Engaging Activities for Autistic Adults to Do

Finding fun and meaningful things for autistic adults to do is super important for their mental wellness, self-esteem, ability to develop social skills, and overall happiness.

Interests and needs vary from one individual to another. Therefore, finding relevant factors will influence the enjoyment of autistic people and help them learn new skills.

Here, we’ll get into a variety of enjoyable activities that support creativity, physical health, communication skills, learning, relaxation, and sensory engagement with some practical ideas and their associated benefits in each category.

Creative activities

Creative activities can be a real enjoyment for an autistic adult. Painting, playing instruments, singing, and making crafts are creative activities an autistic adult can do to express themself while having quality fun.

For example, painting is a type of creation that can be really calming yet simultaneously give a person a chance to vent their feelings through colors and shapes.

Playing an instrument or singing boosts motor skills and gives a wonderful sense of achievement.

Benefits of creative activities include:

• Improving the ability to express oneself
• Developing fine motor movements
• Creating satisfaction and joy

Physical activities

Staying active is required to maintain good health and be in great shape. In many cases, swimming, yoga, walking, and dancing can be fun.

Swimming isn’t a jarring motion for joints, yet it builds some cardiovascular health with muscle strength.

Yoga and walking bring relaxation and mental clarity – essential for overall well-being.

Benefits of physical activities include:

• Improving health fitness
• Improving mental well-being
• Contributing to relaxation and relieving stress.

Social activities

Social activities can help adults with autism spectrum disorder communicate well and develop connections.

Volunteering and joining clubs and support groups are excellent ways of meeting people who share interests.

In addition, volunteering could bring meaning and a sense of belonging, while support groups provide space to share experiences and receive support.

Board games are another great way for people to improve their interaction skills.

Benefits of social activities include:

• Improving social skills
• Developing community
• Giving emotional support

Learning activities

Learning new skills and knowledge can be very rewarding for an autistic adult. Such educational activities include taking cooking, language, or IT classes, attending workshops, and joining book clubs.

For instance, an autistic adult attending a cooking class can learn an important life skill while having a fun and creative outlet.

Book clubs are activities where discussing and learning more about certain subjects is likely.

Benefits of learning activities include:

Relaxation activities

Relaxation is essential to maintaining good mental health and ensuring an environment that can reduce stress.

It involves several tasks, including self-care activities, watching favorite movies, playing games, and spending time outdoors.

Self-care routines, such as taking a warm bath or engaging in mindfulness, are incomparable in their ability to reduce stress and generally improve the well-being of autistic people.

Benefits of relaxation activities:

Sensory activities

Sensory play, coupled with sensory aids like stim toys, weighted blankets, and exploration of sensory-friendly places, can be very useful.

The best sensory tools should be able to regulate sensory input and provide comfort.

At the same time, sensory-friendly spaces also provide a quiet environment where autistic adults can feel calm and relaxed.

Benefits of sensory activities:

• Increases sensory input regulation
• Provides comfort and security
• Improves sensory awareness

Fun and meaningful activities for autistic adults

Many enjoyable and enriching educational activities can promote a better quality of life for autistic people. They can be creative, physical, social, learning, relaxation, or sensory. 

The important thing is what works best on a case-by-case basis. When making this decision, you must also consider other relevant factors, such as a person’s interests and needs.

No two adults (or anyone) are alike. It would be best to emphasize exploration and discovery to involve autistic people in a full, rich, and self-determined life.

FAQs

Q: What activities are good for adults with autism?

A: Recreational activities like painting, playing instruments, swimming, yoga, volunteering, and sensory play all work wonderfully for adults on the autism spectrum. These fun activities boost mental well-being, physical health, social interaction, and sensory regulation.

Q: What are some activities you can do with autistic adults?

A: Consider crafts, dance classes, clubs, workshops, self-care, and sensory tools. These can be enjoyable and beneficial.

Q: What are daily activities for autism?

A: Daily activities for autistic people are structured routines, physical exercises such as walking or yoga, creative art such as drawing or playing music, and relaxation practices like mindfulness or watching one’s favorite show.

Q: How do you motivate autistic adults?

A: You can improve motivation by focusing on matters dear to them, setting clear and achievable targets for fun, positive reinforcement, and creating all necessary help and support. That would facilitate autonomy and self-expression as well.

References

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Hillier, A., Buckingham, A., & Schena, D. (2020). Physical Activity Among Adults With Autism: Participation, Attitudes, and Barriers. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 127(5), 874-890. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512520927560. 

Odom SL, Hall LJ, Morin KL, Kraemer BR, Hume KA, McIntyre NS, Nowell SW, Steinbrenner JR, Tomaszewski B, Sam AM, DaWalt L. Educational Interventions for Children and Youth with Autism: A 40-Year Perspective. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Dec;51(12):4354-4369. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04990-1. Epub 2021 Apr 18. PMID: 33866461; PMCID: PMC8531076. 

Patricia Pérez-Fuster, Javier Sevilla, Gerardo Herrera, Enhancing daily living skills in four adults with autism spectrum disorder through an embodied digital technology-mediated intervention, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Volume 58, 2019, Pages 54-67, ISSN 1750-9467, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2018.08.006.

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Smees, R., Rinaldi, L. J., & Simner, J. (2024). Autism-Linked Traits and Creativity: Empathy and Sensory Sensitivities in Children Predict Creative Activities and Openness. Creativity Research Journal, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2024.2333633. 

Stacey, T.-L., Froude, E. H., Trollor, J., & Foley, K.-R. (2019). Leisure participation and satisfaction in autistic adults and neurotypical adults. Autism, 23(4), 993-1004. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318791275. 

Visual Sensory Experiences From the Viewpoint of Autistic Adults https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633037/full.