For children with autism, sensory activities play a crucial role in their development and overall well-being. These activities can help improve sensory processing, enhance motor skills, and provide a calming effect. As parents, it’s essential to understand the unique sensory needs of our children to create environments where they can thrive.

The 4th of July is synonymous with vibrant parades, boisterous fireworks, and bustling crowds. While these festivities bring joy to many, they can be overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities. The loud noises, bright lights, and sudden changes can lead to sensory overload, causing distress and discomfort. To ensure that your 4th of July celebration has something enjoyable for everyone, here are some sensory-friendly activities:

1. DIY Fireworks in a Jar

Materials Needed:

• A clear jar
• Water
• Food coloring
• Oil
• Alka-Seltzer tablets

Instructions:

1. Fill the jar with water, leaving some space at the top.
2. In a separate bowl, mix a few drops of food coloring with oil.
3. Pour the oil and food coloring mixture into the jar.
4. Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the jar and watch as colorful “fireworks” burst inside the water.

This activity provides a visually stimulating experience without the loud noises associated with traditional fireworks.

2. Patriotic Sensory Bin

Materials Needed:

• A large plastic bin
• Red, white, and blue rice or beans
• Small American flags
• Star-shaped cookie cutters
• Miniature patriotic-themed toys

Instructions:

1. Fill the bin with red, white, and blue rice or beans.
2. Add the small American flags, star-shaped cookie cutters, and toys.
3. Allow your child to explore the bin, sifting through the materials and discovering the hidden items.

A sensory bin offers a tactile experience that can be both calming and engaging.

3. Glow Stick Dance Party

Materials Needed:

• Glow sticks in various colors
• A dark room or outdoor space

Instructions:

1. Activate the glow sticks by snapping them.
2. Dim the lights in your chosen space.
3. Encourage your child to dance and move around with the glow sticks.

Glow stick dance parties provide visual stimulation and encourage physical activity in a fun, low-stress environment.

Tips for Incorporating Sensory Activities into Your 4th of July Celebration

• Create a Quiet Space: Designate a quiet room or area where your child can retreat if they need a break from the festivities.
• Use Visual Schedules: Prepare a visual schedule of the day’s events to help your child anticipate what’s coming next and reduce anxiety.
• Practice Ahead of Time: If possible, practice some of the sensory activities in advance so your child knows what to expect.
• Involve Your Child in Planning: Let your child have a say in the activities. This can increase their comfort and willingness to participate.

Understanding and accommodating sensory needs is essential for creating inclusive and enjoyable experiences. By incorporating sensory-friendly activities into your 4th of July celebration, you can ensure that the day is filled with joy and connection for all family members.

It’s A Date! 

There has been a trending idea of playdate pods going around to increase social interaction between children during COVID-19. Families typically choose one or two other families and form an “exclusive” relationship with them. The pods are typically formed with the criteria of being local, having similar risk levels, and having honest and open communication. Finding safe activities for your pod that all parties agree on (within you set parameters) may be tricky. Here are a few activities we have done in our own pods: 

Scavenger Hunt: 

This is a great activity to play with your pod while remaining socially distant. Take a nature walk with your pod and find specific items in your environment. You can make this activity trickier by adding in adjectives, for example: red/black truck, yellow/green leaves and tall/short trees.  

Pom-Pom Head: 

This game is also known as Cheeto Head, but we have eliminated the temptation of eating the cheesy snack and ingesting germs and replaced them with pom-poms. This activity requires a shower cap, shaving cream, and pom-poms. Place the shower cap on the child’s head and add shaving cream on top. The other child then tosses the pom-poms in an attempt for them to stick to their peer’s head (the peer may attempt to dodge them). Count the pom-poms at the end to see who wins! 

DIY Plate Memory Game: 

Each child is responsible for decorating pairs of matching plates for a total of 6, 8, or 10 plates. Lay them in the grass, face down, and your pod can have fun taking turns on finding the matching sets! You can use pipe cleaners, glitter glue, markers, googly eyes, and any other crafting materials you have on hand. 

Sponge Toss: 

Bean bags may be more difficult to come by, and many don’t have them on hand. Instead, we use sponges as a modification to the classic “Ball Toss” game. Use wet sponges and have three to five numbered buckets lined up for the game. For different spin on this game, you can use sidewalk chalk to draw a target on the ground and toss the wet sponges as “darts”. 

Every game may be adjusted to the comfort level of all who are participants in the pod. Communication between members is key to maintaining safe and successful playdates with your pod. Below are listed a few resources if you are considering forming a pod of your own. 

Resources: 

1. Picking Your Pod: How to Safely Do Playdates as We Widen Our Contact Circles 

https://parents-together.org/picking-your-pod-how-to-safely-do-playdates-as-we-widen-our-contact-circles/ 

1. How to Form a Pandemic Pod 

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_form_a_pandemic_pod 

1. Creating Bubbles that Work for Families and Kids 

https://medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updates/2020/06/creating-bubbles-fam