If your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s important to create an autism-friendly home and backyard that promotes positive brain development, sensory play, and plenty of safe learning experiences. For some tips and resources that will help you to create an autism-friendly backyard for your little one, read on!

Step 1: Create a Safe and Accessible Outdoor Space
To create the perfect backyard space for your child with autism, you’ll need to focus on safety, noise reduction, and sensory-friendly design. These resources will help you to create a safe, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor space for your little one.

• Start by learning how to create a safe and enjoyable backyard sanctuary.
• Soundproof the space to prevent over-stimulation from passing vehicles, neighbors, sirens, barking dogs, and other loud noises.
• Install a backyard fence that reduces unwanted noise.
• Remove any potentially harmful plants from the backyard.

Step 2: Design a Backyard that Encourages Sensory Play
For children with autism, sensory-friendly activities are crucial to learning, development, and positive behavior. Here are some design tips that encourage safe sensory play at home.

• Build a sandbox that serves as a sensory tool and promotes creative play.
• Plant a sensory garden that stimulates the five senses.
• Create your own bird-watching station by purchasing a feeder, food, binoculars, and an easy-to-use bird identification guide.

Step 3: Learn and Have Fun in Your New Outdoor Space
Now that you’ve created a safe, functional, and accessible backyard for your child, here are some ideas for making the most of this great new outdoor space!

• Find out how outdoor play benefits children on the autism spectrum.
• Explore types of backyard learning activities that are safe for children with autism.
• Try one of these seven mind-blowing backyard science experiments for kids.
• Visit our Resources page for additional tips.

Outdoor time can benefit children with autism in a variety of ways, but a safe, functional, and accessible backyard space is needed to promote positive sensory integration and healthy brain development.

However, creating a sensory-friendly backyard is easier than you’d think. With these resources to guide you, you can create your own autism-friendly backyard space!