If you are raising a child with autism, make sure you check out our Summer bucket list for kids with autism. I have prepared 25 Summer bucket list ideas to help you get the most out of Summer with your autistic child. Are you wondering how to keep your autistic child entertained in a fun and productive way this Summer? Would you like to have less stress and more fun this year? Use the ideas below to engage your little one with fun and rewarding activities. If you are a teacher or therapist running a Summer camp for kids with autism, you will love these ideas too!
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Summer bucket list for kids with autism (25 ideas)
Select the activities you want to experience with your child from the list before and make this Summer the best one yet!
Use the Autism Activities Workbook Bundle
I’ve created this collection of printable autism activities based on my nearly 20 years of experience designing and implementing adapted learning programs for autistic kids. Benefit from my experience to plan all of your learning activities for this Summer!
Go on a staycation
If it is safe to stay at a hotel near you, and if your little one enjoys traveling, you may want to check into a hotel near you for a fun Summer experience. Use the hotel pool, experience a new place and new food, and have a fun Summer adventure as a family!
Use the free printable Summer Workbook for Kids with Autism
I created this free printable Summer workbook filled with Summer activities such as I Spy printables, coloring pages, sensory play ideas, eating and mealtime resources, play dough mats and more!
Download your free printable Summer Toolkit for Kids with Autism here!
Print and enjoy coloring pages
I love using coloring pages with my little learners at my autism center and in my home programs. I’ve created several coloring pages on the blog. Choose your favorites below to print and use or print them all.
Game night
Does your child enjoy playing games? Summer is the perfect time to organize a family game night. Round-up your child’s current favorites and/or add a new game.
Engage your little one in Summer water play
I use water play in my sessions regularly. This post has lots of fun Summer water play ideas for kids with autism.
Visit the zoo
Pair a zoo visit with these zoo animal play dough mats for extra fun!
Tie dye shirts
Tie dye is a fun activity and Summer is the perfect time to set it up at home or in your therapeutic program. Follow these instructions to learn how to tie dye shirts with kids.
Play mini golf
You will want to make sure that your child or students have the hand eye coordination to play mini golf if you plan to use this activity this Summer. I have a little crocodile mini golf game at my learning center that has been one of the most popular activities for years. (Here is a similar one on Etsy.)
Choose one of these outdoor activities for kids with autism
Summer is a great time to be outside, especially after a lot of time indoors this past year.
Eye Spy games
I love using Eye Spy (or I Spy) games to build communication skills in a fun and unique way. Take advantage of extra time during the Summer to do Eye Spy games together!
Get your printable I Spy Games Bundle here!
Set up an Ocean Sensory Bin
I use a lot of sensory activities on this blog and I love creating fun and educational sensory bins for kids with autism. My little learners love taking sensory breaks with sensory bins. They also love learning with sensory bins. Set up sensory play and bring it out into the garden or to the park, or use sensory activities at home, in your classroom or in your therapy practice.
Once you’ve played with the ocean sensory bin, why not try my garden sensory bin, unicorn sensory bin and shape sensory bin?
Autism worksheets
Worksheets are a great Summer activity solution! Select your favorites and print them out to use with your child or students.
Check out my selection of my favorite autism worksheets here!
Paint
Painting is a fun sensory activity to use all year round, but especially during the Summer months. (Bonus : you can just hose your child off in the garden afterwards rather than having to give your little one a bath!)
Go to the beach
Many children on the autism spectrum love the beach but some have a very adverse reaction to the beach, particularly to touching the sand. If your little one is very sensitive to having sand on his or her feet or doesn’t like the ocean, make sure you respect their specific sensory needs and make sure to take things step by step and build up to walking on the sand or going in the water.
Read a new book
Reading is a great activity to share with your child or students. Choose a theme for each week to make things more fun. For example, you could read dinosaur books one week, books about sharks the next and books about colors the next.
Incorporate a new chew toy into your play
Many children on the autism spectrum seek out oral motor stimulation. If your child has this sensory seeking behavior, it is important to have a selection of chew toys on hand to incorporate into your child’s life every day. These are my go-to autism chew toys if you need help choosing autism chew toys or would like to renew your collection.
Watch Blippi Videos on YouTube
Blippi makes me laugh and he seems to be a favorite character on YouTube for many of the kids with whom I work. Have you tried including his videos as part of your learning programs? Try them, your little one may just love them too
Make bubbles
Make homemade bubbles with your little one and use them as a fun sensory activity this Summer.
Play dress up
Gather a collection of fun clothing a props and play dress up!
Visit the aquarium
A trip to the aquarium is a fantastic Summer outing.
Create a Summer art craft
Make Summer sensory boxes for autism
Sensory bins are such a fun (and educational) activity to use all year long and especially in the Summer. Try this ocean sensory bin, garden sensory bin and unicorn sensory bin this Summer.
Download and print out your free printable summer bucket list ideas for kids with autism list here!
Make your own pizza night (–> one of my favorite Summer bucket list ideas for kids with autism!)
Cooking is a fun family activity. If your little one is on a gluten-free diet, just use a gluten free pizza recipe.
Watch these free Peppa Pig Videos
Videos are such a fun learning tool. Enjoy this collection of Peppa Pig videos with your little learner this Summer.
This swimming video is one of my favorites!
Play hopscotch
Use some sidewalk chalk (off link) to create a place to play hopscotch in your garden, on a sidewalk near you or in the park.
Download and print out your free printable summer bucket list ideas for kids with autism list here!
Get a pet
I often recommend families who have a child with autism have a pet in their home. Whether that’s a service dog or an aquarium, they can give your child a sense of responsibility and add a dimension of fun to your family life.
Cutting Back on Screen Time
Summer is the perfect time to help your child cut back on screen time. Some of the best Summer activities are outside, so help your little one become engaged in an outdoor activity. You could even bring the above activities I recommended outside. Prepare printables and bring them into your garden to do under the shade of a tree.
Summer To-Do List for Kids
Another fun part of Summer activity planning is planning fun day trips or short trips close to home. Visit a local aquarium or take a day trip to a farm or petting zoo if your little one loves animals. If your child is comfortable with travel, you could also plan a trip with your child with autism. (These are my best tips for traveling with an autistic child.)
Summer List for Kids
More Autism Learning 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 Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
- 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!
Summer Bucket List Ideas for Kids with Autism
I hope you love these Summer bucket list ideas! Which ones are you planning to share with your child or students?
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First published June 29, 2021. Last updated June 17, 2024 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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