Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects cognitive, emotional, social and physical health of the individual. Early intervention helps an Autistic child, to cope with the disability. Parents of Autistic children should support a lot for their development through regular interaction with their therapists. Occupational therapists help the children develop their motor skills. Though the children undergo therapy sessions, it is advised to do some home-based activities for their betterment. Here are some Occupational therapy ideas/activities that help parents to work with their autistic child even at home with basic availabilities that they have.
Proprioceptive activities/Heavy work activities
- To improve muscle strength, posture, coordination, body awareness and reduce fear of climbing stairs, ladder, slapping of feet, hand flapping
- Climbing up and down the stairs and the wedge
- Jumping by lifting two legs at a time on the number mats
- Pulling weights
- Pulling therapy resistance bands
- Bouncing on the ball, Rolling on the therapy ball
- Walking forwards and backward
- Wheelbarrow walking (walking on hands when the legs are held)
- Different animal walks
- Crawling on all fours
- Bending one knee and balancing on the other
- Squats
- Lying on the back and raising one leg at a time and two legs at the same time
- Swinging from the monkey bars
- Wiping wet tables
- Pushing the wedge and stairs
- Kicking, rolling, throwing the ball towards the target and through a narrow gap between two boundaries
- Climbing up and getting off stairs backward
- Knee extension and flexion
- Climbing up and down the ladder
- Crawling from under the tables
- Crashing on the bean bag
Balance and coordination activities
- Walking on lines drawn on the floor
- Target throwing
- Walking on pillows
- Jumping from square to square on the floor
- Balancing on one leg
- Jumping over small obstacles
Body awareness activities
- Instructions like – Clap your hands five times
- Bend forward
- Bend to your right side/left side
- Touch your right eye
- Raise your left hand
- Touch your right ear etc.
Vestibular activities
- To improve balance and to reduce fear of motion
- Jumping on the trampoline
- Balance board- rocking while sitting on it, standing on it
- Scooter board
- Using the elevator
- Swinging
Tactile activities
- To reduce hypersensitivity to sticky substances, rough textures, fluffy things
- Walking on textured mats
- Walking without slippers in the mud, grass, on the road etc.
- Painting with fingers
- Spreading Fevicol with fingers
- Holding different textured toys, pulses, objects
- Taking bath with a loofah
- Mixing dough
- Spreading shaving foam
- Sticking cotton on paper
- Touching soft toys, furry toys, pompoms etc.
Fine motor skills
- Finding marbles in sand
- Unscrewing and screwing of bottle caps, jar lids, screws
- Using ink filler to fill colored water and drop it on a paper
- Clipping
- Using forceps to pick pasta/pulses
- Coloring within the boundaries
- Paper folding
- Using punch to make holes in papers
- Fixing puzzle pieces
- Transferring mud from tub to the pot using a trowel
- Transferring water from one glass to another, filling water in a glass from a bottle without spilling the water.
- Transferring water from one bottle to another
In case, your child finds difficulty in performing any of these activities, please don’t hesitate to contact their therapist. For any further queries on their developmental delays, and improvement of cognitive skills, feel free to talk to their therapists. Log on to Wellness Hub or walk-in for any queries and check our programs on Early intervention and School readiness for Autistic kids.