10 Exercises for Kids with Autism

Use this list of exercises for kids with autism to make sure that your child or students are getting enough movement each day. It is more important than ever to make sure that everyone is moving enough each day, especially if your little one has tons of energy! Make sure you read my autism teaching strategies next!

List of exercises for kids with autism

Yoga
Exercise Ball
Hopscotch
Trampoline
Run in place
Jumping jacks
Dance
Squats
Skipping
Bear Crawl

Yoga

I use this farm animals yoga video with my little learners on the regular. I’ve shared more yoga videos for kids here.

Exercise Ball

I love this collection of gross motor activities that you can do with your child or students and a simple exercise ball. Try wall squats, the ninja kick and the ball lift today!

Hopscotch

Use this hopscotch video as a video modelling tool to teach your child or students how to play. Follow the rules or just simply hop along together or take turns.

Trampoline

This Blippi trampoline video is my favorite! See more Blippi Youtube videos here. Work on building imitation skills while exercising by copying what Blippi does.

Run in place

Running in place is great exercise and will help your little ones on the autism spectrum burn excess energy and get enough movement during the day. Have your child or students run in place with this running in place video.

Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are fabulous exercise! This simple video will show your little learner how to do jumping jacks.

Dance

Have a dance party! What better way to exercise with your autistic learners than dancing?

The choreography is simple in this video and the song “I like to move it!” is upbeat, fun and has nearly universal appeal. This video is great for siblings to do together and for groups too.

Squats

This video shows kids how to squat the right way!

Skipping

This video teaches kids how to skip. It is an amazing resource for video modelling new movement skills.

Bear Crawl

Do the bear crawl with this fun video! (I love that this video also includes some information from an occupational therapy point of view about why working on the bear crawl if beneficial for the body.)

More Autism Resources

The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
Autism Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!