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Having a non-verbal child with autism can be challenging, especially when trying to discover meaningful ways to communicate, interact, and build a strong emotional bond. Remember that nonverbal does not equate to non-communicative. Children with nonverbal autism often find unique, creative ways to express themselves. Among the numerous strategies, playing outdoor games can be an exciting way to foster connection and developmental growth.
What Does “Nonverbal” Mean?
When we talk about nonverbal autism, we refer to children on the autism spectrum who do not use spoken language to communicate. These children often have their own ways of connecting with others and the world around them. Some may use gestures, sign language, visual aids, or digital communication tools, while others might express themselves through different behaviors, sounds, or physical interactions.
Games for Non-Verbal Autistic Children
Play is incredibly important during childhood and can be especially beneficial for non-verbal autistic children. It serves as a way for them to connect with the world around them and find enjoyment. When engaging in play with your child, observe their interests and introduce activities that align with their preferences.
By paying attention to what captures their attention and brings them joy, you can create a nurturing environment that encourages their active participation. It could be sensory-based activities like exploring different textures, playing with water, or involving their favorite toys or objects. The key is to follow their lead and build upon their interests.
The measure of success in these activities is the joy and engagement your child experiences. Their happiness and involvement should be the primary focus rather than achieving specific outcomes or milestones. Playtime should be a positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your child, fostering a sense of connection and happiness.
Sports
Engaging in sports can be a valuable way for non-verbal autistic children to enhance their motor skills, learn about teamwork, and regulate sensory experiences. Sports activities like soccer, basketball, or tennis provide opportunities for physical exertion, coordination, and social interaction. Modified versions of these sports can be introduced to accommodate your child’s needs and abilities.
Frisbee
Playing Frisbee is a simple and relaxed game that doesn’t require much verbal communication. You can enhance the experience by using frisbees of different colors, making it visually engaging for your child. This game promotes hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and can even be adapted to incorporate specific targets or challenges.
Riding bikes
Riding bikes is another excellent outdoor activity for non-verbal autistic children. It offers a sense of independence and freedom while providing an enjoyable way to improve coordination, balance, and muscle strength. Start with a tricycle or a balance bike if necessary, and gradually progress to a regular bike with training wheels. Biking can also be a great opportunity for family bonding and exploration of the surrounding environment.
Swimming
Swimming can offer a wonderful sensory experience for many autistic children. It provides a full-body engagement and can be both calming and enjoyable. Swimming can offer a range of sensory experiences, including the feeling of water on the skin, the resistance and buoyancy of the water, and the sounds and visuals of the swimming environment. These sensory inputs can be soothing and enjoyable for autistic children.
Obstacle Course
Designing an obstacle course in your backyard or a local park encourages your child to engage in active play while working on various motor skills. Use objects such as cones, tunnels, hula hoops, cushions, or ropes to create a course that involves crawling, jumping, climbing, and maneuvering around obstacles. This activity promotes gross motor skills, coordination, body awareness, and problem-solving abilities. It also provides opportunities for sensory input, social interaction, and imaginative play.
Fun Outdoor Activities
Not all outdoor activities need to involve sports. There is plenty of fun to be had outdoors in a less formal and non-competitive way. Outdoor environments offer a rich array of sensory experiences, such as feeling the wind, hearing the sounds of nature, and observing the vibrant colors and textures of the surroundings. These stimuli can captivate the imagination of non-verbal autistic children and encourage them to explore and engage with their surroundings. Nature also provides diverse physical activities to help develop their motor skills. From running and jumping to climbing and balancing, outdoor play fosters the development of coordination, strength, and balance. In addition, these activities promote physical fitness and contribute to their overall physical and cognitive development. Outdoor activities can also offer opportunities for social interaction and connection with others, whether through playing with siblings, or friends, or participating in group activities.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a wonderful activity that can help improve motor skills and balance in non-verbal autistic children. You can create a visually appealing hopscotch course by using chalk to draw colorful and engaging diagrams on the ground. Hopping from one numbered square to another promotes coordination, balance, and spatial awareness.
Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek is a game that involves less verbal communication but can greatly enhance non-verbal autistic children’s understanding of object permanence and spatial awareness. Playing this game helps them develop the concept that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Before playing, establish safety boundaries and ensure a secure and supervised environment.
Yoga
Yoga is an incredible tool for promoting body awareness, self-regulation, and a sense of calm in non-verbal autistic children. Simple yoga poses that mimic nature, such as the “tree” pose or the “butterfly” pose, can be exciting and engaging for them. These poses encourage body awareness, balance, and flexibility while promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
Gardening
Gardening offers a multi-sensory experience that can be both calming and therapeutic for children with nonverbal autism. Your child can engage in activities such as planting seeds or seedlings, watering the plants, and observing their growth over time. They can feel the different textures of soil, leaves, and flowers, smell the fragrant blossoms, and observe the vibrant colors. Gardening provides a sense of responsibility, nurturing, and a connection to nature while promoting patience, focus, and a sense of accomplishment.
