Outdoor activities such as swimming, going for walks, using playground equipment, and playing in the back yard encourage child development with the opportunities to be active and master movement. Daily opportunities for movement are especially important for children who have sensory needs such as children with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), and Sensory Processing Dysfunction. During these colder days of the year, parents may feel limited.
Here are some tips to stay warm and provide opportunities for children to get the sensory input they need without depending on the outdoors:
1. Be creative! Make an indoor obstacle course or playground using household items (couch pillows, sheets, blankets, chairs, bean bag chairs).
2. Ask for indoor sensory equipment for the holidays for your child (ride-on toys, indoor swings, mini-trampoline, bean bag chairs, shaving cream, play tents, play tunnels, whistles, bubbles). Many of these items are under $30 and can be found at stores like Ikea, Walmart, Target, and dollar stores.
3. Make use of public indoor playgrounds in local malls.
4. Check for local activities for your children online.
-Autism Society of North Carolina (www.asncmeck.org)
-Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org)
-Park & Recreation of Mecklenburg County (www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/)
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