Social and recreational activities: why they’re important for autistic pre-teens and teenagers
Organised social and recreational activities give autistic pre-teens and teenagers the chance to explore interests and strengths. These activities can build confidence, self-worth and wellbeing. They can also help autistic pre-teens and teenagers learn useful skills for their social life and future employment.
Autistic pre-teens and teenagers often enjoy the structure and routine that organised social and recreational activities offer. These activities also have particular benefits for them. This is because these activities can:
- give autistic pre-teens and teenagers the chance to meet other young people with similar interests
- be a great way for autistic pre-teens and teenagers to develop social confidence
- help autistic pre-teens and teenagers feel included and reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation and stress
- give autistic pre-teens and teenagers a sense of independence and achievement
- help autistic pre-teens and teenagers develop skills and feel motivated to be involved in their community.
Getting started with social and recreational activities for autistic pre-teens and teenagers
To find a good social or recreational activity for your autistic child, you could start by talking with your child about what they’re interested in. You and your child could think about:
- activities your child could do on their own
- activities your child could do with a group
- new groups or activities that your child could start
- regular events with other pre-teens and teenagers who share interests, strengths and needs.
Sometimes you, an aide or another support person might need to advocate for your child to make sure they’re included in the activities. All children and teenagers have the right to be included in activities and use services in the community.
Joining social and recreational activities or groups
If your autistic child is interested in joining a social and recreational activity or group that’s already running in your community, they’re likely to do best in one that matches their interests and strengths. The best groups will also be flexible enough to meet your child’s needs.
You can talk with your child about what’s available in your community and pick something that you think will work for both your child and the group. Options might include:
- Scouts or Girl Guides
- after-school or community clubs – for example, art, chess, drama, maths, Lego, astronomy, computer coding or gaming, dance, gymnastics, soccer or music lessons
- extracurricular or co-curricular groups, including the student council or class representative group
- creative writing groups or fan groups for science fiction, anime or fantasy
- programs run by your local council or library
- sporting activities – for example, bowling, archery, skating or martial arts.
There might also be existing organised social groups for pre-teens and teenagers with additional needs, including autistic pre-teens and teenagers. Examples include sporting programs or camps that your child could take part in for a small fee.
Your local council might have a recreation or access officer who can help with matching your child’s interests to activities running in the community. Or your state or territory autism association might be able to help you find local organisations for young autistic people.
If your child is worried about going to a social group, you, a family member or a friend could go along for extra support to start with. If the group isn’t specifically for autistic people, you could talk about whether your child wants to tell people they’re autistic.
The joy is often in the activity. Sometimes friendships can grow from sharing interests with other young people, but this won’t always happen.
Starting social and recreational activities, groups or events
Your autistic child might be interested in starting their own group or organising regular events for people with similar interests and needs. Here are things to think about if your child likes this idea:
- What is your child most interested in? For example, if your child is interested in stamp collecting, they could start a stamp collecting group. Other ideas include painting, music, reading, bowling, skating, video gaming or chess groups.
- What networks does your child have to reach other pre-teens and teenagers with similar interests and needs? Your network of family and friends, the school, your local community or a safe online community could be good places to start.
- Does your child want or need some help learning how to organise and promote an activity, group or event? Consider who in your child’s life could help them. Or you could look for support programs to help your child set up a group through social media or online chat rooms.
Here are steps to help your child promote a group or event:
- Choose an event based on your child’s interests.
- Choose a venue for the event.
- Make a flyer advertising the group. Include the day, time and frequency of meeting – for example, weekly or monthly.
- Post the flyer at school and in other places, like Instagram.