Unless you’re a sunbather in Shepherd’s Bush, you will have noticed that the U.K. is experiencing its longest lockdown since David Blaine trapped himself in a glass box. Needless to say, this has made any trace of a routine harder to come by than a pedestrian obeying the 2-metre distancing rule, which is why, currently, many in the autism community are challenged by feelings of distress, unease and unequivocal boredom.

Understandably, many are now on the hunt for ideal autism activities to pass the days and establish a new routine, which is why, this week, I have created a list of 10 ideal indoor activities for autistic children, teenagers and adults (of which, you will find well over 10, as I got a tad bit carried away adding subsections – enjoy!).

1. Cooking

Peppers falling out of a frying pan

Cooking is an ideal activity for autistic people of all ages and abilities, as its set recipes and stringent rules provide ample opportunity for contained creativity. In particular, autistic people who have sensory issues can find something exceptionally soothing about working with batters and pastes, while those who are non-verbal will find lots to learn in its hands-on lessons.

During the coronavirus lockdown, cooking is especially recommended as an activity for autistic people as, not only does it give you a tasty way to kill time, but it also provides the opportunity to create some of those treasured foods which you might not currently have access to. For example, if you can’t find pasta on the shelves, then grabs some salt, olive oil, flour and water and you’re ready to make a nifty vegan substitute. 

2. Virtual Reality/Virtual Tours

A diplodocus fossil in a museum

As many of the world’s greatest attractions lie more abandoned than the ab mat I impulse bought over Christmas, a select few are finding a second life to entertain and educate on the World Wide Web.

For autistic people, the benefits of this are endless and include: avoiding crowded rooms, harsh museum lights and not having to wait in line for the loos. And, whether you go down the VR route or edge towards a 360 interactive tour, the variety on offer here is sure to capture even the most easily distracted out there.

A select few you might want to check out are:

It’s also worth pointing out that, when using Google street view, you are now capable of clicking the doors of many buildings and it will show you what’s inside. Should we ever get to go outside again, this is also a great way to prepare autistic people for visiting places they might not have been before.

3. Create a Calendar

A diary with 'everyday is a fresh start' written in it

Since early December, coronavirus has run amok with any plans we might once have had and, although I would be a fool to say that, during this uncertainty, you should rebook any previously scheduled events, going into each new day on a whim is a sure-fire way to increase anxiety for someone on the spectrum.

As such, creating plans which focus on the who, what, where, when and why of a day is a great way to still an autistic person’s nerves and, by keeping these schedules short i.e. only planning a few days ahead, you reduce the chance that you will have to take a rain check yet again.

Furthermore, turning this planning into an activity, in which you draw a calendar with visuals, is a fun way to ingrain the information and the finished product can then be hung on the wall for constant reassurance.

4. Stay in Contact with Friends & Family

A letter on a floral background

Call me dramatic, but if you sat me down, fixed a camera on me and told me to make awkward chit chat with friends and family during the lockdown then, I promise you, it wouldn’t be long until you saw a smoke silhouette from where I once sat and a James shaped hole in any wall blocking my escape. This isn’t because I dislike my loved ones though, it’s just that, for me and many other autists, Facetime adds another layer of pressure to already challenging social situations.

Instead, while it’s still recommended to use this time to nurture your relationships, consider using instant messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook messenger or even old school emails (if you can remember what they are), as this brings the conversation into our court; where we have plenty of time to respond, emojis to make emotional recognition easier, no pressure of having to suppress stims or make eye contact and, of course, the glory that is gifs!

Additionally, Netflix has just created an opportunity to jointly watch shows called ‘Netflix Party’. So, if you are looking for ways to chat where the empty silence is filled, then look no further.

5. Learn Stuff

An autistic woman in a graduates hat reading a big book

You may or may not have noticed that the autistic mind is brilliant where, due to a processing path that loves to create deeply connected links, we are capable of pulling out obscure facts that even we’re surprised we know. When cooped up, it’s easy to let this intellect slack off, however, doing so can be detrimental to an autist’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

For youngsters, the solution here is to build a routine around the school lessons plans which you have probably been avoiding like cornavirus itself – something which can be done by slowly but surely trialling different times/locations until we find the perfect Goldilocks of a schedule in which we work best. 

For autistic people of all ages, now is also the perfect opportunity to practice some of the areas we are not so strong in (like ball throwing games to promote hand-eye co-ordination). However, if you’re looking to develop an area which we aren’t pre-programmed to suck at, then why not find an opportunity to excel in one of the many online courses – such as one of the hundreds of online lectures taught by the leading academics at The Great Learning Courses Plus, which include:

 [Please note, I am in no way affiliated with The Great Learning Courses Plus]

6. Keep Fit

Joe Wicks online PE

Staying fit and healthy during lockdown isn’t a recommendation but a requirement, as it will not only maintain your immune system but also increase those sweet, sweet endorphins to keep you mentally healthy.

In recent days, P.E. classes with Joe Wicks have become a national favourite. However, I have and always will be, a sucker for the many online exercise regimes which are limited to 4 or 5 activities and multiple sets (as this way I don’t embarrass myself when I finally learn a move just in time to move on to the next).

Additionally, for those of us in the UK, exercise presents a small sliver of freedom throughout our day. So, my recommendation is to take this opportunity by the horns and go for a walk/run once a day. Remember, if you do choose to go out, be sure to treat others on the roads like grandma’s stale biscuit tin i.e. be respectful but do your best to put as much distance between you and them as possible.