Water Play
Water play is a fantastic way to engage the senses and provide a refreshing and enjoyable experience. Whether you set up a small pool, turn on a sprinkler, or use buckets and cups, the opportunities for sensory exploration are endless. Your child can splash, pour, and feel the water on their skin, promoting tactile and proprioceptive input. Water play also enhances motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness as they manipulate and interact with the water. Adding water toys or objects with different textures can further enhance the sensory experience and imagination.
Balance Beam
Setting up a safe and simple balance beam, such as a sturdy wooden plank or a designated beam, provides an excellent opportunity for your child to work on their balance and body control. As they walk or step along the beam, they engage their core muscles, improve their posture, and enhance their proprioceptive awareness. Balancing on the beam also promotes focus, concentration, and spatial orientation. Start with a low and wide beam, gradually progressing to narrower and more challenging ones as their skills improve.
Sensory Activities
Engaging in sensory activities encourages non-verbal autistic children to explore and naturally apply scientific processes. At the same time, they play, create, investigate, and explore. These activities stimulate their senses and provide opportunities for sensory integration and cognitive development.
Sensory Box/bin
Creating a sensory box or bin filled with various objects can offer a rich sensory experience for non-verbal autistic children. For example, water toys, feathers, shredded paper, textured fabrics, and other items can be included in the box to provide different tactile, visual, and auditory stimuli. This hands-on exploration can help children develop sensory awareness and discover their preferences.
Playdough
Playdough is an excellent material for sensory play with non-verbal autistic children. Its malleable texture is enjoyable to touch and manipulate, offering tactile stimulation. It can be shaped into various forms, encouraging creativity and imaginative play. By squeezing, rolling, and shaping the playdough, children can enhance their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Bubbles
Blowing bubbles can captivate the attention of many non-verbal autistic children. The floating bubbles provide a visually stimulating experience that can enhance visual tracking skills and hand-eye coordination. This activity can also promote deep breathing and relaxation, contributing to emotional regulation.
Sand Play
Creating a designated sand play area in your backyard or visiting a local beach can offer a fantastic sensory experience for your child. The texture of the sand provides tactile stimulation, allowing them to explore and manipulate it with their hands and fingers. They can build sandcastles, dig holes, or simply run their fingers through the soft grains. This activity engages their senses and promotes fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.
Sensory break cards
Sensory break cards are a helpful tool to prompt different sensory activities. Each card can suggest a specific movement or tactile activity, keeping the experiences fresh and engaging for non-verbal autistic children. These cards can include activities such as jumping on a trampoline, squeezing stress balls, playing with textured toys, or engaging in deep-pressure activities like weighted blanket use. By using sensory break cards, children can have structured sensory breaks to regulate their sensory systems and promote focus and attention.
Resting Activities
Incorporating resting activities into a child’s routine can be just as important as engaging in more active play. Quiet and calm activities can help balance the energy and provide a soothing way to wind down.
Picnic
Having a picnic in the backyard or a local park can be a calming activity combining relaxation and sensory exploration. This can involve different foods to taste, various textures to touch, and an overall engaging outdoor experience.
Observing Nature
Nature observation can provide a peaceful way to explore the world without verbal communication. You can observe different insects, watch birds, or simply lie back and watch the clouds.
Coloring Books/Painting
Creative activities like coloring or painting can be done outdoors to take advantage of the calming effects of nature. This can help improve fine motor skills and also provides a non-verbal outlet for expression.
Science Experiments
Outdoor science experiments can be an educational and fun way to engage your child. Experiments that involve creating reactions, like a homemade volcano or magic milk color explosion, can provide visual stimulation and encourage curiosity.
Let the Games Begin
Including games and activities in the daily routine of nonverbal students can significantly enhance their learning experience. Not only do these activities provide enjoyment and bonding, but they also serve as practical tools for improving various skills.
When choosing toys for nonverbal autistic children, look for options that promote interaction, creativity, and sensory experiences. They can also be enjoyed by all children, and inclusive play can foster understanding and empathy among peers, contributing to a more accepting environment for children with autism.
We hope that these insights and suggestions have given you some new ideas and inspiration. Remember, each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Discover what resonates with your child and encourages their exploration, learning, and growth in their own distinctive way.
At Circle Care Services, we’re here to support you on this journey. Whether you need more resources, advice, or simply someone who understands your experiences, please feel free to get in touch with us. Sign up to Circle Care Services for more info like this and join a community that truly cares. You are not alone, and together, we can make a difference.
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