10 Effective Physical And Mental Activities For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders – Dr Himani Narula Khanna

Many children with autism spectrum disorders have lower fitness levels due to poor balance in body coordination, visuomotor control, and other mobility abilities. Physical activity programs for children and youth with autism have produced a variety of benefits, some of which include improved motor skills, skill-related fitness, social functioning, and muscle strength and endurance. According to research, children who participated in physical activity programs designed for children with autism showed significant improvements in their social and communication skills.

Some of the activities that can be included are horseback riding, various types of group play, running / jogging programs, some basic skills include running, throwing, catching can be started in the early years followed by programs personalized physical activity according to individual needs and goals.

Here are 10 physical activities for children with autism spectrum disorders.

1. Walk to school or walk the dog

2. Make field trips a regular activity

3. Encourage the child to run, jump, jump, jump, etc.

4. Can introduce equipment such as balls, sticks, rackets (throwing, catching, kicking, hitting, etc.)

5. Introduce physical activities such as Hurdle cross (6-8 inch obstacle), Bear Crawl, to throw a ball overhead, rotate the resistance band to each side, burpees, Star Jumps, etc. These exercises can have 5 to 10 repetitions each. These activities help develop listening skills, discrimination between movements and signals, and balance.

6. Individual sports like swimming, gymnastics, jogging can help with the integrated sensory system, develop routine and better physical endurance.

7. Group sports like table tennis, long tennis, baseball, basketball, etc. can help children develop better social skills, help them make new friends and feel more confident.

8. YOGA can be a great way to help the child learn good balance, coordination, following instructions, and flexibility.

9. Can Introduce social skills training during sport where good behaviors can be positively reinforced

10. Dancing can be a unique way where the child will learn to take turns starting and stopping at signals and it can be a very enjoyable activity because children with ASD love music.

Physical activities not only help a child regain motor balance, coordination, strength and endurance, but it also builds self-confidence, makes the child happy, and is very important for good mental health.

Here are 10 mental or cognitive activities that can help a child’s cognitive development:

1) Assorted objects,
2) Spot the difference,
3) Count objects,
4) Puzzles, 1 to 5 piece puzzles, repair puzzles, puzzles
5) Play with building blocks, help the child to build,
6) memory cards,
7) Sorting by color, shape, size,
8) Peak-a-boo,
9) Lost and found,
10) Match 2D images with 3D shapes etc.

These mental activities can improve perception, thinking, memory, attention, language, problem solving, and learning. Most importantly, all of these physical and mental conditioning activities help the child to bond well with the caregiver, to understand the rules of the game, to learn to share and take turns, to understand. social cues and making friends, reducing anxiety and becoming happier. and more accepted.