Hands On Activities for Children with Autism & Sensory Disorders

With the abundance of visual electronic stimulation in our lives, you might think that children hardly need additional visual input. However, in spite of all that stimulation, a child might be missing the right type of input. The goal of sensory immersion is to provide the child with pleasure and satisfaction in choosing just the right elements for a functional item for school or a bit of decoration for her room. We want her to immerse herself in visual sensation that comforts and energizes her. This chapter contains many activities to do just that.

The elements of visual stimulation include the interplay of multiple colors, movement, lines, shapes, patterns, and the level of detail. One child might be drawn to intricate paisleys, another to bright or contrasting colors and chaotic dots, and yet another child might prefer soothing colors or orderly patterns of lines or checks. Each child’s need for stimulating or calming sensation will change from day-to-day and vary with the time of day and the season.

Soft colors, detailed lines and complementary patterns such as calico take us inward. These elements help support and calm the child dealing with the angst of sensory overload. Colors and forms from nature have soft colors and lines that are soothing to look at.

Bright colors and simple lines support overt emotions like joy, anger and excitement. Man-made designs such as mazes, plaids and angular designs are alerting and organize the brain. If a child is rigid, linear patterns may appeal to him on a regular basis. When he is upset, rounder, softer lines may be soothing.

Along with colored pens, pencils, paints, markers and glue, the types of materials useful for visual projects for children include scrapbooking paper, gift-wrap paper, scraps of fabric with texture, interesting prints like calico, plain fabric (for borders and contrast), ribbons, and scrap sewing bindings. Old wallpaper and upholstery sample books are a good source for paper and fabric with interesting color and texture combinations. Consider keeping on hand a selection of decorative materials such as glitters, stones, bits of wood, glass stones, and dried leaves and flowers. Useful tools for visual projects are scissors, glues, a paper cutter or a shredder (for making ribbons of paper), and pinking shears for fabric.

Present the child with a choice of materials and colors. Discover her color and pattern preferences by paging through books on patterns and designs (from a library or online). Try to determine what she is drawn to when she is sad versus when she is having a good day.

On a typical day you may want to give him activities involving lines, letters and numbers. But on a day where he is sullen or overwhelmed, consider making use of natural materials and softer shapes. Some children are enchanted by glittering objects, so glitter, glass stones or mirrors can add to a project’s appeal.

Consider setting up a visual immersion project to run across multiple days and to give the child a visual break. Several such projects are included in this chapter.

Visual Activity 1

Coloring, Drawing & Puzzles

Children are naturally drawn to visual art activities. Use a 10-15-minute break during the day to immerse the child in visual sensations.

Materials: Paper; pencils; crayons, water paints, colored markers or pencils; coloring books.

Let’s color something

It’s easy to find pages for small children to color. For an older child, use pages from an adult coloring book or one of the many design books on the market that feature paisley, ethnic or nature designs, or stained glass windows.

Let’s draw something

Give the child paper, a pencil and coloring materials. Suggest a picture to draw. There are several suggestions below. Keep the focus on having fun. It is important not to judge the results.

1. Draw me a picture of your day.

2. What would you do if you could do anything? Draw a picture of it.

3. Think of a day in which you received a big, happy surprise. Draw a picture of it.

4. Draw the view from your window.

5. Draw your playground.

Let’s do a jigsaw puzzle

Let the child select the puzzle that suits him.

Visual Activity 2

“Notebook” of Fabrics

Here is a simple and satisfying activity for a child with limited abilities. Gather a small stack of fabric with interesting colors, designs and textures, and then punch a hole in each piece of fabric. Secure the stack with a ring.

Materials: Fabric pieces or wallpaper; glue or a frayed-ends product such as Fray Check™ from Dritz; ring or clip; optional: reinforced holes.

Instructions:

1. Collect interesting fabric or wallpaper from resale shops, upholstery shops and fabric shops.

2. Have the child choose fabrics that appeal to her.

3. Cut swatches of the same size. Use pinking shears to cut fabric or fix the edges by brushing them with a 50-50 glue and water solution or with a frayed-ends product.

