At Children’s Milestone, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based ABA treatments for children at all points on the autism spectrum from birth through adulthood. As classrooms are becoming more inclusive for children on the spectrum, it’s important to incorporate autism-friendly activities that can be enjoyed by every child. In today’s blog from Children’s Milestone, we’ll go over some of the best ways that you can practice inclusivity with activities for every child in the classroom. Keep reading to learn more.
Multi-Sensory Activities
Multi-sensory activities are fun ways to access multiple processings sensors in a child’s brain while accommodating sensory-seeking behaviors in autistic children. Some examples of multi-sensory activities include writing in sand tables, singing songs, or building crafts hands-on. Using visuals to explain a topic is another great way to encourage all children to visually process what you are teaching.
Quiet Recovery Time
Many children react well to a quiet, mental reset after a period of intense learning or development. There are a number of ways to initiate quiet time in the classroom. For starters, you can dim the lights and practice guided breathing or turn on soft, calming background music. Oftentimes, students who are hyper or distracted will benefit most from guided quiet times in the classroom. It’s also a great way to reduce sensory overload in children with autism or de-escalate a child that struggles with anger.
Strong Classroom Routines
Children on the autism spectrum benefit greatly from strong, consistent day-to-day routines. In fact, one of the biggest reasons an autistic child may struggle or become elevated is due to an unexpected event or activity. All children manage transitions better when they know what to expect next. One great way to highlight these transitions is to use a daily calendar with visual reminders of the activities they can expect throughout the day, and to go through the list with the class at the beginning of the school day.
Ongoing Support
When it comes to teaching a room full of children, no matter what their age or learning level, it’s important to be surrounded by people you can trust. At Children’s Milestone, we offer ongoing support and ABA services in schools throughout Greenbelt. To learn more about autism-friendly activities that you can incorporate into your classroom, give us a call today.
Children’s Milestone is committed to improving the lives of children and adults on the autism spectrum through promoting independence and encouraging learning. Get in touch with us today to learn more about the ABA services that we offer in homes, schools, and throughout the Greenbelt community.