autism mom and therapist! Both private and public pools are a wonderful way to enjoy the summer sun, stay cool and have fun! It is so easy to spend hours in the pool! It seems like most children and adults with autism love the water.
While we love to watch our children having fun, we also have to be extra cautious around water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for kids with ASD, this may be due to the tendency for children with autism to wander off and when they wander, they are drawn to water. Check out these water safety tipsto be prepared. Ask your local pool if they offer private swim lessons or group lessons for children with special needs. Many special recreation associations also offer swimming lessons. Do your research, be prepared, but most of all have fun!
Last Days of Summer
Before you pack your kids to get on the bus for the first day of school this fall, take advantage of some of these ideas with the last few days of summer!
About GBC
At GBC Autism Services, we provide ABA therapy to children with autism in the areas of Chicagoland, Peoria, Normal, Rockford, Springfield, Dekalb, and North-West Indiana. Our services include in-home and clinic-based ABA therapy, early intervention services, school consultations, and social skills groups.
The team at GBC doesn’t only focus on the behaviors that might be seen as weaknesses in children with autism. We accept and appreciate each child’s unique abilities and incorporate them into our programming. In fact, we love to learn about each child’s interests and strengths and only look to help them navigate the world better.
