Sample play date activities for children with autism and other disabilities

Play dates for children with autism and other disabilities are an essential part of any social skills program. 

During a two-hour play date, facilitators can usually fit in about six to eight activities between 15-20 minutes each.  Below is a list of sample activities used during a recent play date between two young children with cognitive disabilities who can read and communicate verbally. One of the primary goals of the play date was to improve socialization.

Countless ideas exist for play date activities. A few of them are listed here.

1. Exercises and yoga. Leading a few exercises, taking deep breaths, or doing yoga poses at the start of a play date can help focus the children.
2. Reading.  Reading books on emotions, social stories, or just for fun can be an effective way to help children become engaged and understand ideas. 
3. Conversation. This is a simple activity in which the children choose cards that have questions written on them. The children ask each other questions, with the goal of more spontaneous conversation resulting over time.
4. Moody Monsters. This game combines recall skills with emotional awareness.  The game consists of several sets of cards featuring monsters which each display a distinct feeling.  Cards are placed face down. Children pick up two cards at a time, trying to find matched pairs.
5. Catch. A simple game of catch or kicking a ball back and forth can help kids focus, increase eye contact, and provide all the regular benefits of exercise. 
6. Role and Symbolic Play.  Imaginary scenarios can be created to help kids think abstractly and spontaneously. In this case the kids pretended to be a waiter and a person eating at a restaurant, and they included puppets and stuffed animals as customers.
7. Music. Each child plays an instrument such as drums, tambourine, or keyboard along with a song playing on a CD.  The kids switch instruments and then sing along to a song by reading the lyrics on a sheet of paper.

The number of activities that can be done during of play dates is endless. The list above includes just a few examples.  Whatever the activities, kids will learn more when they are having fun. 

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