Thursday, March 14, 2024

Activities For Autistic Teenagers

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Best Sensory Toys For Autism By Age

Amazing Things Happen – by Alexander Amelines

Best Toy for Baby or Infant with Developmental Delay: Activity Center

Activity Centers are a must for any baby or infant, but they are especially beneficial to children with autism or developmental delay. Also known as Activity Tables, these all-in-one fun factories can simultaneously engage sight, sound, and touch in a non-overwhelming environment.

As an added bonus they provide a level of control that allows a baby to dictate what happens next.

Best Toy for Autistic 1 to 4 Year Olds: Shape Sorters

Shape sorters are ideal for autistic toddlers or toddlers with developmental delay. From wooden blocks to plastic rings or something in between, match-and-fit toys help build fine motor skills and problem solving. These are also great toys for autism kids who are nonverbal.

Once your toddler has mastered basic shape sorters, they can move to Mr. Potato Head, which has the added benefit of teaching them about their own body. For toddlers over the age of 3, you could also introduce some early proprioceptive stimulation with a weighted stuffed animal.

Best Toy for Autistic 5 to 6 Year Olds: Legos

Five years old is a turning point. Your child is no longer a toddler but not quite a big kid, so finding age-appropriate toys that work well is tricky. Thats why we love Legos, one of the best open-ended toys out there. Studies have shown the promise of Lego Therapy for children with autism, which often starts at around age 5 and 6.

Best Toy for Autistic 7 to 8 Year Olds: Trampoline

Activities For Autistic Teens

Activities for autistic teens are necessary for fostering an environment that will help them nurture and grow specific abilities. Autistic teens learn best through activities that are designed to teach them something specific.

Lessons in a classroom are not enough for autistic teens to learn and develop new abilities. Classroom teachings should be augmented with outside activities in order to help autistic teens learn through practical experience. This will help teens with activities like following their passions, finding like-minded people in social activities, attending clubs and conventions such as Comic-Con, and navigating social media with guidance.

In this article, we will present you with a variety of engaging activities for autistic teens, which can be both fun and educational.

Urban Air Adventure Park

NEW sensory friendly jump time for our special needs community only, every First Sunday of the month from 10am-12n .

No flashing lights, no whistles, low music level, and less crowded. We invite you and your families to join us! Reduced rates available . Open to sensory-sensitive individuals, their siblings and care-givers only.

Check the link above for dates and locations.

Read Also: What Gender Does Autism Affect More

Try A Smart Goal Challenge

If a student with autism is having a hard time with school, sit down with them and pick a SMART goal to work on over the next month or semester. SMART goals are an effective way to help children with autism reach their potential, and they are:

  • Time-bound

Suppose, for example, that your student with autism is having trouble learning how to recognize emotions. You could make a goal with them to practice flash cards with emotions on them every day for five minutes and for the student to recognize each card by the end of the month. As long as the SMART goal hits all of the criteria, it can help your student focus on ways to make progress.

How To Choose The Right Activity

13 ABA Therapy Activities for Kids with Autism You Can Do at Home

There are many ways for people with autism and their family members to enjoy hobbies and activities together. In some cases, accommodations are needed, but in many cases, autism is either no issue or is actually an advantage.

The key to success, however, is to choose an activity and a venue that is comfortable for and interesting to your autistic child.

To choose an appropriate activity, start by observing your child’s play and, if he is verbal, ask questions. What does your autistic family member enjoy? How does he or she choose to share interests with you?

Next, try joining your child’s activity. Rather than leaping in with your own ideas and direction, however, try following your child’s lead.

Many of us have been taught that there’s a “right” and “wrong” way to play a game or build a structure, and we want our child to “do it right.” But when you’re working with an autistic child, the first and most important step is engagement and communication, not instruction.

Think about ways to expand on your child’s interest. How can you take an interactive role in her favorite pastimes? How can you expand on her interests and help her to explore the world?

If she likes watching Sesame Street, might she also enjoy a puppet show? If he loves collecting baseball cards, would he enjoy watching a game on TV or in the real world?

If there are challenges think about ways to work around them to help your child to cope.

Also Check: What Kind Of Disorder Is Autism

The Survival Guide For Kids With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Amazon Review: This positive, straightforward book offers kids with autism spectrum disorders their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Some children with ASDs are gifted others struggle academically. Some are more introverted, while others try to be social. Some get stuck on things, have limited interests, or experience repeated motor movements like flapping or pacing . The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders covers all of these areas, with an emphasis on helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. Meant to be read with a parent, the book addresses questions and provides strategies for communicating, making and keeping friends, and succeeding in school. Body and brain basics highlight symptom management, exercise, diet, hygiene, relaxation, sleep, and toileting. Emphasis is placed on helping kids handle intense emotions and behaviors and get support from family and their team of helpers when needed. The book includes stories from real kids, fact boxes, helpful checklists, resources, and a glossary. Sections for parents offer more detailed information.

