14 Sensory Activities for a Child with Autism

What Are The Best Sensory Activities For Autistic Children?

1. Sensory Bins
2. Bubble Wrap
3. Water Play
4. Play Dough
5. Sensory Bottles
6. Swings
7. Trampolines
8. Sensory Walks
9. Sensory Play Mats
10. Sensory Integration Therapy
11. Window Painting With Shaving Cream
12. Pouring Station
13. Ball Pit
14. Plastic Bag Kites

1. Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are a great way to provide children with autism with a tactile experience. Fill a bin with materials such as rice, beans, or sand, and add small toys or objects for the child to explore. This activity can help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

2. Bubble Wrap

Popping bubble wrap can be a fun and satisfying sensory activity for children with autism. The sound and sensation of popping the bubbles can be calming and provide sensory input.

3. Water Play

Water play can be a great sensory activity for children with autism. Fill a basin with water and add toys or objects for the child to play with. This activity can help with hand-eye coordination and can be calming for the child.

4. Play Dough

Play dough is a great sensory activity for children with autism. The tactile experience of playing with the dough can be calming and provide sensory input. It can also help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

5. Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are a great way to provide children with autism with visual and tactile stimulation. Fill a plastic bottle with materials such as glitter, beads, or water, and add small toys or objects for the child to explore.

6. Swings

Swings can be a great sensory activity for children with autism. The motion of swinging can be calming and provide sensory input. Swings can also help with balance and coordination.

7. Trampolines

Trampolines can be a fun and stimulating sensory activity for children with autism. The bouncing motion can provide sensory input and help with balance and coordination.

8. Sensory Walks

Sensory walks can be a great way to provide children with autism with sensory input. Create a sensory path using materials such as foam mats, carpet squares, or textured tiles. The child can walk or crawl along the path, which can provide tactile stimulation.

9. Sensory Play Mats

Sensory play mats can be a great way to provide children with autism with tactile stimulation. Create a mat using materials such as foam, carpet, or textured tiles, and add small toys or objects for the child to explore.

10. Sensory Integration Therapy

Sensory integration therapy is a type of therapy that can help children with autism develop their sensory processing skills. The therapy involves engaging in sensory activities that are designed to help the child process and respond to sensory information in a more effective way.

11. Window Painting with Shaving Cream

Window painting with shaving cream is a fun and easy sensory activity for children with autism. Simply spray shaving cream on a window or mirror and let the child explore the texture and sensation of the foam.

They can use their fingers to draw shapes, letters, or pictures in the foam. This activity can help improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity while providing tactile stimulation. It's important to supervise children during this activity to ensure they do not ingest any shaving cream.

12. Pouring Station

A pouring station is a great sensory activity for children with autism that can help them develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Set up a pouring station by providing a variety of containers such as cups, bowls, or pitchers, and materials such as water, sand, or rice.

Encourage the child to pour the materials from one container to another, which provides tactile stimulation and improves their spatial awareness. This activity can be calming for the child and can also help improve their concentration skills.

13. Ball Pit

A ball pit is a fun and stimulating sensory activity for children with autism. The sensation of jumping, diving, or simply lying in a pit filled with soft balls can be calming and provide sensory input to the child.

Children can also improve their hand-eye coordination by throwing or catching the balls, which can be helpful in other aspects of their life as well.

A ball pit can be set up at home using a small inflatable pool or purchased from a store specifically designed for sensory play. It's important to supervise children during this activity to ensure they do not ingest any of the balls.

14. Plastic Bag Kites

Plastic bag kites are a fun and easy sensory activity for children with autism that can help improve their creativity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

To make a plastic bag kite, start by cutting the handles off a plastic grocery bag and then cut a slit on each side of the bag's opening. Attach string to the top of the bag and tie it to a stick or dowel. Encourage your child to decorate their kite with markers, stickers, or any other materials they like.

Flying their homemade kite can be an exciting experience for children with autism as they watch it soar through the sky. The sensory input from feeling the wind against their skin and seeing the colors of their kite in motion can be calming and enjoyable for them.

