Mindfulness Activities for Children with Autism

Incorporating mindfulness practices can foster self-awareness, emotional regulation, and overall well-being of children with Autism.

Triggers such as changes in routines or the environment, sensory overload, or inability to express themselves can induce high levels of anxiety in children with autism (Stockal & Blackwell, 2022). Practicing mindfulness can help children pay attention to themselves, including their thoughts, feelings and physical sensations, which can help reduce this anxiety (Ridderinkhof1 et al., 2020). This increased self-awareness is also helpful in allowing children with autism to acknowledge how they feel in the present moment, reducing emotional stress, and react more rationally to the negative situations (Patel, 2017). Additionally, practicing mindfulness is also beneficial in developing their focus, self-regulation, emotional awareness, and cultivating serenity among children with autism, while improving their overall well-being and quality of life (Blossom Children’s Center, 2023). 

Here are some activities to practice Mindfulness:

 1. Breathing exercises 

• Find a comfortable spot to sit with your child. 

• Get them to close their eyes and focus on breathing in and out slowly. 

• Ask them to place their hands on their stomach and feel it rising / falling with each breath. 

• You can also get them to place their palm in front of the mouth or nose and feel the cool air as they breathe in and warm air as they breathe out 

2. Going on walks 

• Take your child on a walk, preferable in a serene environment 

• Encourage your child to focus on his / her breathing, the sensation of their step (eg. the crunching of leaves walked on), or the sensations on their face (eg. the breeze) 

• Get your child to share the sounds (eg. birds chirping, leaves rustling) and sights around them (eg. people running, a lake) 

3. Sensory exploration 

• Provide your child with various textures to feel, scents to smell, or food to taste. Get them to close their eyes as they guess the material or item presented. 

• Examples: 

  • Textures: Soft (feather, felt, cotton balls), rough (sandpaper, cork), bumpy (textured balls, bubble wrap), fuzzy (socks, pom poms) etc. 

  • Smell: Sweet (caramel, vanilla), floral (lavender, rose), citrus (lemon, grapefruit), herbal (mint, eucalyptus), spicy (ginger, cardamom) 

  • Taste: Sour (lemon, cranberries), sweet (sugar, watermelon), bitter (bittergourd, arugula), salty (soy sauce, salted chips)

4. Movement activities 

• Introduce movements such as stretching, or practice yoga or tai chi. 

• Do ensure that exercises or movements are tailored to your child’s abilities. 

• Examples on Youtube: 

  • https://youtu.be/yarxCrHWyXQ?si=3ZtRGb4E686STIX4

  • https://youtu.be/lZL4GksXrOg?si=2QniLL2kwU3S8p8T

5. Listening activities 

• Play sounds like nature sounds or calming / instrumental music. 

• Encourage your child to focus on the sounds and identify or describe the sounds they can hear. 

6. Body scans 

• Get your child to pay attention to the different parts of their body. 

• Encourage them to notice any areas of discomfort and guide them in releasing tensions in that area by calming their bodies. 

It is important to be flexible when introducing these activities to your child, and it would be good to modify it to his / her individual needs and/or interests. Being consistent and having repetition of these activities can help establish a routine and enable your child to become more comfortable with practicing these activities. 

Written by: Mary-Anne 

References:

Blossom Children’s Center. (2013, July 21). 10 Ways children with Autism can practice mindfulness. https://blossomchildrenscenter.com/2023/07/21/10-ways-children-with-autism-can-practice-mindfulness/#:~:text=Mindfulness%20activities%20can%20significantly%20benefit,enhanced%20overall%20quality%20of%20life.

Patel, K. (2017). Six simple mindfulness practices for kids with Autism. Stages Learning Materials. https://blog.stageslearning.com/blog/six-simple-mindfulness-practices-for-kids-with-autism

Ridderinkhof, A., de Bruin, E. I., van den Driesschen, S., & Bögels, S. M. (2020). Attention in children with autism spectrum disorder and the effects of a mindfulness-based program. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(5), 681–692. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718797428

Stockall, N., & Blackwell, W. (2022). Mindfulness training: reducing anxiety in students with autism spectrum disorder. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-020-01116-7