Autism Soccer: Sensory Ideas for Children on the Spectrum

If you provide children with crafts and games fit for them, they'll feel more confident and happy.

The autism spectrum is a rare array of disorders that affect the brain. For a long time, professionals and parents have tried to understand how it functions, making some positive results. Most of the hardships autistic children face are related to lack of interaction with their peers, further affecting the way they communicate.

Many therapies and ideas have been tried out to help children develop these skills and all complications that come with autism. Among them is the sensory integration, which focuses on the sensible side of children. Are you seeking for some ways to help your kids out? Here are some sensory ideas you should try:

Toddlers painting with balls

Sensory balls are becoming the best alternatives for autism children. This idea consists of making the ball move across a box full of paint. This activity helps children improve sensory and cognitive skills, as it allows them to focus on holding the box lid and moving the ball back and forth.

Materials

Sensory balls
Tempera paint (washable)
Trays
White paper
Cardboard box lids

Walkthrough

Put some of the paint on the tray. Preferably use two or more colors to mix them.
Add the sensory balls on the tray. Roll them over the paint.
Place paper in the box and dip the balls into the paint.
You’re ready to go! All you have to do is let children play with the balls themselves and see colors on the paper.

This idea was developed by Sheryl Cooper; you can check all the information about her here.

Painted rice for little kids

Colored rice is a fun, smart way to put use to rice for sensory purposes. By adding different colors to the rice, little kids will immediately feel drawn to them, turning it to an excellent tool for sensory games. You can either let them mix different colors of rice and make drawings with it by pasting it on paper; this will also boost their creativity and abstraction skills.

Materials needed

Rice
Food coloring
Paper towels
Alcohol, vinegar or plain water
White paper
Glue
Airtight container (to store the rice)

Walkthrough

Mix a tablespoon or two of rubbing alcohol/vinegar/plain water with some food color, add it to the airtight container.
Add 1 cup of rice to the bowl with the mix, close it real tight and shake it until every grain of rice is all colored.
Open the container and put the rice to dry over cartoon surface filled with paper towels.
Once the grains are dehydrated, store them back in the container.
All set! Give the kids the pieces of paper and let them make figures and draw with the different sets of colored rice you've done.

This idea was originally created by Praying for Parker, a website with thousands of ideas like this one; check it out for more activities your children will truly enjoy.

Just like the two above, there are many other ideas you can try to help children with the autism disorder. Do not limit on what you have read on the internet and experiment by yourself! Creativity is the source of great ideas if you develop them with love. Keep in mind that there’s nothing not worth trying if it’s for children who need support.

The more you can do for them, the better! Your children will appreciate it. The team of Autism Soccer is composed of caring professionals who only want the best for children with autism, so why not contact them and put your loved ones in their hands? Do it; you won’t regret making that call.