What should I do during summer vacation? Recommended summer activities for children with autism!

Summer is a place for kids to explore, learn, and engage in a variety of fun activities!

Today, we will look at a variety of summer activities that children on the autism spectrum can enjoy and participate in, including many that have been featured in recent articles.

1. Various activities you can do outdoors

• Walks and Treasure Hunts : Practice observation skills, following directions, and physical activity while exploring nature. You can also play a scavenger hunt by making a list of objects to find, such as leaves, stones, or insects. These activities promote engagement and help children connect with their environment.

2. Playing in the water

• Splash pad and swimming pool : Water fun in the summer, right?! Water play is a great activity for increasing sensory integration and motor skills. Splashing in a pool or running through sprinklers can have both calming and stimulating effects. Also, if your child is okay with it, it can help them practice parallel play or cooperative play with other children.
• Water Balloon Game : Improve hand-eye coordination and develop social interaction skills by tossing water balloons or playing goal-targeting games! You can have fun incorporating ABA goals such as waiting your turn or following rules.

3. Sensory-friendly outing

(Image: Everbloom Path Instagram post)

• Sensory-Friendly Places : There are a lot of sensory-friendly places in the United States, so Google Sensory-Friendly Museum or Sensory-Friendly Theater to find places for sensory-sensitive children in your city! Please find out if the city you live in has a movie theater or museum for your child ( Rise and Shine by Children's National ) .
• Virtual Museum Tour : If you have a friend who can't go to the museum yet, there is also a Virtual Museum Tour that you can take with your kids! Google Arts & Culture Have you checked it out yet? It's really fun even for adults. Enjoy a variety of cultural experiences this summer while viewing famous works from around the world with your child.
• Library and Reading Program : Summer is a great opportunity to participate in the Summer Reading Program run by local libraries in the United States. We read books and do crafts together... It's probably run differently depending on the region. Why not find out how the summer reading program operates in your neighborhood and create opportunities for your child to read books and make crafts with other friends?

4. Creative activities

• Arts and Crafts : Almost all of the children who took ABA classes with me grew by relieving stress, practicing fine motor skills, and learning how to express their thoughts and feelings through art activities. Practice your creativity and fine motor skills through a variety of DIY projects including drawing, coloring, clay sculpting, and more! Not only will this give children a chance to discover how they can express themselves, but it will also give them an opportunity to discover which activities suit their individual sensory preferences .
• Music and Theater : Music and dance activities help improve communication, coordination, and social skills. You can make a simple musical instrument at home or teach your child how to play the piano keyboard. Music is fun, so it is a favorite activity for children if it suits their aptitude, and learning to sing also improves verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

5. Structured schedule

• Create a schedule : If there is no schedule in the summer, your child may become anxious. A structured, predictable schedule can reduce your child's anxiety and provide consistency. Include favorite activities in your daily or weekly plan and use a visual schedule to help your child understand what they need to do each day. Even for children who do not receive ABA therapy during summer vacation, they can begin it without difficulty when the school year begins ( The Autism Therapy Group - ABA Therapy ) .

6. Various Clinic-Based Programs

• Daily Life Skills : Summer is a time to focus on daily living skills like cooking, cleaning, organizing, and more! Many people forget the importance of daily living skills, but don't forget that they are a great opportunity to improve your sensory and motor skills while increasing your independence!
• Social Programs : Look for summer programs that train social skills such as making friends, starting conversations, and collaborating. Discover the 2024 APEX Summer Camp Experience - There are many summer programs that people with ASD and ADHD can participate in, such as UW IHDD or Aspire Child Programs (massgeneral.org) . If there is a similar camp in the area where you live, it would be a good idea to check it out in advance and apply.

Summer is a great summer for various activities! Please create a fun and enriching environment while supporting your child’s development through various activities. I hope you spend a summer full of growth and fun doing activities that suit your child's interests and needs :)