FAQautism

“We are looking for some ideas for helping our daughter enjoy the big outdoors,” wrote the parents of a pre-teen diagnosed with autism. “She enjoys picking up rocks we’ve collected over the years and she studies the pictures in nature magazines with great interest. We want to encourage that interest.”

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SOME IDEAS. Among other things, nighttime activities are enjoyable ways to help a youngster become more attuned to the natural world and to enjoy time with her family. You might want to schedule special nighttime events regularly throughout the summer – like every Friday night or an adventure every night of a pre-selected week. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
(1) STAR PARTY: Gather up the family or your daughter and some of her friends with some old quilts or blankets to spread out on the ground. Or, better yet, pack up some of those lawn chairs that lie back almost flat. As the sun sets, head for a place that is relatively dark – your backyard or a local family-friendly park or a friend’s farm out in the country. As the stars emerge in the evening sky, stretch out on the blankets or lawn chairs and gaze up at the sky. Everyone can have fun looking for fireflies, meteorites, satellites, airplanes, the Milky Way, and the moon. (2) FLASHLIGHT HIKE: You can purchase inexpensive flashlights for every person in your group and take a hike in the dark. Depending on the interests and abilities of group members, you can take a more challenging hike on a rough path or a smooth hike on a sidewalk or big lawn. The hike can be rather long or it can last just ten minutes. The key is to find a relatively dark place to take your hike. One way to add some excitement is to do a “Rewind Hike” where everyone uses their flashlights on the first leg of the hike, then, on the return trip, everyone turns their flashlights off and walks in the group with a partner, following the same path back to the starting point. The key to success in any flashlight activity is to require shining flashlight on the ground, and NOT into people’s faces. If you strictly enforce that rule, everyone can stay safe and have fun.

Don’t forget traditional family fun like cooking s’mores around a campfire or pitching a tent. You can pitch a tent in your own backyard. My own children have even pitched a pop-up tent in our living room one night when a thunderstorm canceled our overnight Cub Scout campout. So, don’t delay. Round up everybody and head outdoors after dark for some great adventures!

NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com

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