Discover the Best Outdoor Activities for Autistic Kids: A Must-Try Guide for Parents

Outdoor play benefits all children, and it can improve behavior, social skills, and attention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Time to show your child the joy of the great outdoors

All work and no play can make your little Jack or Jill dull and sad. Be it any child, and particularly a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it is through play that your child interacts and learns about the world around her.

This includes outdoor activities for autistic kids, which are essential for a child's physical wellness and emotional well-being.

A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is usually restricted to the comfort of the indoors because he can get overwhelmed in a new environment. Evidence suggests that playing outdoors can bridge communication, social skills, and sensory processing gaps in children with ASD. Also, according to a study titled, The Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Children with Autism by National Taiwan University, Taipei, outdoor play improves communication, cognition, emotion, and physical activities. The study further adds that playing in sand and grass can reduce a child's sensitivity.

So, take your child outdoors and have some fun in the sun.

The best time to organize outdoor activities is during the spring and summer seasons. This is the best time to take your special kid outside and arrange some outdoor, playful activities.

Therapy sessions can also be organized by the therapist to introduce outdoor learning and skill development for children with autism.

Playing in childhood is common, children play and learn about the happenings around them.

Outdoor play is also very important for your kid’s physical & emotional fitness. Playing outdoors can bridge the gaps in communication, social skills, and sensory processing of kids with autism. But these kids don’t like socializing outdoors and generally stay indoors, which restricts them from learning things happening in their surroundings.

According to a study titled, “The Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Children” with Autism by National Taiwan University, Taipei, outdoor play improves communication, cognition, emotion, and physical activities. So, take your special kid outdoors and have fun in the sun.

Some fun outdoor activities for Autistic children

Outdoor play and activities like playing with sand or mud and creating something increase imagination skills. Some kinds of outdoor activities are listed below:

Hopscotch: This can involve one child or a group. Here, each child then uses a stone or other small object to mark their place. Hopscotch is a good activity to work fine and gross motor and social skills for children with ASD when played in a group.
Obstacle Course: This activity’s difficulty level can be changed according to the child’s ability. Obstacles can be created using pool noodles, slides, stairs, play tunnels, and even sidewalk chalk. You can add an extra level of obstacle so that your autistic kid won’t face problems in the future while facing a similar kind of problem.
Hide-n-Seek/Peek-A-Boo: Often played indoors, this outdoor game for autistic children is just as much fun outdoors. This activity can help children remain calm while alone and work on skills associated with following rules and interacting with other children.
Bubbles: Blowing and catching bubbles helps autistic children with sensory and joint attention difficulties. Use scented bubbles as an additional sensory stimulator. Get creative with the bubble-making tools by using various size openings for bigger or smaller bubbles.
Rolling: Have you got some wheels for your kid? A bicycle, scooter, or bike—then your autistic kid is ready to go rolling. This encourages balance, motor planning, and linear acceleration, all necessary for effective sensory processing.
Treasure hunt: Make a list and ask your kid to find those items out. Pine needles, rocks, sticks, leaves, and so on can be just a few of the items on the treasure hunt list. Or make it a real hunt and place notes in various spots outside. Each note can direct your kids to a new location; at the end, you can have a special treasure waiting.
Going to parks & playgrounds: Who doesn’t love going to parks? The most excited are the children with autism, as they have a lot of playful activities there. These activities could help them in the development of their motor skills, balancing, vestibular orientation, confidence, and social skills.
Follow the leader: This game can work to improve social skills, as well as motor skills, in children with autism. Select one child to be the leader, and have the other children line up behind the leader. The leader performs a few movements that the other children then follow. When a child doesn’t follow the leader, they sit out. The next leader is the one child left beside the leader. You can also make it non-competitive by selecting a leader for a specified period and then switching.

Some other activities, like stargazing, cloud watching, gardening, etc., could also help these kids with Autism to develop their senses, imagination, & creativity, allowing them to think more effectively.