What are some good activities for a child with Autism?

Question

I need some help and suggestions. For 6 year old boy that I look after. But the hard thing is he is really scard of crows! Even just the sound of them makes him anxious. I look after him for 3 hrs twice a week, I do take him to swimming lesson on day and the rest of the time I've taken him to the shops. He likes going for a drive, looking at things, especially picture books. Music seems to calm him down and being inside a building makes him happy. So far I've found...

Answer 1

Structured activities are always best for children with autism.  An activity that has a clear start, middle and end.

If music calms him down there are many games he can play that could not only be fun but could also help develop his social and communication skills.  Simple beats are a good way to start.   You could encourage him to design his own drum.  Just get some old tins or something, he could paint themand decorate them any way he likes iwth things that make him feel safe and secure.

Then you could get him to beat out different rhythms on the drums, start just letting him do what he wants but hten you could try beating something and then getting him to copy what you have done.  Or you could copy what he has done.  this would then allow him to communnicate with you.  

You can introduce different instruments, maybe have some music playing gently in the background.  Two plastic cups filled with lentils is a great rain shaker.  You can try different moods which would help with his flexibility of thought.  Perhaps lud music for angry soft slow music for sad or fst cheerful music for happy.

Your could try creating an "I spy" book.  Have a book with photographs of things, maybe specific buildings or objects.  Then take him for a drive and when he passes the things he puts a tick or a star ofr soimething beside the item.  This could then lead him to telling you where he would like to go because he could use the pictures to plan his own route.

Answer 2

How about tKING HIM TO A PARK TO play o some swings.

Answer 3

I would suggest sensory play, maybe there is a children's museum nearby with rice tables, bean tables and water tables.

You could try all the "normal" kid stuff, I mean unless you talk to the parents, it sounds like it will be hit or miss for awhile. Just have an exit strategy wherever you go in case you need to get out quickly.

Answer 4

Children with Autism are unique in their likes and dislikes.

Some things to try with a child with Autism would be puzzles, I SPY books, quiet places (remember children with Autism tend to become over stimulated by things we don't even notice.)

Continue to do the things he seems to enjoy, the things that don't upset him.

You really should ask his parents/guardian for ideas as they will know him best.