Playtime is essential to a child’s early development. For children with autism, playtime can look and feel a little different. Activities that stimulate the senses are particularly beneficial for children experiencing sensory processing issues, one common symptom of developmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder.
Exploring sensory-friendly activities that are safe and suitable can help children with autism strengthen their self-regulation and learn how to respond to different stimuli such as touch, sound, scent, sight, movement, and taste. Whether it’s a school holiday plan or a weekend activity for the entire family, here are 10 sensory-friendly activities – both in and out of the home – that children can enjoy in Adelaide.
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – commonly referred to as autism – is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, behaves or interacts with others and the world around them. People with autism can also display restricted or repetitive behaviours that can make it challenging to interact with others.
Each individual’s experience with autism is unique. The challenges and symptoms affecting people with autism can range from mild to severe and change in severity over time.
Did you know? According to Autism Spectrum Australia’s research, an estimated 1 in 70 people in Australia experience autism.
Behavioural or developmental symptoms of autism also appear early on in life, from 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier.
What is sensory sensitivity, and how does it affect children with autism?
Children with autism commonly experience sensory sensitivity, meaning they are oversensitive or undersensitive to stimuli in their environment, such as noises, lights and more:
- Children who are oversensitive or hypersensitive to sensory information can absorb too much from their environment and avoid sensory experiences by covering their ears, avoiding certain textures or resisting certain experiences such as hair cuts.
- Children who are undersensitive or hypersensitive to sensory information seek certain sensory experiences such as looking for things to touch, taste or feel.
Some children with autism may experience a combination of hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity or respond differently depending on the type of sensory experience.
Benefits of sensory-friendly activities for children with autism:
Sensory sensitivity can affect children with autism for longer, but children can learn how to manage these sensitivities as they get older. Engaging in sensory-friendly activities that stimulate a child’s five senses can help regulate their response to the world around them. Here are four benefits of sensory-friendly activities for children with autism or sensory processing disorders:
- Supports brain development: For children with autism, engaging in sensory-friendly play can help engage all areas of their brain, building their cognitive, emotional and communicative skills. During sensory play sessions, neural pathways in the brain are created, improving the way a child can process sensory information and communicate with others.
- Helps with self-regulation: Children with autism can have difficulty responding to sensory information around them but sensory-friendly play can teach a child how to respond positively to sensory stimulation. This can boost their self-confidence and create a calming environment.
- Improves fine motor skills: Engaging in sensory-friendly activities can help improve a child’s fine motor skills and strengthen their hand-eye coordination.
- Boosts creativity and imagination: Sensory-friendly play can encourage creativity, and boost a child’s imagination and problem-solving skills,
Planning a sensory-friendly activity in advance can help manage a child’s sensory sensitivities.
The best part? Each of these activities can be customised to suit your child’s unique needs.
4 fun sensory-friendly activities inside the home:
1 . Window painting
What you’ll need: Shaving cream or whipped cream, smock, and safe access to a window.
The activity: Take turns spraying cream onto the window and practice writing letters, swirling your fingers around or drawing shapes. Press their hands onto the window to experience different feelings.
The benefits: Engages a child’s fine motor skills by drawing on the window. Taking turns to draw also helps build social skills.
2. Decorate the cake
What you’ll need: An apron, baking sheet, plain cake base, and different ingredients (cake icing, yogurt cookie dough, peanut butter).
The activity: Using different ingredients, encourage a child to decorate the cake.
The benefits: Introduce children to new textures and smells in a fun and delicious way.
3. Musical instruments
What you’ll need: Plastic bottles or containers, rice or small pasta pieces, pebbles or beads.
The activity: Fill an empty plastic bottle with a different ingredient – for example, one bottle of small pasta shells, one bottle of rice and one with beads. Make sure each bottle is at a different level. Ensure the bottle lid is closed and start shaking!
The benefits: Strengthens fine motor skills and boosts creativity!
4. Ball pit
What you’ll need: Plastic pit balls (around 200), and a small inflatable pool.
The activity: Fill the pit with colourful plastic balls and talk to your child about the different colours and shapes. You can practice throwing balls around and encourage them to swim around. If you have a compression vest, the ball pit can be a great place to try it out!
The benefits: The plastic balls act as mini pressure points, engaging a child’s senses. The different textures and opportunity to throw the ball around can also strengthen communication and fine motor skills.
10 fun sensory-friendly indoor activities in adelaide:
Looking for a fun and creative indoor activity this weekend? Here are ten sensory-friendly activities on offer in Adelaide:
1. Visit the South Australia Museum
Location: North Terrace, Adelaide
The South Australia Museum was marked an Autism Friendly Venue by Autism SA in 2018. The museum opens its doors earlier for children with autism to enjoy the museum in a quiet and calm environment. It also provides a range of sensory-friendly programs and events for children with autism. Join the museum’s mailing list to stay updated with upcoming events.
TIP: Plan your visit with the South Australia Museum sensory map before attending. The map indicates High Sensory Areas for your child to enjoy.
