Having Fun With Your Child With Autism Isn’t Complicated
Having fun is something we all do in our own way. As adults, we love to sit at home with the TV on in front of us. Our kids with autism are no different. They too have different ways to have fun, whether that’s using a coloring books or creating a look out of facepaint or running around outside whilst pretending to be a superhero. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to having fun.
When it comes to combining these generational difference, there’s a bit of a gap we need to bridge. Especially when it comes to finding an activity you and your child can bond over so neither party gets bored! So why not turn to creativity? Everyone loves to draw, cut, stick, and build, and there’s plenty of complex and interesting projects out there that are actually quite simple.
Anything to Do with LEGO
Lego is a toy that’s been around for a long time. Everybody has had a set of legos in their toy box at some point. Everyone’s loved collecting all the different bricks and all the different special pieces to put together an ultimate creation whenever they fancy. And that means it’s a toy for the generations, and it’s a simple enough premise that seems quite complicated on the surface for anyone to get to grips with.
If you’re looking for some good tutorials to get started with, check out the list at LEGO Ways and get inspired by the creations listed there. You can always tweak any instructions to make a different car or house out of the bricks assembled, and everyone involved is going to have fun because of the creativity and the interactivity.
What you have to watch out for is the fine motor deficiencies. You don’t want to frustrate the child with their inability to do it for long periods of time. Take loads of breaks or do the putting together yourself. Remember the goal is to have fun!
Starting a Blog Together
Being able to write down all your thoughts and feelings onto an online journal is something a lot of people take for granted, but it’s a really good move for anyone who struggles with how they perceive the world. You can very easily find other people like you and start empathizing in your own way, and you can update as much or as little as you want.
And if you’re someone who blogs about their daily life involving a child, why not actually involve your child? You can get their perspective on the situation you’re talking about, you can come up with a series they can write for each week (maybe on their favorite thing they did that week or their thoughts on some school topics etc.), or you can just collaborate and dazzle some of your readers with the camaraderie.
Here in Autismland, I will often get Logan’s perspective on something I’m writing to see if I’m missing something. After all, he’s the one with autism. He has gone back to read older posts to tell me how he perceived it or what was going through his mind. Some of my best posts have come from him. Bonus that we get to act silly at the same time.
When it comes to having fun make sure you’re always innovating to keep things fresh. There’s a lot of projects out there you can take on with your kids. Try to make them interesting enough to keep everyone’s attention whilst you’re all at it! You will make fun family memories in the process.
