Autism Friendly Kids Parties
April is Autism Awareness Month so we bring this blog post to you in support of our young friends on the spectrum!
You always want a party to be fun for everyone involved! With children on the autism spectrum, it’s possible to face different challenges in ensuring that everyone has a good time. Here are some of our top tips for keeping a calm and easy atmosphere available for everyone to enjoy.
Keep the music levels a little lower
Music is great for boosting a party’s atmosphere but too much volume can prove stressful. Simply lowering the volume a few settings is enough to maintain the atmosphere but keep the dynamic more soothing.
Keep high-sugar snacks to a minimum
Vegetable crudités and fruit are great for keeping everyone fed without causing too many sugar-rushes! Save the cake till the end!
Have fun optional activities
Arts and crafts are great for keeping everyone entertained according to their own needs and wants. Alternatively you could try baking. Face-painting, balloons, bubbles and party games can also be great options for some children, but might not suit all. Being able to dip in and out of these tasks will help keep everyone happy and entertain any short attention spans. The sensory nature of a lot of these activities also adds to the enjoyment!
Familiar locations can help ease stress
Homes can be great locations for keeping the birthday child at ease. Alternatively, consider visiting the location beforehand to familiarise them with the surroundings
Avoid too much focused attention on the birthday child
Of course no two children are the same, but often the birthday child might find too much focus on themselves a little alarming. Keep the present-opening for later and consider not singing happy birthday if it poses too much pressure for the child
Be prepared for the plan to change
Every child is different and unpredictable, whether they are on the autism spectrum or not! So keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to shake things up if needed. Every parent will understand!
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