Price: Free entry from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: 08 8207 7500
Email: [email protected]
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Adelaide 5000
Website: https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/
2. Plan a trip to the South Australian Maritime Museum
Location: 126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide
Another autism-friendly venue in Adelaide, the SA Maritime Museum opens till late on Saturday and early on Sunday for its autism-friendly sensory sessions. With dimmed lighting and lower volume, plan a visit and enjoy its quiet sensory space.
TIP: Plan your visit and look out for upcoming dates here.
Price: Adult: $15.00, Concession: $9.00, Child: $6.00, Family $34.50
Phone: 08 8207 6255
Email: [email protected]
Address: 126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, 5015
Website: https://maritime.history.sa.gov.au/
3. Watch a sensory-friendly movie
Various locations across Adelaide
A sensory-friendly movie is a fun indoor activity for the entire family. Select cinemas provide sensory-friendly screening sessions with dimmed lights and lower volumes for children to watch their favourite films in a safe and accepting environment.
TIP: Check out these cinemas for screening times and information: Events Cinemas, Wallis Cinema, Hoyts and Village Cinemas.
4. Try aqua sensory play or an autism-friendly swimming lesson
Location: SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre (443 Morphett Road, Oaklands Park) or Adelaide Aquatic Centre (Jeffcott Rd, North Adelaide)
A visit to the aquatic centre can be a great indoor activity for children to explore new experiences. Visit the Toddler Pool, a calm and shallow environment with a set temperature and water quality that is safe for children.
The Adelaide Aquatic Centre often provides autism-friendly swimming sessions with professionally certified autism and disability service swimming instructors. Reach out to hear about upcoming dates here.
TIP: For a quieter experience, visit during off-peak times. Check visit times with pool staff before attending.
5. Personalised pottery class
Location: Urth Clay Studio (Goodwood, Adelaide CBD and Burnside, South Adelaide)
Get hands-on and create something fun with a personalised pottery class at Urth Clay Studio. Making pottery can help improve physical, mental, or emotional well-being.
TIP: Urth Clay Studio is the only studio in Adelaide to provide special pottery wheels and tools for people requiring additional support. Learn more about private lessons by getting in touch with the team here.
Price: Inquire from here
Phone: 0881664333
Email: [email protected]
Address: 3A Hubbe Ct, Burnside SA 5066
Website: https://urthclaystudio.com.au/ndis-pottery-sessions-therapy/
6. Join a circus class with the Lolly Jar Circus:
Location: Elizabeth East and North Adelaide
Lolly Jar Circus is South Australia’s only inclusive social circus, providing inclusive classes for people with developmental challenges or disabilities. With a range of engaging programs and new skills on offer, an interactive circus class can be fun for the whole family.
TIP: Classes are held during school terms. Find out more about class prices and dates here.
Price: From $20 per class, and $15 for missed classes.
Phone: 0435 828 443
Email: [email protected]
Address: 92 Walkerville Tce, Walkerville, SA, 5081
Website: https://www.lollyjarcircus.org/classes
7. Visit the City of Adelaide Library
Various locations: Rundle Place, 235 Hutt Street Adelaide and 176 Tynte Street, North Adelaide.
Offering a range of indoor programs such as lego clubs or science classes for kids, a visit to the library can be a great indoor activity for children with autism. If your child experiences sound sensitivities, a visit to the library with noise-cancelling headphones could help your child engage with new books in a safe and calming way.
TIP: Stay updated with upcoming events by subscribing to the Adelaide City Libraries newsletter.
Price: N/A
Phone: 08203 7203
Email: [email protected]
Address: 25 Pirie Street, Adelaide
Website: https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/library-services/
8. Visit the Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Adelaide Fringe Festival provides a range of programs for the community with specific programs designed for people with sensory or communication difficulties in a sensory-reduced environment.
TIP: Look out for accessible events with the program guide here.
Price: N/A
Phone: 08 8100 2000
Email: [email protected]
Address: 136 Frome St, Adelaide SA 5000
Website: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/
9. Visit a neighbourhood centre
Locations: Various
The Marion Neighbourhood Centre hosts a social group called ‘The A-Team’ that provides fun, sensory and skill-based activities for children with Autism in grades 1-7. Joining other children experiencing autism can also be a great way for families to connect with one another and find additional support.
TIP: Reach out to ‘The A-Team’ by email here: [email protected]
10. Participate in a YMCA Program
Locations: Various
Offered across YMCA centres throughout South Australia, Konnections+ is a program for teens aged 12-18 who are on the Autism spectrum. The program provides young people with an opportunity to build positive social relationships and skills.
TIP: The program also provides an online option for people to join the games and activities from home. Find out more about the program and its tailored options here.
10 sensory-friendly outdoor activities in Adelaide:
There’s no shortage of sensory-friendly outdoor activities on offer in Adelaide. Get inspired by these ten activities:
1. Enjoy a quiet stroll through the park
There’s no shortage of breathtaking parks on offer in Adelaide. From Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens to the enchanting creek-side playground at Mitcham Reserve, a quiet stroll through one of Adelaide’s pristine parks can be a great way to enjoy the sun.
