After school activities

[WorldsSlowestTypist]

I am looking into starting some after school/weekend activities for local children with communication and social interaction difficulties (ASC plus similar conditions and disorders). There are very few groups around this area. I am hoping to provide both an enjoyable activity for the children under the supervision of me and my team, and a facility for families to get together over a coffee and feel a little less isolated.
Does this sound like something parents would welcome?
If so what activities would sell the idea to your children? All ideas welcome.
TIA

[WorldsSlowestTypist]

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[amistillsexy]

We have this in our area. There's one every Saturday in a different part of town each week, so each venue gets the group once a month (does that make sense?).

We have drinks for the grown ups and juice/healthy snacks for the kids. It's geared towards younger kids and siblings really-they seem to grow out of it by around 10, but it's great just the same.

Some activities are the same each time. There are always some toys (lots of lego, brio train track, other construction stuff). There's a 'sensory' area with a furry blanket, a 'treasure basket' and some rattly things, etc. There is also a box of books.

Then there are always one or two other activities, which vary: A table covered in shaving foam to play in; huge lumps of ice in shallow water (to play 'arctic' games- I think there were some polar bears, seals, etc as well); we have made salt dough decorations; play dough; decorated buns.

Sometimes we have the leisure services bring in a trampoline and we're going to be doing graffiti soon!

Our group is for children with any disability and siblings. To be honest, it seems to be mainly autism and ADHD but we have a wide range and it's great that siblings are welcome. We find siblings of children with disabilities are usually more accepting of children who might find it hard to share or might have communication difficulties.

Good luck with your group. Our's is a great place for parents and children alike!

[WorldsSlowestTypist]

Thanks for your reply.
Roughly how many families attend each session? Do you have to book in or do you just turn up?
Good point about the siblings.
The trampoline is a great idea. Do leisure services staff it? I bet it would need extra insurance.
I suspect that a broad SEN group is the way to go. Lots of thinking and planning to do!

[amistillsexy]

Probably about 4-6 families each session, although some venues are more well-attended than others. The one I mainly go to is in a community centre in a park. The park is a really good one and there's a lovely child-friendly cafe where we often move on to after the group finishes.

All the groups are drop-ins. With a child on the spectrum it's very stressful to 'have' to be some where by a certain time, so knowing that I can drop in if it suits on the day is very nice! So many events that are organised for us are pre-booked and ask for notice of cancellation, which I tend to avoid as I feel guilty if a meltdown means we can't go!

It's mainly mums who come, although some families come as a family, which is lovely as the Dads get to play with their Dcs while the mum gets to chat with other mums. I usually take my 3DSs on my own (while DH does the hoovering ), but they are always happy to go off and play so I can have a natter (doesn't happen anywhere else!)

Yes, Leisure services staff the trampoline. I don't know how insurance is organised, but I assume you need some insurance for the group anyway, so couldn't you just check it covers for 'active' activities as well as general arts and crafts type things?

I prefer events that are inclusive, as being excluded for having the 'wrong' type of disability is just as bad as being excluded for having any disbility, IMO!

I think one of the problems with our group is that it's hard to get across what it is...Playgroup sounds like it's for pre-schoolers, coffee morning sounds like it's for pensioners...it's not a 'support group' ("My name's amistill and I am the mum of a child on the spectrum" - Very Alcoholic's Anonymous!). I tell all the parents I come into contact with about it but many feel they won't fit in, which is a shame. It's really a bit like a face to face Mumsnet: we all sit around ignoring our DCs while chatting about inane topics or setting the world to rights!