Speech And Language Activities For Autistic Teens

Debbie is a self-proclaimed information gatherer with over 15 years of writing experience. She has a deep understanding of the publication world and graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in business economics and sociology.

There are a number of speech and language activities for autistic teens designed to help them interact more with their peers. Autistic teens often do not interact other teens. The thought of going to the Friday night football game and grabbing pizza afterward may not even be a thought that enters their mind. Typical teenage activities such as homecoming, sleepovers, parties and dances can be difficult for teens with autism. This doesn’t mean that social interaction is impossible.

Not all autistic teens have the same issues with socialization and communication because there isn’t any one set of symptoms that all people with autism have. The manifestations are as varied as the individual dealing with it. This is not to say that speech and language activities are not important or necessary. Using speech and language activities for autistic teens can help them build self-confidence and increase their ability to socialize throughout their life.

Recommended Reading: Do Kids With Autism Lie

Team Activities For Autistic Adolescent

Interaction is the key to developing social skills. If you want to help your autistic teen with his or her social life, you should encourage them to participate in team activities and events as much as possible. That said, you should not push them into something they are not comfortable with. Ease them into society one step at a time.

Helping Activities For Autistic Teenager In Home

Autism News: Activity for Teens with Autism
  • Helping Activities for Autistic Teenager
  • Helping Activities for Autistic Teenager in Home

    As your autistic child becomes a teen, youll want to do everything within your power to help them feel normal so they can have a successful life. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do around your home to make this happen.

    Have Your Teen Read Simple, but Interesting Books

    Reading is important because it keeps your teens brain active by improving their listening and comprehension skills. It also enhances their cognitive functioning. This is especially true of educational, nonfiction, and scientific books. Make sure you include this in your teens routine.

    Encourage Your Teen to Listen to Music or Take Part in Music Therapy

    Music is therapeutic. It also helps with the efficient development of speech and language, as well as memory abilities while improving your teens life and encouraging better behavior from them. All this happens because music is relaxing so it reduces anxiety. There are several ways you can incorporate music into your daily routine by encouraging your teen to listen to several interesting songs each day.

    Give Your Teen Puzzles to Do in Their Free Time

    Encourage Your Teen to Draw

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    How Autism Spectrum Disorder Can Affect Play

    It can be difficult to engage a child with autism in play activities. One reason is that many kids with autism get stuck in repetitive patterns and they can be resistant to interruptions to their patterns. Secondly, kids with autism also have difficulty focusing which can be challenging to anyone who is attempting to engage them in a play activity. Finally, communication can be problematic because many kids with autism are more focused on body movement during play rather than on the language that is required to learn the rules or concepts during play.

    Ironically, these tendencies that make play difficult for kids with autism are the very reason that play becomes even more important in order to resolve them. It is during play that new patterns can be introduced, attention can be increased and communication skills can be improved.

    Sensory Activities For Children With Asd

    When youre fostering a child with autism, its important to understand what sensory information triggers them, both indoors and outside. You can then trial different activities to see which ones theyre comfortable engaging with. Some games may suit one autistic child but not another, so its all about learning whats right for the autistic children in your care so you can help them thrive.

    These sensory play activities for autism are super fun, and if your foster child is okay with it, we say get the whole household involved! Whatever age you are, youre bound to have fun bonding with your foster child through these sensory play activities for autism.

    1. Finger painting and footprint painting

    Things might get messy, but dont let that put you off as this a great way for kids to express themselves. Just set some paper out on top of newspaper or tarpaulin and let your foster children create paintings using their hands and feet.

    2. Make your own slime

    Mix together cornflour and water in a bowl and watch as it shifts from solid to liquid as you play with it. Add in food colourings and glitter for a super sensory experience.

    3. Scented playdough

    Add things like lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, peppermint flavouring etc to separate batches of playdough and get them to guess the scents. Just make sure they dont eat it!

    4. Mud kitchen

    5. Make your own musical instruments

    6. Create a sensory ocean

    7. Painting with food

    Wrong!

    Read Also: How To Handle A Toddler With Autism

    Uniquely Wired: A Story About Autism And Its Gifts

    Amazon Review: This touching story helps others understand autism, as well as some of the unique behaviors or unconventional responses of kids with autism. Instead of depicting autism as a disadvantage, Cook portrays Zak as having many gifts to share due to his uniquely wired brain. Zak has many features that are typical of people with autism, including avoiding eye contact, rapid body movements, an incredible memory, deep passions , and a tendency to repeat phrases. The people in his life, from siblings to teachers, support him and thank him for the patience he teaches them. In creating a positive context around autism and highlighting Zak s similarities and differences, neurotypical students can gain a new perspective. DuFalla s bright cartoon pictures match the upbeat tone of the text and will engage readers. A list of tips for understanding children who are uniquely wired is also included. VERDICT A helpful tool for teachers and parents to help foster empathy and understanding among students.

