Knowing how do you keep an autistic child entertained is a key skill for parents and carers in our position. This article gives you some options.

Before continuing it is always worth noting that every autistic child is different. There will be some generalisations below but they all come with the caveat that each child is an individual.

What works for one may not work for another.

Entertaining a child with autism

There are many activities which you can implement in order to keep an autistic child entertained. Here are some ideas;

Embrace their sensory desires

Many autistic children often enjoy sensory experiences, such as playing with sand, glitter, or other textures.

You can create a sensory table with various materials to explore, or even make your own sensory bins or tubes.

Along the same vein, water tables can provide the sensory feedback your child may enjoy. Sometimes an autistic child will find it satisfying dropping stones or figurines into the water one by one.

Another sensory experience easily enjoyed is to turn off the lights and play with torches. Even better is something like an led light display which can fascinate autistic children.

Other sensory inputs you can provide are additions such as weighted blankets. Some autistic children really like the feeling of being ‘squashed’.

So it may be that they sit still and watch TV with the addition of such a blanket.

Get moving

Depending on the child’s individual tolerances to sound, music and dance can be great ways to engage an autistic child.

You could try putting on some of their favorite tunes and encourage them to dance or move along with the rhythm.

Experimenting with music can be a good way of teasing out some early speech also. You can play with shouting “freeze* and stopping dancing suddenly.

Then when you are ready, shout “go” and recommence.

Over time your child may start to understand the sequence and look to either ‘freeze’ or make the activity ‘go’ themselves.

To add more sensory input to the activity you could add things like shakers for them to shake along with the music.

Bring out the artist in them

Art can be a calming and therapeutic activity for autistic children.

You could consider providing them with a variety of materials such as paint, markers, and clay, and let them create their own masterpieces.

Clearly this can be a messy endeavor but you could consider trying it outside or whilst your child is in a high chair.

Puzzles

Depending on your child’s level of understanding, puzzles can be a good form of entertainment.

Some autistic children won’t want the noise and movement of something like dance, instead they may enjoy silence and a good puzzle.

Puzzles also are a great way to improve problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.

You can choose puzzles that match your child’s skill level, and gradually increase the difficulty as they improve.

Read together

Again depending on your child’s individual preferences and propensity to sit down you could try reading.

Many books come with sensory or interactive sections such as fluffy or rough inserts.

Reading the right books can be a calming and engaging activity for autistic children.

Clearly you should choose books that match their interests and reading level, but via a method of trial and error you may find some that suit their abilities.

Lean on technology

The addition of technology to the equation is quite an emotive subject. Some parents can passionately campaign against it’s use and some think it’s a God send.

My personal view is that if it provides the child with a calm activity and the parents with some respite then go ahead.

The danger is however that once an autistic child gets a taste for say a tablet or a phone then that is all they ever want.

Difficulties can arise when it is time to put the tablet away or perhaps let another child have a turn.

You can try and use the technology in a focused way by tailoring the content your child consumes.

You can do this by putting restrictions on what apps they can download or subscribing to educational YouTube channels.

An option to help with limiting the screentime would be to buy something like a sand timer.

If you explain from an early stage that once the timer runs out the child has to hand the device over they may be more willing.

Autistic children often thrive on routine and structure so if you can install a time limit they may well stick to it.

Cooking and baking

Cooking and baking can be a fun and educational activity for autistic children.

Choose simple recipes that involve measuring and following directions, and enjoy the results together.

The act of for example mixing ingredients may also provide your child with sensory feedback they enjoy.

Summary – How do you keep an autistic child entertained

To keep an autistic child entertained, you can focus on activities such as sensory play, movement or puzzles.

It’s important to choose activities that match the child’s interests and skill level, and gradually increase the difficulty as they improve.

It is also important to consider the child’s individual preferences for things like noise and touch sensations.

Providing a variety of activities can keep them engaged and help with skill-building and social interaction.