3 Fun School Holiday Activities For Children With Autism
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often find it difficult to engage in regular activities, but there are plenty of other fun and exciting options available to get them interested. One way to help autistic children learn social skills and interact with other children is through play.
Play therapy has been found to be an effective treatment for autism. From playing copycat games to making sensory bottles, read on to find out the top three school holiday activities in Singapore that can help entertain and engage your little one.
1. Familiarise him with emotion cards
Many children with autism have difficulty understanding and expressing emotions. This can make social interactions difficult for both the child and their peers. To help him communicate his emotions, parents can make use of emotion cards.
These cards depict different facial expressions, accompanied by a written word or phrase to describe the emotion. Teaching your child how to use emotion cards can be a great way to help him feel understood and supported. It allows your child to match the emotion he is feeling with a specific card, which can lead to greater self-awareness and better emotional management skills. This also makes it easier for your little one to share what he is experiencing.
2. Play copycat games with a twist
Autistic children often have difficulty understanding social cues and can find it challenging to interact with their peers. This may lead to them feeling isolated or left out. Other than using emotion cards, another way to help your child connect with their peers is by playing copycat games.
Copycat games are simple games that mimic the actions of others. A very popular copycat game is called “Simon Says”. The objective of this game is to follow the instructions given by the leader Simon. If you are incorrect in your action, or do not complete the action in time, you are out of the game. The last player remaining is the winner.
As children with autism thrive on predictability. Provide a list of actions Simon will be calling out. This list allows your child to know exactly which movement will be coming up next. Not only does your child get to experience playing such a classic game, “Simon Says” can also greatly help to improve his communication, social, and imitation skills.
3. Make sensory bottles
If your little one prefers more hands-on activities, consider making sensory bottles together. A sensory bottle is a great way to help children with autism calm down and focus due to its visual and tactile stimulation.
Sensory bottles are easy to make. They can also be customised to match your child's favourite colours and objects. Simply use an unwanted plastic bottle and add water into it. Next choose your decorations, such as glitter, rice, beads, or even small toys. You can even add food colouring or other decorations to make the bottle more colourful and interesting.
Give Your Child That Extra Support With Early Intervention in Singapore
While there is no cure for autism, early diagnosis and intervention can help autistic children thrive. At MindChamps Allied Care, our Early Intervention Programme (EIP)’s makes use of Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for Infants and Children (AEPS), a curriculum and criterion-based system. This system helps to identify your child’s strengths and emerging skills across developmental areas; identify functional goals and objectives for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or other individualised plans; assist in planning and guiding intervention, and monitor your child’s progress over time. Enquire about our trial programme or book a visit to our centre now!