April is Autism Awareness Month! It takes a village to raise amazing kids, so we’ve created a list of 6+ fun and inclusive activities for all types of families to participate in this month.
This time each year, campaigns, families, and friends worldwide focus on sharing impactful stories and advocating for the inclusion of people on the autism spectrum.
Activities for Autism Awareness Month
1. Sign up for an autism fundraiser as a family
One of the best ways to support Autism Awareness Month is to participate in a fundraiser to help raise money for the cause.
Look for walkathons, races, and events in your local community. In 2023, most walkathons will take place during the first week of April. Your family can dress in blue (a color commonly used to represent autism awareness) and start a new tradition that gives back to the community in a meaningful way.
2. Play with sensory toys
Children on the autism spectrum enjoy playing with sensory toys because they are soothing, relaxing, and help them focus. Sensory toys can help children on the autism spectrum have more fun and feel more comfortable while playing!
Encourage your child, whether they’re on the autism spectrum or not, to play with sensory toys so that they can interact with these toys while playing with others.
The best types of sensory toys for children on the autism spectrum are: sensory boards, fidget toys, reflective balls, rainmakers, infinity cubes, pop its, squishy stress balls, and simple dimples.
3. Visit a horse ranch
One of our favorite activities for Autism Awareness Month is to visit a horse ranch! Some studies show that horses can help calm children on the autism spectrum. Horses require familiar routines when grooming and riding, and these routines can often feel safe and comfortable for kids. Plus, the experience of a horse’s steady pace can also be quite soothing.
Look for child-friendly horse ranches in your local area and visit for a day of grooming, riding, and interacting with these friendly and calming animals.
4. Host a music therapy event
Music therapy can help kids on the autism spectrum by stimulating cognitive functioning and helping them recognize different emotions.
Classical music can calm down children who are experiencing anxiety or are having a meltdown. When it comes to music, it’s important to consider the volume and other sounds that might overwhelm children while listening.
For your family’s music therapy event, you can type “sensory music for autism spectrum” into YouTube and fill the room with sound. It can be nice to dance or sway, color, or even snuggle up and close your eyes while listening.
For older children, you might consider having a silent disco! This is where everyone wears separate headphones and listens to the same song at the same time. Silent discos can be great for kids on the autism spectrum because they can control the volume of the music to meet their sensory requirements.
5. Read books about autism and inclusion
Books are helpful tools to teach kids (and families!) about the autism spectrum. Children’s books with themes of autism can introduce kids to managing emotions, interacting with friends, and celebrating differences.
Children’s book suggestions:
- Noah Chases the Wind by Michelle Worthington (ages 3-8)
- My Friend with Autism by Beverly Bishop (ages 4+)
- A Friend Like Simon by Kate Gaynor (ages 4-8)
- Ian’s Walk by Laurie Lears (ages 4-8)
- Leah’s Voice by Lori DeMonia (ages 6-8)
- My Brother Charlie by Holly Robison Peete (ages 7-10)
6. Spread kindness
Diversity and inclusion make the world beautiful. Autism Awareness Month is about raising up and supporting our friends on the autism spectrum.
Those who don’t have children or family members on the autism spectrum can participate in all of these activities—and a great practice for these families is to teach children about diversity and inclusion by spreading kindness.
Write kind and uplifting notes on sticky notes and post them in public bathroom mirrors or bathroom stalls. Your sticky notes might say things like Happy Autism Awareness Month, You are loved, or Autism is a superpower!
Encourage your child to brainstorm ideas of how they can spread kindness, too! Spreading kindness is one of the most powerful activities for Autism Awareness Month.
Autism and Lingokids
Webinar with experts
Watch to learn more about our study about how the Lingokids app supports the learning and development of children on the autism spectrum.
Coming soon!
Lingokids recognizes how important inclusivity is.
Click here to find the current games, songs, and stories in the Lingokids app that experts say are supportive of kids on the autism spectrum.
We’re currently working on new sections in the app coming April 2023. These sections will include content dedicated to children with neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
More about Lingokids
The Lingokids universe provides original, award-winning, interactive content for kids, transforming the way kids can learn. Lingokids creates games, songs, podcasts, videos, and activities that intertwine educational subjects with modern life skills to spark curiosity, imagination, and success in school—and beyond!
Interested in learning more about how Lingokids helps families raise amazing kids? Download the app and check out more content on our YouTube channels!
How is your family celebrating Autism Awareness Month?
Let us know by commenting below!
