Try these exciting hobbies with your autistic child or students! Make sure to download your printable list of 59 fun hobby ideas for autistic learners to get the most out of this post. Keep it in a binder or on the wall at home, in your classroom or in your private practice so you never run out of hobby and activity ideas. Looking for more autism activities?
Get your copy of the Autism Activities Workbook Bundle here!
59+ Hobbies for an autistic child
Download your free printable list of 59+ hobbies for an autistic child by clicking here!
- Photography
- Bird watching (Read Outdoor Activities for an Autistic Child next!)
- Swimming
- Playing guitar
- Playing piano
- Singing
- I Spy Activities
- Sensory boxes
- Theater
- Puzzling
- Reading
- Sticker books
- Legos
- Journaling
- Dinosaur play dough mats
- Trampoline
- Board games
- Painting
- Crafts
- Cooking
- Nature walks
- Sensory circuits
- Making slime
- Making play dough
- Caring for a pet
- Yoga
- Listening to music
- Watching YouTube Videos
- Tennis
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Playing catch
- Zoo animal play dough mats
- Collecting stamps
- Collecting vintage maps
- Collecting trains
- Collecting figurines
- Collecting nature treasures (seashells, pinecones, leaves, flowers, etc.)
- Listening to kids books read by famous actors
- Horseback riding
- Pressing flowers
- Raising butterflies
- Raising ladybugs
- Dramatic play
- Riding a bike
- Computer games
- Fish bowl play dough mat
- Crossword puzzles
- Hiking
- Science experiments
- Rock painting
- Baking
- Gardening
- Blowing bubbles
- Playing in a sand pit
- Jogging
- Dancing
- Weight lifting
- Scavenger hunts
How to introduce new hobby ideas to a child with autism
Individuals with autism can sometimes struggle with new activities and hobbies. The way you present new hobby ideas matters and can be there difference between your autistic child or students trying something new or rejecting each idea right away.
After 20+ years working with children with autism, these are my best tips for presenting new hobbies and activities in a successful way!
Always give the autistic child a choice
It is crucial to allow your learner to choose which activities he or she would like to try rather than imposing new activities. This is such an important concept and one that is often forgotten about when designing curriculum for autistic learners! Present 3-4 ideas of new hobbies to try and tell your child or student they can select an activity they want to try from within those guidelines.
Get a year’s worth of autism activities when you get the Autism Activities Vault!
Present new activities in short increments of time to your child or students with autism
Imagine trying something new that you’re not sure will like, that takes you out of your comfort zone, that may be extremely difficult at first. Now do it for 3 hours without any say in the matter. That is difficult and stress-inducing! Instead, once your autistic learners has chosen the new hobby to try, have them try it for 5-10 minutes. Increase the amount of time your child or students are engaged in the activity incrementally, over time.
Add a sensory component to new hobby ideas for autistic kids
Adding a sensory component to any activity makes it more fun!
I have found from experience that when working with autistic children, you can increase motivation and joy in most activities by adding a sensory component.
If you’re trying photography, add a soft and furry strap to the camera for added delight.
If you’re suggesting reading as an activity, use tactile books that offer the experience of different textures and visual interest, or add a cozy throw blanket to your child’s reading nook.
Going bird watching? Bring along your printable bird flashcards so that you are offering bright, colorful, visual support to the activity.
Reinforce autistic learners with a favorite activity
Positive reinforcement is so important!
What is positive reinforcement? It simply means doing something after an activity that increases the probability that your child or students will do that activity again.
You want to make sure you make positive associations with an new hobby you try so that trying the new activity is a positive activity overall.
Make sure that you are rewarding any effort on the part of your child or students to try a new activity by doing an activity right after that is already one of your child or student’s preferred activities.
For example, let’s say you want to try the new hobby of using a sticker book. Your little one’s favorite activity is currently playing with trains. Engage your little one in the sticker book activity for 5-10 minutes and then right after play with trains for 20 minutes.
Over time, your little learner will associate the fun of trying new activities (and specifically using a sticker book) with the joy he or she enjoys from playing with trains.
Never force your child or students to try new activities. Make sure that trying new activities is rewarding and fun so you are setting your child or students up for success when presenting new hobby ideas!
Use visual support with autistic children
Things will always go better if you use visual support with your autistic learners!
Some tools that can help you introduce new hobbies
- First Then Visual Schedule (free printable!)
- How to Make a Visual Schedule
More Posts to Help an Autistic Child Thrive
- How to Teach an Autistic Child to Speak
- How to Teach an Autistic Child to Read
- How to Teach an Autistic Child to Write
- What NOT to Do with an Autistic Child
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.
- Autism Activities Vault – 365 days of learning fun!
- Autism Adapted Books Bundle – build communication skills with my collection of printable adapted books for autistic learners.
- Autism Social Stories Bundle – a collection of printable social stories to help your little learners work on their social skills.
- 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.
- 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!
Hobbies for an autistic child (25+ fun ideas)
I hope yove this list of hobbies for your autistic child or students!
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