The Benefits of Sensory Activities for Children with Autism

Sensory activities can be highly beneficial to children with autism. These activities can help children regulate their sensory input and develop their sensory processing skills. By providing a safe and stimulating environment for sensory exploration, children can learn to identify and process sensory information in a more effective way.

Research has shown that sensory activities can improve communication and social interaction for children with autism. For example, engaging in sensory play with peers can help children learn to share, take turns, and communicate their needs effectively.

Additionally, sensory activities can promote relaxation and reduce stress levels in children with autism, which in turn can improve behavior and mood regulation.

Sensory activities can also be used as part of a broader therapy plan for children with autism. Sensory integration therapy is one such approach that uses sensory experiences to help children develop their ability to process and respond to stimuli more effectively.

By incorporating sensory activities into daily routines, parents and caregivers can provide ongoing support for the development of these important skills.

Overall, the benefits of sensory activities for children with autism are clear. Through these activities, children can develop important skills related to communication, socialization, relaxation, and self-regulation. As such, incorporating sensory play into daily routines should be considered an essential component of any therapeutic plan for a child with autism.

Outdoor Sensory Activities

Outdoor sensory activities can provide a unique and exciting experience for children with autism. Here are some ideas:

1. Nature Walks: A nature walk can be a great way to explore different textures, sights, and sounds in the environment. Encourage your child to explore various natural elements such as leaves, flowers, rocks, and trees.
2. Sand Play: Playing in the sand can be a fun and tactile experience for children with autism. Fill a sandbox or a large container with sand and add small toys or objects for the child to play with.
3. Water Play: Water play is not limited to indoor settings only; it can also be done outside! Set up a sprinkler or water table in your backyard for your child to splash around in.
4. Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course that incorporates various sensory activities such as crawling under blankets, jumping over pillows, and walking on textured surfaces like grass or gravel.
5. Chalk Art: Drawing with chalk on pavement or sidewalks can be a great way to engage in creative expression while also providing tactile stimulation.
6. Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt that encourages your child to find items of different textures and colors around your yard or local park.

These outdoor sensory activities can provide new opportunities for exploration and discovery while also promoting physical activity and socialization with peers. Outdoor sensory activities are especially beneficial for children who may have difficulty engaging in traditional sports or other physical activities due to their sensory processing challenges.

Sensory Activities that Can Help with Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation can be a challenge for children with autism. However, incorporating sensory activities into their daily routines can help them develop the skills they need to manage their emotions more effectively. Here are some sensory activities that can help with emotional regulation:

1. Deep Pressure: Providing deep pressure through activities like hugs, weighted blankets or vests, or using a therapy ball can help children feel grounded and calm.
2. Calming Scents: Certain scents can have a calming effect on the body and mind. Use essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or vanilla in a diffuser or spray bottle to create a calming environment.
3. Music Therapy: Listening to music can have a powerful impact on emotions. Playing calming music during sensory play or creating playlists of favorite songs can help children regulate their mood.
4. Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing exercises have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels in individuals with autism. Encouraging your child to take deep breaths during sensory play or other activities can help them learn how to regulate their emotions.
5. Yoga: Yoga is known for its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress levels in both adults and children alike. Incorporating simple yoga poses into your child's daily routine can be an effective way to promote emotional regulation.

By including these types of sensory activities into daily routines, parents and caregivers can provide opportunities for children with autism to practice emotional regulation skills in a fun and engaging way. It's important to note that not all sensory activities work for every child, so it may take some trial and error to find what works best for your child's specific needs.

Incorporating these types of sensory activities into your child's routine alongside other therapeutic interventions such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or behavior therapy can lead to significant improvements in emotional regulation skills over time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sensory activities can be a great way to help children with autism regulate their sensory input and develop their sensory processing skills. These sensory activities are just a few examples of the many activities that can benefit a child with autism. By providing children with autism with sensory input, we can help them develop their skills and reach their full potential.