Summer Adventures for Kids with Autism
Posted by Shannon on Jun 23rd 2025
June 24, 2025
Estimated read time 3 minutes
Summer Adventures for Kids with Autism
Summer is upon is and kids everywhere are living their best lives. If your children live with autism or sensory challenges, they don’t have to miss out on all the fun.
While the following suggestions may not be the right choice for every child, many children should be able to participate in all the activities their neurotypical counterparts do. Take advantage of resources provided by each of the entities. Bringing along a Compresso-T will also help your children regulate their senses.
Visit the Local Zoo
Most children love to watch animals. Kids with autism and sensory challenges are no different. Visiting the zoo allow children to observe and experience many different kids of animals. You can make it easier for your children by selecting a visit time that might be less busy, such as the first hour or two after opening or before closing. Be sure to stop by Guest Services, as well. Many zoos around the country offer guests supplies to help improve the experience of kids with autism or sensory challenges, like noise cancelling-headphones or weighted blankets.
Cheer on a Local Sports Team
Nothing says summer like taking in an afternoon baseball game. Experiencing a local sporting event doesn’t have come with worry. Many professional sports teams offer Autism Awareness games where the game played that day raises awareness for autism, as well as providing a more sensory-friendly experience. The sporting organizations often provide the same noise-cancelling headphones and weighted blankets for families to check out. Large stadiums may also have Quiet Zones that families can visit when children become overwhelmed.
Check Out Summer Blockbusters
Summer is the peak time for the year’s best blockbuster movies. Seeing a movie in the theater can be a sensory overload for many children. But they don’t have to miss out on this activity either. Many larger movie theater chains offer sensory friendly movie showings. Often during these special showing, theaters turn the lights up and the sound down. Many will even allow children the freedom to get up and move around during the movie.
Make a Splash in a Water Park
Loud music, screaming kids, and the distinctive smells of sunscreen that are associated with water parks might be enough to make any person experience a bout of anxiety, especially a child with autism or sensory challenges. In recent years, water parks, too, have worked to provide a better experience for these children. Some water parks have designated quiet areas and offer sensory maps that point out the areas of loud music, bright lights and strong smells. In addition, some parks may offer a sensory swim hours that allow children to swim with reduced crowds and without loud music.
Compresso-T is a Big Help
Have your child wear or bring along a Compresso-T, especially if venturing out to one of these fun activities for the first time. A Compresso-T will help keep your child feeling calmer and less anxious and may help them to enjoy their summer adventures. Compresso-T provides children with deep pressure input, similar to a weighted vest, but in a lightweight, breathable fabric. Compresso-T is made of super soft yarns making the garment very comfortable. In addition, moisture-wicking yarns help keep children cooler by wicking moisture away from the skin and the garment.
Use Your Local Resources
It’s a great idea to do research in your area to learn what resources are available to children with autism and sensory challenges. Facilities that offer resources for families with special needs are always growing and changing. While some may not yet provide resources, this is bound to change as awareness of these conditions is growing.
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