5 Indoor Activities for an Autistic Child

My husband and I sat in disbelief as we read the message from the school confirming the fifth snow day in a matter of weeks. As educators, we find joy and excitement in the first few snow days, but the fifth one was starting to feel a little overwhelming.

We cannot control the weather. We can control how we respond to and engage our children, focusing on indoor activities for an autistic child that are both enjoyable and beneficial.

Since snow or rainy days are not planned events, we focus on activities that require basic household items, making them realistic and easy to implement.

1. Card and board games

One of our go-to activities is card and board games. We find it important to embrace games with predictable and consistent rules to support our son in understanding fair play and turn-taking.

We aim to keep a nice balance between building these skills and having fun with the game.

Here are some specific skills we focus on during our game time:

• Turn-taking: This helps build patience and empathy. We often use tools like visual timers or a turn-taking chart to make turn-taking more visual.
• Kind affirmations: This encourages positive communication between players. I model kind affirmations by letting others know they’ve made a good move or even won, helping our son see these social practices firsthand.
• Good sportsmanship: Whether we win or lose, we encourage everyone to shake hands and say, “Good game.” This habit transfers easily to other social situations and helps our son learn positive behaviors in a fun, engaging way.

2. Build a fort

There is something so nostalgic about building forts, and it’s a joy that both of my children love. Using blankets, cushions, pillows, and furniture (we use beds, tables, couches, and chairs), we start by assessing the space and making a plan for our fort.

Building a fort enhances several key skills:

• Planning and prioritization: An essential executive function, this skill is developed when we decide which parts of the fort are necessary and prioritize the materials to make it work.
• Problem-solving: Fort building requires constant problem-solving—how to make the fort taller, keep a blanket from falling, and enter and exit without disrupting the structure. I encourage my kids to figure out solutions, strengthening their problem-solving abilities.
• Gross motor skills: There’s a lot of movement in fort building! From lifting and carrying materials to crawling in and out of the fort, this activity helps build motor skills and body awareness.

3. Play dough or oobleck

Even as an adult, I am drawn to the sensory input from play dough and oobleck. These activities offer unique benefits for children on the autism spectrum.

Play Dough

• Creativity: Play dough provides a blank canvas for endless creations. I enjoy seeing what my children come up with before I start my own projects, which encourages their imagination.
• Fine motor skills: Manipulating play dough promotes fine motor movements like pinching, rolling, squeezing, and using tools such as cookie cutters or rolling pins.
• Tactile sensory input: The soft, squishy texture of play dough can be very calming for many autistic children. The consistency of the material provides predictable sensory input, which many children find soothing.

Oobleck

• Following directions: Creating oobleck is a simple, step-by-step process that engages children in measuring and mixing. It’s a great way to practice following instructions. 
• Solid vs. liquid: Oobleck is fascinating because it acts as both a solid and a liquid, depending on how it’s handled. This is a perfect way for children to explore the difference between these two states of matter.
• Tactile sensory input: Like play dough, oobleck offers tactile feedback, but with the added experience of a thick liquid and a chalky solid. This combination can be calming for children who benefit from varied sensory input.

4. Scavenger or egg hunt

When my son was three years old, my husband and I created egg hunts for him in our home. It was a way to practice the activity in a safe, predictable environment while also teaching him the rules and routine of the task.

It’s now a beloved activity by both of our children and can easily be modified into a scavenger hunt.

This activity supports several key areas of development:

• Gross and fine motor skills: Scavenger hunts engage a variety of movements: walking, running, crawling, bending, and reaching. Depending on your child’s needs, this can be a great way to help them practice both fine and gross motor skills.
• Attention and focus: Searching for specific items encourages children to focus and engage fully with their environment. This activity also helps them develop awareness of where things are in space and spot objects in unfamiliar locations.
• Sense of accomplishment: Completing a scavenger hunt is a complex task that gives children a sense of pride and accomplishment. Seeing their excitement in completing a task is rewarding for both them and me as a parent.
• Creativity: Let your children hide the items for you! This promotes creativity and gives them the opportunity to practice giving clues or directions. My kids love this part of the game the most!

5. Dance party

Our family is passionate about music, and we’ve found joy in experiencing it together through dance.

We often stream our favorite songs on the phone, computer, or TV and simply enjoy dancing to the beat. It’s nearly impossible not to smile as we move and groove without rules—just doing what feels right for our bodies.

Dancing has several benefits for children, especially those on the autism spectrum, including:

• Proprioceptive and vestibular input: Jumping, stomping, spinning, and swaying all engage the body in different ways, providing sensory input that helps with body regulation.
• Rhythm: Dancing to a beat is a complex task that involves synchronizing auditory input with body movements. It’s a great way for children to practice finding and moving to the rhythm in a fun, low-pressure setting.
• Turn-taking: During our dance parties, each family member gets a turn selecting a song. This helps our son practice turn-taking, even though he would love to play his favorite song the whole time!

Incorporating indoor activities for an autistic child into daily life

Though days spent indoors can feel overwhelming, we’ve learned to make the most of it by being intentional with our time.

Keeping everyone engaged with activities that support various skills, sensory needs, and physical movement has turned our bad weather into meaningful, enjoyable experiences.

By exploring different activities, parents can discover what works best for their child’s unique preferences, ultimately fostering a positive, stimulating environment at home.

FAQs

Q: How do you entertain an autistic child at home?

A: Engaging your child in hands-on activities like building forts or playing sensory games can offer both entertainment and developmental benefits, helping your child build skills in a fun and interactive way.

Q: How do you keep an autistic child busy?

A: Incorporating indoor activities like card games, sensory play, and creative projects helps keep children engaged while supporting important social, sensory, and motor skills.

Q: What are good daily activities for autistic children?

A: Activities such as building forts, playing board games, and engaging in sensory experiences like play dough or oobleck are great for daily routines, offering fun and developmental benefits.

Q: What is the best parenting style for autism?

A: The best parenting style for children with autism is one that is patient, consistent, and flexible. Providing structure while allowing for individual preferences and sensory needs is key to helping your child thrive.

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