Autism Birthday Party Planning Worksheets
When it comes to planning autism friendly birthday parties, parents may lose track of all that goes into the process.
Birthday Party Planning Ideas and Themes for Autism
First and foremost, the most important thing? Is something that your child will enjoy. If your child is easily overwhelmed, trying to invite their entire classroom or all of your relatives will not help the situation. You may want to consider having one or two close friends instead. A birthday party doesn’t have to have a lot of people to be memorable or special. You could even make it a special evening at home and serve your child’s favorite food with just close family.
If, however, you do decide to throw a birthday party; your child’s interests should be at the forefront.
Here are a few ideas:
- Swimming parties (check with your local YMCA or recreational center)
- Bowling (but be mindful of all of the extra stimulation with the noise)
- Indoor gyms
- Local museums
- Churches or synagogue halls
- Your own home
Autism Birthday Party Planning Tips
When you are ready to plan out your party, keep the following in mind:
- Location
- Activities
- Guests
- Food
- Party favors
- Invitations
- Gifts
- How much you can realistically do
- How much you can afford
That is a lot to think about even though it doesn’t seem like much. Now, you’ll also want to consider how involved your child can be in the process. And think about your child:
- How much can your child handle?
- What can your child’s sensory system tolerate?
- How are your child’s social skills?
With all of that in mind, let’s make a few decisions: narrow your locations to the top three and do this with the activities, food, party favors as well.
Develop a timeline or schedule (a visual schedule if that will help your child) and include the following:
- Guest list
- Invitation
- Party favors
- Practice manners and greetings
- Will there be a sensory room
- Less is always more
And when the party is done? Evaluate how it went. Be honest with your assessment and start planning for next year.
More Autism Birthday Party Planning Ideas
It’s really in the details here and you’ll want to start thinking about potential sources of sensory overload. For example, the lighting of the candles or singing Happy Birthday.
And to prepare for the birthday party, try to look for a selection of books:
Kori
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