TIP: Make your trip to the park a sensory-friendly activity by bringing bubbles, colouring books or quiet games your child can enjoy.
2. Explore nature’s sights and sounds
Up for a nature adventure? Morialta Conservation Park, approximately 10km away from Adelaide, is a much-loved spot for adventures. Stroll through the park’s trails and listen out for frogs and other wildlife sounds.
If you’re looking for something closer to home, Jervois Street Reserve in South Plympton gives the impression of nature with its water play area, stepping logs and rocks, and timber features, including a wooden caterpillar.
3. Pick fresh fruit
Fruit picking is a fun activity for the whole family that stimulates lots of different senses. Introduce kids to strawberry picking, cherry picking or figs at Adelaide Hills. Get in touch with farm staff here and plan your visit to avoid crowds during off-peak hours.
Price: Inquire from here
Phone: (08) 8393 7600
Email: [email protected]
Address: Various
Website: https://www.visitadelaidehills.com.au/fruit-picking
4. Try outdoor exercise
Getting outdoors and exercising can be healthy for the body and mind. When encouraging children with autism to participate in an exercise, it’s important to do so in a calm and supportive environment. Use positive reinforcement and verbal, exaggerated cues to help guide them.
Try easy exercises like arm circles, star jumps or calming stretches.
TIP: ‘Mirror exercises’ – when a child mimics your actions – can be a fun way to encourage exercise, and strengthen coordination and social skills.
5. Try an inclusive horse riding class
Riding for the Disabled Association SA Inc is a voluntary service that offers inclusive horse-riding programs at various locations across South Australia. Stimulating a range of senses, horse riding can be a fun outdoor activity for your child and the whole family. Find out more here.
6. Try a sensory-friendly yoga class:
Whether it’s at a park or overlooking the water, yoga can be a fun and slow outdoor activity. Incorporating a variety of traditional practices in movement and breathing, simple stretches and yoga can help build emotional regulation and coordination strength for children.
TIP: Bumblebee Yoga provides small group classes specially designed for children with disabilities or sensory needs.
Price: Inquire from here
Phone: 0435039642
Email: [email protected]
Address: Clovelly Park South Australia 5042
Website: https://www.bumblebeeyoga.com.au/
7. Visit Barossa Adventure Station
Barossa Adventure Station is a kid’s ultimate fun dream with a multi-level adventure play space. The park has plenty of open space and includes sensory sound forest poles that your child can enjoy.
Price: N/A
Phone: 1300 852 982
Email: [email protected]
Address: Washington St, Angaston SA 5353
Website: https://www.barossa.com/listing/barossa-adventure-station
8. Fly a kite
Whether you’re making your own kite (with a plastic bag and a string) or bringing your own kite, head outdoors and encourage your child to hold onto the string and run! Flying a kite will get your child moving but also engage their senses as they touch and feel the wind.
9. Enjoy a friendly game of lawn bowls
A friendly game of lawn bowls is a fun outdoor activity for the family to enjoy. Inclusive Sport SA hosts weekly bowling programs at Clearview Bowling Club that creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for children with autism.
TIP: Lawn bowls is a fun activity all year round. Book your next experience here.
Price: $80 annual membership fee
Phone: 0401 377 681
Email: [email protected]
Address: Clearview Bowling Club, Gordon Ave, Clearview
Website: https://activeinclusion.com.au/club/inclusive-lawn-bowls/
10. Plan a safe trip to the beach
The beach is a fun family activity but the sun and waves can be overwhelming. Make your trip to the beach sensory-friendly by preparing your child for the experience. You can familiarise your child with the sensory experiences of the beach by showing them video stories of the beach, helping them touch and feel sand before the trip and bringing along a pop-up tent to provide your child relief from the outside senses.
TIP: Expose your child to sand in a familiar and neutral environment. Try exposing your child to sand in the backyard at a pace that is comfortable.
How Homage can help
Participating in social and community activities is an important part of our lives. Engaging in meaningful social activities can be challenging for people living with autism or caring for a loved one with autism. Our Care Professionals provide assistance and support for people living with disabilities. From staying active to attending events, our care professionals can help you get the best quality of life. Learn more and get in touch today.
Learn more about our Social & Community Participation
- Goodman, B. G. (2021, February 7). Sensory Processing Disorder. Web MD. https://www.webmd.com/children/sensory-processing-disorder
- 10 Easy Sensory Activities for Children with Autism. (2019, September 24). Hopebridge. https://www.hopebridge.com/blog/10-easy-sensory-activities/
- What is Autism. (n.d.). Autism Spectrum. https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/about-autism/what-is-autism
- Autism prevalence rate up by an estimated 40% to 1 in 70 people. (2018. July 11). Autism Spectrum. https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/news/autism-prevalence-rate-up-by-an-estimated-40-to-1-in-70-people-11-07-2018
- Raising Children. (n.d.). Sensory sensitivities. https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/sensory-sensitivities-asd
