Fun Early-Fall Activities for Kids with Disabilities

As we approach the start of fall, there are still several warm days left on the horizon. Just because the days of summer are winding down, doesn’t mean there isn't an abundance of early-fall activities you can do with your kids. Here are some of our favorite early-fall activities for children with disabilities. 

Create a Schedule, Extra Points for Visual 

While children ease back into school, creating a schedule is important to help kids establish a routine and feel more in control of their daily activities. Putting together an organized schedule will help children understand how to structure their day and give a sense of comfort. 

Parents get bonus points for making the weekly schedule colorful and easy for kids to understand. Pictures, icons, and any other visual markers to represent fun activities can help keep kids engaged.  

Fall-Themed Sensory Play 

We’ve talked about sensory play before, but it’s always fun to change things up for the season! During the summer, and going into fall, sensory play can include seasonal things like small water bins with little floating items, fish toys, or other things you would find in bodies of water.  

We also recommend making a seasonal sensory box or tray. Sensory boxes and trays challenge children to touch things and identify what they are and how they relate to summer and early fall activities. For example, parents can include fall items like leaves, rocks, dry beans or acorns, pinecones, small fall themed toys, and Halloween toys like plastic spiders or “witch’s fingers.”  

Kiddie Pool or Small Swimming Area 

Temperatures are still sky high, that means it’s time to play with some water! You can do this by setting up a sprinkler in your backyard, or by filling a small kiddie pool in your yard or recreation area. Water activities can also include taking a child to a local swimming pool or splash pad.  

Music Play 

Don’t be afraid to get loud! Put on some fun music and encourage your child to play along on a bell, rain stick, shaker, kazoo, or any other noise maker you can find. Music can stimulate the brain in many ways. Listening to and playing along with music can help stimulate creativity and enhance overall mental wellbeing. 

Star Gazing 

Warm nights are wonderful for going outside and looking at the stars. Even if you live in an area that’s well lit, some stars and planets are visible most nights. To make it more fun and educational, download a free star map app and help your kids find constellations. 

Indoor Camping 

What’s the next best thing to going on a full-blown camping trip? Indoor camping! It’s easy to bring the excitement of a trip into your living room by setting up a small tent and sleeping bag, grilling some hotdogs or hamburgers, and watching some camp related movies. You could even toast s’mores over the stove. If you don't have a tent handy, simply build a small pillow fort!

Indoor camping can also create a nice, calming retreat for kids to go to when they feel overwhelmed or if they just want to have a space to themselves. 

We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and an easy transition into fall. Don’t forget to stay safe during the hottest hours of the day, and if you’re looking for more fun and easy ways to entertain kids, check out some summer coloring pages!