Party games for child on autistic spectrum

[TrinnyandSatsuma]

Hi,

Can anyone suggest party games that might be suitable for a child on the autistic spectrum (one of our sons school friends). He's five.

Thanks

I think it might be better to ask the parents. Children with ASD are not a all alike.

Broadly speaking competitive games, games with long waits whilst you watch someone else and balloons are out, but my ds has been 'trained' out of his 'mild' difficulties with these and would have enjoyed them at 5.

Piñata are brilliant if the child woukd be safe with a stick. Musical statues etc can be good if no-one is out, just 'pointed out' briefly.

My son's friend(HFA) liked all party games that weren't too loud so long as everyone was playing by the rules. Which, when they were 5, was more of a problem than the which game was being played.

He particularly liked treasure hunt type games but I think that was a reflection on his character rather than his ASD.

Simon says/captain says etc. are probably good.

Yes to Simon says, my dd likes duck duck goose or any competitive running game. Hide and seek.

All ASD children are different, my dd loves pretend playing, so dressing up as pirates/princesses etc but others may find that to be too confusing so it's best to ask mum why he plays at home.

Not why but what

Great thanks all. We don't know his parents well as new to the school, but if we get a chance to ask them, we will.

Thanks again for your suggestions, they are helpful.

I think it is great that you are trying to be inclusive. If I were you the biggest thing you could do to help is to make sure the parents know that it is alright to hang around at the party if they feel they need to.

We all really appreciate the effort someone might go to but don't expect it and will be able to assess very quickly how to support our child or whether he/she won't need it.

Maybe also think about a calm space he can escape to for a while if it all gets too much.

Thanks, they have asked to stay for the party, which we have said absolutely welcome to etc. Hubbie is on the case with some adult friendly food!

Think the venue has some quiet corners if it gets too much.

I've done a two parties with 4 ASD kids at each. Each of these kids were very different. One could pin the tail on the donkey with a scarf over eyes, another couldn't (but would shut his eyes and not peak at all).

Group games were tricky. Anything with a queue, we just put ASD kids at the front. Pass the parcel was OK, musical statues not. It varies hugely, so ask the parents.

Cannon ball socks worked well at the pirate party.

Treasure hunt worked well, each kid had a bag and had to run around the garden finding plastic coins, necklaces etc...

'Fishing' for party bags worked well. Get little beach fishing nets on sticks. Get a sheet and paint fish, sea weed etc.. on (or staple paper pictures on). Hold the sheet in front of a door (one adult at each end). Another adult sits behind the sheet with parties bags and other random things in it. The kids take turns to dip the net over the sheet and pull it up to find an old sock, clothes peg, dish cloth etc.. At some point a party bag gets pulled out.

We also had visual time tables by the door of what was happening when. All ASD kids invited had already been to the house before so they'd be comfortable.

When it comes to time to have the food, all the ASD kids had help. We did find they set up there own dining area at the other end of the garden to the rest, but just went with that. We'd set up another quiet spot they chose to ignore. A bit of flexibility helps!

I think if you prepare the kids well, make sure they know what's happening and rules to games you should be OK.

not musical statues or bumps. ds has gross motor skills issues and is out first every time. replace those games with "fork spoon knife"

dance and when the music stops make the shape of a knife (arms straight up over the head) fork (arms curled up above head kinda strong man style with head as the middle prong) or spoon (hands on head). call one and whoever makes that Shape is out. Not reliant on the first to do something everytime.

tbh We're also a fan of stupid dance along songs like the "superman" song, macarena, wiggly woo and big red car. sweets at the end to everyone the "best" dancer

Have some craft activities ready? My DS's friend with ASD really appreciated this. We had hired a soft play centre so we were the only party there and we were able to ask them to turn the loud fans and music off so he felt more comfortable.

I asked his mum though before we planned all this.

Maybe check if he has any particular sensory issues. My dd really struggles with too much noise and motion.

At her 5th birthday party we asked the entertainer to have some low key time and so after ther party tea they laid out a big mat with colouring pens and pictures. Nearly all the kids joined in and seemed to really enjoy a bit of quiet time before more games.

A dance 'competition' with pretty lax judging criteria (ie prizes given to pretty much every child for things like 'best shape', 'highest kicks', 'best face' etc.

If pass-the-parcel make sure every layer has a prize

Definitely think treasure hunt a good one.

How thoughtful of you to not only give this some thought, but come here to ask

Too much 'thought' in my last post, sorry!

Just seen the last post before mine, a really good point about noise. My ds at the age of 4 or so was terrified of balloons popping, and those party trumpet-blowy things. We had to leave a fair few parties because of those

First point is that children with ASD are all different so it is very hard to generalise. My experience however: my DS is four and half, and in the term he has been at mainstream school part-time he has been invited to several parties (which has been lovely). We have gradually increased the time he has been able to stay at the party from about twenty minutes to two hours at the last one! It has helped that they seem to follow a bit of a similar format: dancing games, sitting and listening, watching something, then eating etc, so he has learned a bit what to expect.

DS is not worried by crowds or noise so that has not been an issue. He however likes to wander off, can lose attention quite easily (especially if there is a door or a light switch in the vicinity, which there often is!), and does not always obey instructions such as come here or get down (or stop messing with the entertainer's stuff!). We basically sit right behind him while the activities are going on and support him with physical prompts to do the things he can do. Things he enjoys are the physical things: dancing games, that kind of thing. Also a drawing or craft activity.

Hope this is helpful!

PS with the dancing, musical statues etc, DS was not really "in" the competition as it were, he would never have managed that, but I just encourage him to dance along and give him lots of praise when he does.

Thought I'd update.....party went well and really pleased that he stayed until the end of the party and seemed to enjoy himself. I know the noise levels were a bit much at times, but we mixed in some quieter games and I set up a craft corner that was used by nearly every child at the party at some point, including one of my nieces who is a but younger than my sons peer group.

Thanks again to all who posted

Really nice to hear it went well, and hopefully your ds enjoyed it too! It is so extremely thoughtful of you to make such an effort for the boy with asd, wish there were more like you