Autism is defined as a severe developmental disorder that can begin at the moment of birth or develop over the next two years of life. While children who are diagnosed with autism may not show any abnormalities in their appearance, they may experience social difficulties, lack of communication or repetitive behaviors. Engaging autistic children in games and activities will aid in the development of social skills as well as other behaviors that do not come naturally for autistic children.
Sensory Activities
Sensory games will engage children to not only play, but to also utilize their senses. Depending on the child, sensory issues may involve the inability to socialize due to the noise levels of playing with other children or an over-excitement when others are present. By introducing simple sensory activities, autistic children are able to develop healthy responses to objects as well as to situations. Sensory games are fun and beneficial for children who span the entire spectrum of autism.
Sit the child down and explain the rules for the game I Spy. Tell them that you will describe an item in the room based on color, size or texture and encourage the child to walk around the room to find the item that is being described. After each game, allow the child to feel the object and describe the item again while the child is holding it. To work on social skills, allow other children to play in the game and encourage finding the item as a team.
If a playground is easily accessible, place the child on a swing set and stand in front of him or her. Begin pushing the child on the swing and after several pushes stop. Encourage the child to make eye contact with you to ask for further pushes.
Art and Music Activities
Interacting with a child through artistic mediums is not only a fun activity, but it will also help develop certain skills that may not be present, such as extended concentration. Depending on the severity of autism, certain art projects may not be currently possible. Evaluate the abilities of the child to determine the level of artistic capabilities.
Place two objects on a table in front of the child. These objects can range from small balls to a picture frame or the child's favorite toy. Lay out several pieces of paper with coloring pencils and instruct the child to draw the items that are in front of him or her. To start off, describe the items as the child is drawing them. After the picture has been drawn, point out major features of the items on the table. Allow the child to freely draw these items without instruction.
Gather two musical instruments and place them in front of the child. A tambourine and a small snare drum are useful for this activity. Allow the child to freely play the instruments on his or her own for several minutes. Sit down next to the child and clearly instruct them to mimic an easy beat pattern. Use your hands to lay out the beat and clap your hands to the pattern as the child plays. Once the child is able to follow the beat with you, allow them to do it on their own.
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