7. Read A Book

A young autistic girl reading Dr Seuss

With the Coronavirus turning most of the world as quiet as a library, it seems only fitting to use the hours, days and weeks ahead of us to harness our inner bookworm and fall headfirst into the land of literature.

Of course, whether non-fiction or fiction, physical, digital or on audiobook (many of which are currently free through Audible), there is no right way to read or wrong genre to check out. However, if you would like to use these moments to explore neurodiversity, then look no further than the many previous recommendations from in and around this site including:

Moreover, I have recently started reading Saturdays at Noon (a book found in my The Best Autism Books to Look Forward to in 2020 article) and that book is BRILLIANT.

8. Watch TV (in Moderation)

Scooby Doo and the Scooby Gang

During the lockdown, there is a very real risk that many of us will become so reliant on our TVs that, by the time we are allowed out, we might find that we have become fused to our sofas, only capable of communicating by humming the Newsnight theme tune. Don’t let this deter you though as, in small doses, TV can provide a great escape from the often-overwhelming world and, as such, shouldn’t be overlooked as a distraction during the pandemic.

Additionally, with so many movies, like Trolls: World Tour and The Invisible Man, coming to home viewing early, as well as many of the popular streaming sites currently offering COVID-19 deals, now is the ideal time to check out some of the awesome offerings you might have missed.

Furthermore, it’s also worth noting that some streaming sites are currently giving away content for the low, low price of nothing . So, if you’ve already seen everything on your preferred site, then why not see what you can get elsewhere e.g:

Amazon Prime (free-for-kids):

Many UK shows, which are aimed at a younger audience, are currently free to watch on Amazon Prime without an account. These include Peppa Pig and the ghoulish hellscape that is In the Midnight Garden

IMDb TV:

Hands up if you even knew IMDb TV was a thing. I know I didn’t. However, after the announcement that, for free, you can now watch cinematic bangers on their site like Shrek, The Muppets Take Manhattan and the hidden gem that is the first Scooby-Doo-Movie, I’m sure it won’t be a name I forget anytime soon.

 The NFL & NBA

Many sporting websites are now giving access to live streams of old matchs, which is awesome. However, the less I say about sport the better (as my knowledge of most things athletic it is equivalent to the price of this deal: nothing).

9. D.I.Y.

A messy arts and crafts board

It’s a commonly held belief that autistic people are bound by repetition. However, to us, our routines aren’t about doing the same activity over and over but achieving the same thing again and again. This task can give us a sense of purpose and security and so, without it, we can become exceptionally anxious and in need of something to do – enter, D.I.Y.

D.I.Y. is great for restoring an autistic person’s sense of purpose during the coronavirus lockdown and can range from painting a mural on the wall, fixing that creaky door or tidying up the garden to creating sensory jewellery, building a cardboard instrument or even making your own fidget devices (an awesome guide to which can be found here).

In fact, when it comes to D.I.Y. in the autism community, there really is no job too big or too small. Just remember, when picking a task, things need to be kept age and ability appropriate: too difficult and we will only occur unnecessary stress, while too easy can be boring and we will move on fast. 

10. Play a Game

Kids blindfolded playing Chicken

When it comes to gaming during the Coronavirus lockdown, of course, you can always bust out that old Cluedo board but, let’s be honest, is now really the time to introduce another dangerous mystery to solve?

Instead, why not try something you’ve never done before and give one of the many makeshift activities from around The Web a shot. For autistic people, many of these games are great as, not only do most come with uncomplicated rules for people of all abilities, but they also ensure unsolicited fun that will bring the household together in a way that the relationship ruining Monopoly could only dream of. For example:

Pom Pom Racing:

In Pom Pom Racing, racers compete to see who can blow a cotton wool ball around a makeshift course the fastest. Using a straw here helps to ensure no one hits their head on anything and creating intricate Sellotape tracks (with lots of twists and turns) will help reduce the game turning into a contest of who can blow the hardest.

Human Pachinko Machine:

If you live somewhere with stairs (I should be so lucky), then an awesome game which has gained attention online is to place different coloured containers (like cups and bowls) at the bottom of the steps and, from there, challenge each other to see who can roll the mostS ball into containers from the top stair.

If you want to make it more competitive, try assigning different values to the various goals and, in a darts inspired score scheme, get contestants to aim for a specific number and see who can get the closest

Bobbing for Skittles:

Put a bag of Skittles (or other low weight, coloured sweets) into a bowl and then see who can remove the most of a specific colour from out (using only a straw) within a set time. Whether you score the highest or not, this game is always a winner as you all get to end by ‘tasting the rainbow’.

Pub Quiz:

I’m sure this one speaks for itself, but creating quizzes on any autistic person’s favourite subject is a great game during lockdown, as it will get the brain going and reward our restricted interests. Better yet, thanks to the miracle of the internet, all you really need to get a winning quiz is give the topic a search with the word ‘quiz’ added at the end and you are likely to find tons of results.

Scavenger Hunt:

Another self-explanatory game, this involves creating a list of items to search for, around the house, but instead of giving the name of the item write vague clues such as ‘it’s something with a face, two hands but no arms or legs’ (and the answer was a clock).

Carry on the Conversation:

What are some of your favourite books, TV programmes and indoor games that you can recommend for lockdown? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you haven’t checked out last week’s comprehensive guide to Autism & Covid-19, then make sure to read that once you’re done.

As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.

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Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.