Autism And Easter: Making Egg Hunt Autism-Friendly
Passover Sunday, it’s here! and with it comes the traditional Easter egg hunt. Although it is a child’s favorite, for children on the spectrum it can be a challenging activity due to the multiple things that it can represent. However, this does not mean that your child can not participate and have fun in the traditions.
Today we want to share with you some tips to make your Easter egg hunt autistic friendly, and fun for all the family members!
Autistic-Friendly Egg Hunt
To successfully introduce your child to the traditional Easter activities you must prepare things in advance to ease stress and to practice.
Before The Hunt:
- Practice At Home: Try hiding different toys and objects in the garden and invite a few neighbors or friends to come over. Help your child identify the objects that they are looking for and if possible make a visual list of all of them so they can recognize them. Remind your child that it is not a competition and that the important thing is to have fun and play around.
- Visit In Advance: If the hunting is taking place at a specific place, make sure to visit it before the event day so your child can be familiar with the landscape and the ubication, this way he/she will feel safer.
The Day Of The Hunt:
- Arrive Before: Take your time and arrive at the space where the activity is taking place in advance. This way you will avoid crowds (as much as possible) and you will have time to explain to your child about what is going to happen.
- Be Prepared: Easter egg hunting is an event that involves lots of children, and therefore lots of noise. Make sure to avoid sensory situations by bringing headphones or earplugs to protect your child from all that noise.
- Bring All Needed Items: Remember that other children will be bringing their own baskets, so remember to bring your child a basket and if possible, use the same basket that you used while practicing at home.
- Explain: If the event is taking place in your street or school, make sure to inform other parents and children about your child’s situation and needs. In this way, you can avoid lots of rushing and pushing and she/he will feel understood and included.
- Stay With Your Child: Grab your child by hand (if needed) and go into the activity. Take your time and inform your child that it’s okay to do things at his/her pace. Focus on enjoying the activity and the celebration around.
- Be Festive: Allow yourself and your child to get festive and dress along with the party, get a pair of bunny ears and just enjoy the celebration. Remember, Easter is a fun time to help your child become more social and interactive.
The easter egg hunt tradition is a great way to get your child to socialize more and get involved with the activities of the community. Keep in mind that this is also an incredible way to help them become more independent and cooperative. So, enjoy the festivities and build incredible memories with your children.
At WSCC, we offer support for autistic families and their children with Stem Cell Therapy treatments that can transform autistic conditions by healing the gut, decreasing inflammation and improving brain function. We also created an autistic community on Facebook that is destined to offer support and companionship for ASD parents and their families on their journey.
Remember, you are not alone!
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