    Star Light Galaxy Projector

    21 Sensory Activities For Kids With Autism

    Having a way to turn your bedroom into a magical sensory experience is the perfect gift for autistic teens. The Star Light Galaxy Projector transforms any room into the most soothing yet vivid starry Nebula clouds and Laser Night Sky. Your teen will get the most relaxing visuals from this galaxy projector thats like a portable planetarium. It feels like youre drifting calmly into space at night.

    .With 16.7million colors behind green stars that float across your ceiling and walls & multiple brightness settings, youll never run out of options with this multiple starlight projector.

    If your teen struggles with sleep, this is definitely the device they will love! Since it works with Alexa & Google, you can get creative with playlists, audiobooks, and voice commands. Plus, it has a smart sleep shutdown timer and mobile app, so it can turn on and off automatically anytime you want.

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    Facial Expression Memory Game

    Recognizing facial expressions can be a challenge for many children with ASD, however visual perception can also be a great strength for these kids. This memory game builds on the visual strengths, allowing the child to feel successful and encouraged. As you play, you can discuss the meaning behind the facial expressions and what makes each facial expression different from the others. This game is ideal for preschoolers on the spectrum.

    Hereâs how you play:

  • Print out the memory cards at home on heavyweight paper. Cut them out.
  • Lay all the cards face down in a grid on the table.
  • Each player can take turns turning over two cards. If the cards are a matched pair, the player can set them aside and turn over another pair. If they are not a match, the player returns the cards face-down to the grid and the other player takes a turn.
  • The player with the most matched pairs is a winner.
  • Picking The Right Activities

    Well, now that you have a list of activities, you can try them, right?

    Wrong!

    The activities we have listed above are for autistic teenagers, but they may not necessarily suit your kid. Before you try any, ask yourself is this activity right for my teen? And you will get your answer when you figure out how to choose the right activities. Keep reading to know how.

    • Think about the skills your teen needs to develop is it social skills, sensory skills, or motor skills? Or does he just need a dose of confidence?
    • Pick games designed to bring the desired result regarding behavior changes, sensory stimulation, etc.
    • If it is a group activity, handpick participants that your child is comfortable with. Also, include people who you think can help your teen develop his skills.
    • Consider any possible challenges you may face with your child during the activity. Your teen may not respond as expected, especially if the action triggers any significant changes in routine, or causes sensory overload.
    • For best results, look for games and activities that match your autistic teens interests. Your child would be eager to partake in an activity if they like it.

    Also Check: How To Determine If A Child Is Autistic

    Hobbies And Activities To Enjoy With Your Autistic Child

    Whether your child with autism is on the mild or severe end of the autism spectrum, many ordinary childhood activities can be challenging. It can be hard to work around sensory issues, social and communication challenges, and a preference for repetition and routine.

    The result, unhappily, is that many families avoid trying new things with their autistic family members. But the fact that people with autism may not ask for company or explore new possibilities on their own is not a reason to give up. Instead, its an opportunity to find the best way to reach out and learn with and from them.

    Verywell / Ellen Lindner

    Led Fiber Optic Softie

    Autism Fitness Activities for Children with Autism to do in the Classroom

    By far the priciest gift ideas for autistic teenagers, but an amazing resource that your teen would use endlessly. The LED Fiber Optic Softie is the ultimate when it comes to sensory room accessories.

    The Wipe Clean Fiber Optic Softie provides an amazing interactive sensory experience for your students with autism and sensory needs. Students will love sinking into the soft bean bag chair and interacting with the attached fiber optics.

    The fiber optics are totally safe no electricity flows through them. They are illuminated using light from an attached calming light source.

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    Evidence Based Games For Social Skills

    If you go out to bars frequently, or youre in a phase of your life where youre attending a lot of weddings, you get to practice those social skills. When you dont, you struggle. What do I wear to a wedding? Ack! is a sentiment I know that I yell every 5-10 years because we dont attend that many weddings. And, after the 18 months weve all had, we all could use some social skills practice, right?

    When a child has social skills goals on their IEP, they need interventions and strategies to meet that goal. While there are curricula out there, and direct instruction is often warranted, acquiring social skills does not have to be boring. There are plenty of games and activities that help kids improve their social skills.

    Most kids are or have already played these games at some time in their lives. Play is so important to kids and its important that we adults maintain it as a priority for them. Play is not just play. Its a chance to read faces, read body language, experience how your words and actions affect others, take turns, practice patience, learn to follow rules and directions and so much more.

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