4. Use a hole-punch to make a hole in a corner of each swatch. Optionally, put a reinforced hole over the swatch holes.

5. Put the swatches on a ring.

Visual Activity 3

Stained Glass Windows

Use rich colors of tissue paper on a contrasting background to simulate stained glass. Use a paper backing or, for a stunning effect, have the child tape the patterned tissue paper directly to his bedroom window.

Materials: Tissue paper and foil giftwrap in different colors; construction paper or card stock for the backing; tape or glue.

Instructions:

1. Select complementary colors of tissue paper and construction paper.

2. Double a piece of tissue paper and trim it to the desired size.

3. Fold the tissue paper several times and cut small notches along each folded edge.

4. Optionally, fold the paper in a different pattern and make additional notches. For example, to achieve a snowflake design, fold the paper in quarters, and then in half to make a triangle. Cut notches along the long edge of the triangle.

5. Open the tissue paper and spread it flat on the construction paper. Tape or glue it in place.

6. Optionally, add more layers of notched tissue paper in different colors so that the patterns overlap. Make the notches in the top layers larger than the bottom so that the layers show through.

To make patterns for stained glass, fold paper multiple times and cut notches along the folds.

This stained glass window effect is tissue paper cut in patterns and taped to a window. Two layers of each color are used to intensify the colors. The two colors of tissue paper were cut into different patterns.

Visual Activity 4

Hand Weaving

Hand weaving is an example of a sensory immersion activity that can be the seed for a full-blown hobby. This weaving can be done in paper or fabric. The example shows an eight-inch (20 cm) weaving on a 12-inch (30 cm) background; you can make it any size.

Materials: Two complementary pieces of cloth, ribbon or paper; scissors or pinking shears (for fabric); school glue; cardstock or heavy paper for a backing; optional: clipboard.

Instructions:

1. Have the child select two types of paper, fabric or ribbons that are appealing to her and look nice together. Consider using fabric with texture.

2. Backing:

a. Cut a 12-inch square of heavy paper or cardstock for the backing. This will be used to secure the weaving while it is worked on.

3. The vertical strands (the warp) are cut & within ½-inch of the bottom edge.

a. Cut an eight-inch square of paper or cloth for the vertical strands.

b. Cut the paper in vertical ribbons ½-inch (1.5 cm) wide, stopping ½-inch (1.5 cm) before the edge, as shown.

4. Horizontal ribbons (the weft): a. Cut strips of paper or cloth ½ x 8 inches (1.5 x 20 cm) wide.

5. Glue or tape the bottom edge of the warp to the bottom edge of the backing. Optionally, clip the background onto a firm board, table or notebook to make weaving easier.

6. Weave the strips or ribbons into the warp.

7. Adjust the strips so they are even. If using ribbons, you can let them hang off each side like fringe.

8. Dab bits of glue between the surfaces to hold the strips or ribbons in place at the edges.

Paper weaving using several different colors of paper.

An inexpensive paper cutter makes the job easier, but scissors lets the child practice fine motor skills.

Visual Activity 5

Paper Strip Butterfly

Cutting paper strips and gluing them in pleasing arrangements stimulates the “line detectors” in the child’s visual cortex and will make this activity a favorite.

Materials: Colored sheets of paper, magazines, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or fabric, thin ribbon, or yarn; scissors; glue; paper, line drawing of an interesting shape (butterfly shape is in the Appendix.)

Instructions:

1. Cut narrow ribbons of paper or fabric as well as other materials such as cord or yarn. Make them longer than your chosen image.

2. Glue the ribbons side-by-side on a piece of paper. Let them dry.

3. Turn the paper over and draw the shape, making sure the ribbons run through the entire cut-out.

4. Cut out the shape.

Mosaics for Line and Detail

Mosaics stimulate the sense of vision with color and detail. You can use any simple shape as the subject of a mosaic. In this section, three different techniques are employed, graded for small children through teens. See Touch activity 5 for another example.

