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Summer holidays

6 replies

Crystallizedring · 27/07/2024 07:07

DS 4 has finished nursery and waiting to start school on a reduced timetable. I'm running out of ideas of what to do with him in the holidays.
Most of the things I did with DDs aren't suitable for him. He doesn't like soft play, we can only go to a small local park as other ones are too busy. He likes swimming but only if it's quiet (not going to happen now it's holidays). Local farm was okay but also too busy now. Day trips anywhere are hit and miss
He's bored of the park now but if we don't go out he doesn't sleep. We did find a group for autistic children but we only went once before the holidays and I (stupidly) didn't ask anyone for their number or if they wanted to meet up.
Being non verbal with understanding of a child half his age means he can't even tell me what he wants to do.
What did you do with your children at this age?

OP posts:
L66 · 27/07/2024 07:33

Any way you could take him out to an empty field with hula hoops, football and a picnic? What about local gardens ? The ones that are free to go in with plants and flowers. There’s a few free ones around us as we don’t pay the national trust memberships.
Does he like the beach Op? You could go early in the morning or later on in the afternoon early evening ? Find a quiet beach somewhere? Is he a fan of the museum? I know maybe museum might be a bit tricky in case it might be a bit busy.

Lesley25 · 27/07/2024 08:25

Water parks with sprinklers and paddling pools we went early
beach
parks
trains / trams early in morning
swimming pools as soon as they opened
shopping centres - as soon as they opened so he could walk in and out of shops

SpinningTops · 27/07/2024 14:26

If you Google your area and 'local offer' you might find the autism services. Ours is good and there are 2 stay and play sessions a week over the holidays for autistic kids.

ElizabethBennetsBoots · 05/08/2024 16:49

Trampoline in the garden, nature walk in a green space near home, cafe trip, library?

Crystallizedring · 14/08/2024 19:29

Thanks everyone. We have found a big field that isn't really used in the week and he absolutely loves running around there. There is a park next door so if we go early enough we can also use that.
Swimming we have managed twice but other than that it's been awfully busy so I didn't even attempt to use the pool.
He does have a trampoline which he likes but has recently started trying to escape from the garden, gardens are only separated by wire fence and local fox has dug it up enough for DS to squeeze through (obviously I keep an eye on him so he doesn't escape) but it's not very relaxing.
Feeling a bit guilty that I'm finding this holiday such hard work instead of enjoying it

OP posts:
EndlessLight · 14/08/2024 20:09

Do you have any quiet forests/woods nearby? Would DS be happy in a cycle trailer? Would DS tolerate a long walk (in a buggy if necessary)?

Do you have room for a mini indoor trampoline? Or a doorway kit from southpaw or gorilla gym?

Longer term, it is worth investigating a grant to make the garden more secure.

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