Summer’s Coming
The lazy, hazy days of summer are just around the corner. Most school-aged kids enjoy all the free time and loose structure, but many individuals with autism prefer some consistency and a predictable schedule. Having pre-planned activities to look forward to each day can help keep the summer doldrums away for the youngsters and their families or for individuals living in group homes and their staff.
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One idea you might try is having a “Theme for the Day.” You can add just one theme-based activity to the daily schedule or incorporate several in the daily routine. For example, every Monday could be “H2O Day” with activities related to water e.g. playing in the sprinkler, throwing water balloons, painting with water colors, and other water-related activities. Then, maybe every Tuesday could be designated as “Game Day,” giving folks a chance to play “Go Fish,” Bingo, checkers, horseshoes, kick-ball, and hide-and-go-seek. You might pick “Helping Hands” as the theme for Wednesday. Activities might include baking cookies for a homebound friend, visiting a nursing home, raking leaves for an elderly neighbor, or writing a letter or coloring a picture to mail to family members. Every Thursday could be “Retro Day” where everyone enjoys activities like those their grandparents played as kids: blowing bubbles, making paper airplanes, playing with a hula hoop, playing in a sandbox, or eating watermelon and spitting the seeds. You might consider having a “Summer Night” theme every Friday so everyone can enjoy looking at stars, playing with flashlights, watching fireflies, and roasting marshmallows around a campfire. These are just some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. You would want to, of course, pick themes and activities that fit the interests of your youngster with autism and other folks in the group. The basic strategy is to add some structure to the summer so everyone in the family has something to look forward to each day.
We welcome your ideas for summer activities. Just click on the comments button or send a message to talk@FAQautism.com.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: 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. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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