Visual Activity 6

Layered Shapes

This activity can be done by a very young child if he is assisted with the cutting. Three pears are cut out using different colors of paper. The three pears are cut and layered on top of each other. The first pear, the bottom layer, remains uncut. The second pear, the middle layer, has a small piece cut out of its left side. The third layer, the top piece, has a larger section cut from it, most of the left side and part of the center.

To get the perspective correct, make the left section the brightest and lightest color, and the right side the darkest color.

Materials: The pear shape (in the Appendix), or another simple shape that you choose; colored paper, giftwrap, and scrapbook paper; scissors, glue; optional: cardstock, glitter or glitter glue.

Instructions:

1. Cut out three copies of the pear in three different colors. Leave the shape with the lightest color whole. You will remove sections from the other two pears.

2. The pear has four lines for cutting. Choose the lines that match the photo. If you are using another shape, mark the lines for removing sections on the top two shapes (as described above).

3. Cut out the pieces to be removed from the top layers of the pear.

4. Glue the layers together.

5. Optionally, glue the finished work to a “frame” (a piece of construction paper).

Visual Activity 7

Large-Piece Mosaic

Cut the pear (or a shape of your choosing) into differently colored pieces, and put them back together like a jigsaw puzzle with or without the background showing through.

Materials: Same as for Activity 6. The pear shape is in the Appendix.

Instructions:

1. Cut out a copy of the pear and then cut it into five pieces using the lines drawn on the pear shape.

2. Using the five pieces for patterns, re-cut the pieces in five different colors.

3. Small children can glue the pieces back together on a piece of paper.

4. Have older child trim the pieces a little smaller to make a mosaic look, as in the photo.

5. Glue the pieces to a sheet of paper, leaving thin spaces between them for the background to show through.

6. Optionally, glue the mosaic to a paper frame.

In this version of the pear, we trim the pear pieces to leave space for the background to show. Cardstock was used for the “frame”.

Visual Activity 8

Small-Piece Mosaic

Here is the same pear that was used in the previous two activities. This time the sections are filled in with small—sometimes very small—pieces of cut paper tiles.

The instructions for this project can be found in chapter 11, Multiple-day projects.

This mosaic uses very small tile pieces in the two leftmost sections of the pear. The remaining sections have larger tiles. The right border and stem is made of tiny black tiles.

Visual Activity 9

Notebook Cover

Here is a fun visual immersion activity for creative children and teens: a cover for a binder or a folder.

Materials: Contrasting fabrics; several colors of construction paper; cardstock or cardboard; optional: picture of dog in the Appendix, or pictures from the internet or magazines; glue; scissors.

Instructions:

1. Select a piece of stiff paper, cardstock or cardboard for a backing. Cut it to fit the notebook. Set it aside.

2. Have the child design the cover using pictures or patterns she draws or finds on the internet or in magazines. Optionally, have her create a design using her name, or an image such as the dog in the Appendix (see photo).

3. Cut out the shapes and letters in colors and patterns that appeal to the child.

4. Glue the pieces onto the backing and attach them to the notebook.

Two covers. Left: The cover background is a tie-dye fabric. The name Alexia has been cut out of contrasting fabric and glued to it. Right: The dog image was cut out of fabric and decorated with contrasting pieces of felt. The dog and a construction paper frame were glued to the front of the child’s folder.

Mobiles for Movement

Some children crave visual movement. Have them create a simple mobile, and then see if they are ready for more complex ones. Start by using small objects such as the paper squares (see activity 10) or small object such as game tokens from an old Monopoly™ set. An older child can do all of the work. A younger child will need help assembling the mobile.

Visual Activity 10

Simple Mobile

This easy mobile has hanging letters of the child’s name. But use any small objects in place of the letters.

Materials: Paper; string or cord; thin dowel rods; snippers, scissors; a hook for hanging the mobile; glue.

