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What do they say about the Autumn season? It's the loveliest time of the year - a cool season marked by mellowness, celebrations, and the scent of new weather. If you're like most people in this period, you'd be pumped up for the Halloween festival and other exciting adventures. And what wonderful way to enjoy the new weather than by engaging in fun activities with your special needs children?
For most families, the Autumn season is a chance to connect and explore in ways that are beneficial to everyone, including children with special needs. As the season approaches, it's necessary to create Autumn activities that are utterly inclusive. This blog contains tips and ideas to help you creatively plan inclusive activities for the upcoming special season.
The Importance of Creating Inclusive Activities for Your Special Needs Children
Thanks to the rustling leaves, cool breeze, and slower days, Autumn offers gentle sensory stimulation, creating the perfect moment to connect and interact with your special needs child. However, the season also introduces unpredictable weather and holiday bustle, which may be insensitive to your child. Therefore, you must be sensitive to your child’s sensory needs and boundaries.
What this means is your special needs children may not enjoy certain activities or experiences at that point. Therefore, it is essential to have a backup plan in place. What other activity should you do if they are against it? Creating an alternative is key to enjoying the full holiday experience with your special needs child.
Autumn/Thanksgiving Activity Ideas You Can Implement
Now, let's explore some ideas you can choose from to suit your child's needs.
1. Nature Walk
Nature walks can be therapeutic, as you interact with your surroundings. Take a walk in the backyard, park, or even around the neighborhood, scavenge for leaves of different sizes, according to the checklist or picture guide you have prepared.
Alternatively, you could pick a bin and fill it with leaves, acorns, and other natural items, and then have your child sort them out accordingly. You could also do leaf rubbing art, where you place leaves under paper and tell your child to color the leaf shape to reveal the texture and pattern. Each of these activities encourages observation and tactile exploration.
2. Pick Apples
Picking apples is one of the most enjoyable activities to do during Fall, especially for children with special needs. This project is not just for sightseeing or picking apples - the child can learn how apples are cultivated. So, if you know of any nearby orchard, take your children there and let them experience nature while learning how to grasp and pull apples from the trees.
Apart from picking up apples, you can do other fun activities there, such as making apple cider and drinking. Remember, they may need assistance with this task, especially reaching for the apples.
3. Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a sensory activity that enhances precision and observational skills because it involves spotting various birds while sitting or walking. Special needs children, in this activity, can identify species of birds among the trees, and you could help out by naming a few for them.
Take your children outside and have them indicate a bird when they see one. You may also attract them with birdseed so that your children can have a closer look at them. Birdwatching during Autumn is enjoyable.
4. Paint a Pumpkin
Take your children to a pumpkin patch and have them bring home the pumpkins they find. Have each of them decorate with their favorite color under strict supervision. Ask your child what they want the pumpkin to look like, and let them bring the design to life.
You could also ask them to describe the texture and smell of the squishy insides of the pumpkin. This activity brings out their creative sides, while still being fun and educational.
5. Baking
We love this activity because everyone gets involved, and they get to enjoy the lovely snack they made at the end of it all. Ask your children to help you set up everything needed for the baking. During baking, each should have a specific task, such as whisking the dough or stirring the contents in the bowl.
If your special needs child is limited in mobility, have them choose the treat to make or instruct them to give an opinion regarding the treat when it’s done. This activity is inclusive, as everyone gets to participate.
6. Make Leaf Piles
This is a great outdoor activity for children with special needs. Instruct them to make a pile of leaves to throw in the air. Alternatively, they can jump over the piles or even stomp on them.
While making the piles, encourage them to describe the texture and sound of the crunching leaves. Making leaf piles strengthens their motor skills and stimulates the senses.
7. Stay in a Quiet Place
Sometimes, staying calm and reflecting is a great way to unwind from all the strenuous activities you did earlier on. Choose a quiet spot with pillows and blankets. You can read or create stories about Thanksgiving, its importance, and how to express thanks.
Alternatively, you can sit together with your children to look at the clouds or falling leaves. Encourage them to describe what they see, and never invalidate their observations.
What You Must Know Before Implementing These Ideas
To make these ideas work, it’s necessary that you don’t organize or pick activities alone. Your child must be an active participant. This gives them some sense of control and empowerment, which can be incredibly helpful in their journey to adulthood. It’s also important that you start small by picking one or two activities per day, so that you don’t overwhelm the child.
Also, use visual schedules or picture cards to provide them with a snippet of what to expect from that particular activity. Sometimes, the child may be prepared but still feel overwhelmed afterwards. Ensure to have a calm space where they can retreat to recharge and lay out materials for each activity.
Furthermore, adjust each task to suit your child’s cognitive and sensory level. If they are more enthusiastic about a particular activity, lean into that. Focus on connection and success, not perfection.
Finally, avoid jumping to the next activity immediately to avoid overwhelming the child. Give space for each activity, let’s say 6 hours before starting the next. Capture each moment so that your child can have memories of what they did.
Conclusion
Autumn is a perfect time to connect with your special needs child and create meaningful memories. With these Thanksgiving ideas, not only are you making each moment count for them, but they also build their sensory, motor, and creativity skills, which are essential to their development.
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