Instructions:

Create the objects to hang from the mobile

1. Cut out pieces of colored or patterned paper 2 x 4 inches (5 x 10 cm).

2. Fold the paper rectangles in half, making squares. Glue the sides together and let dry.

3. Punch a hole in a corner of each square.

4. Decorate the squares with letters, cutout pictures or designs.

Create the mobile(See the photo)

1. Cut two dowel rods 12 inches (30 cm) or longer.

2. Cut the cord for hanging the mobile to the hook. The cord’s length is the distance from the hook to where you want the dowel rods, plus a few extra inches (eight cm, or so) for attaching the two dowels together. (See below and the photo.)

3. Make a loop on one end of the cord. This will be used to hang the mobile on the hook.

4. Lay the two dowel rods crosswise on a table and wrap the cord crisscross three times at their intersection. Tie the cord tight. Optionally, place a drop of glue on the knot. Snip the short loose-end of the cord.

Make cords for the hanging objects

1. Cut cords in different-sized lengths. The cords in the photo vary from 18-23 inches (48-60 cm). This includes three inches (eight cm) for a loop and a knot at the ends.

2. Tie a loop at the end of each cord large enough to easily slip onto a dowel rod.

3. Thread the other end of the cord through a square and make a knot of the two strands.

In this simple mobile, the hanging objects are paper squares with the letters of the child’s name.

Wrap cord crisscross around the dowel rods three or four times. Knot cord tightly.

Hang the mobile

1. Attach the hook for the mobile in place (from a ceiling, doorway, bunkbed, etc.). Hang the dowel onto the hook from the cord’s loop.

2. Hang the pieces. To arrange the mobile pieces on the “branches” of the mobile so they balance, use this technique: Hang a paper square onto whichever branch tilts highest. Repeat this step until all paper squares are in place. To level a tilted branch, do this: If a branch is tilted upward, move the squares closer to the end. If it is tilted downward, move it closer to the center.

3. Place a drop of glue on each cord where it sits on the dowel. Do this quickly, so that if the weight of the glue changes the balance of the mobile, you can adjust the squares before the glue dries.

Visual Activity 11

Multi-Sensory Immersion Project: Fruit Scented Mobile

Once you have the “hang” of making a mobile, consider this multi-layered, scented fruit mobile. It is a project that can be done over a period of several days or weeks. The instructions can be found in chapter 11. Designs for the pieces of fruit are in the Appendix.

The instructions for this project can be found in chapter 11, Multiple-day projects.

Visual Activity 12

Carrel for Visual Distraction

Here is a fun, practical project, a soft colored study-carrel to put on a desk at home or in school. The carrel is made of calming soft blues and greens and decorated with a single butterfly. This project will take the child several hours to complete, and so it is a practical visual immersion task for a child. About carrels: Carrels provide a visually quiet space for the child to work. This is helpful to children who are easily distracted.

The instructions for this project can be found in chapter 11, Multiple-day projects.

Visual Activity 13

Collage

The collage project is the ultimate visual immersion exercise. The child can select the colors and shapes, as well as the materials. For the child who likes things “just so,” follow the instructions below. Otherwise, let the child use her creativity to make this picture her own. Does she want to pick real flowers, dry them for a week between the pages of a fat dictionary and then add them to the picture? Lovely idea! Does he want lions’ heads for flowers? Great idea! How about rockets in the sky? Perfect! Find pictures of lions or rockets in a magazine and cut them out or hand draw the images onto the background.

The instructions for this project can be found in chapter 11, Multiple-day projects.

Other activities

For the precocious or creative child, consider these additional types of visual immersion activities:

1. Abstract doodling: 10-15 minutes of spirals, feathers, mazes

2. Make a mask

3. Scrapbooking

4. Photography of interesting images.

Touch activity, Ch. 6	Food activity, Ch. 7	Scent activity, Ch. 7	Sound activity, Ch. 8
#3, Bunny picture	#3, Drawing with food	#6, Planter	#2, Reading books
#4, Simple collage
#5, Frog picture
#14, Gluing pebbles
#17, Metal drawing tools
#18, Sorting coins