Helping Your Autistic Child To Go Out
My Personal Journey
Hello Everyone!
Today, I want to dive deep into a topic many parents and caregivers of autistic children face: getting an autistic child to go out.
If your autistic child doesn’t want to go outside, you’re not alone.
For many of us, this is a daily challenge, but it’s one that can be overcome and my autistic child is proof of this.
If you’re a parent, caregiver, sibling, or any family member looking to encourage an autistic child to go out of their comfort zone and explore the world, this post is for you.
It’s not an easy journey, but I can assure you,it is very worth it!
A good book to read on this subject is, ‘Autism – Life in the Prism’, which sheds light on the experiences of autistic children and provides strategies to help with various challenges, including getting an autistic child to go out.
Why I Need to Help My Autistic Child to Go Out
Let’s start with the basics.
Going outside is not just a nice thing to do but it is absolutely essential for mental health. For everyone, including autistic children. I think everyone feels better after leaving the house to get some fresh air after a long day!
In my opinion, being outside helps develop coordination, promotes exploration, and improves a child’s understanding of the world.
But much more than that, going outside tires out my autistic child, making it easier for them to sleep better at night. And if you’re like me, a full night of sleep is something you truly treasure!
I also found out that going outside supports sensory integration. This is extremely important for autistic children who may have heightened sensitivities to stimuli like my autistic child. Helping my autistic child to go out means I need to help them deal with:
- Noise,
- Light and
- Different textures.
Nature offers a less controlled yet calming environment, allowing them to gradually become accustomed to various sensory experiences.
Also the more it is done, the more desensitized my autistic child will be to the external stimuli that they will inevitably come across outside.
It can be hard to encourage an autistic child to go out, but with the right steps, they will slowly learn to appreciate the outdoors.
If you’re struggling to help your autistic child sleep better, check out my post on how to help your autistic child sleep..
Why Does My Autistic Child Refuse to Go Outside?
Before I could even begin to find a solution, it was important for me to understand why my autistic child refused to go out.
Being autistic myself, I came up with all the scenarios that play in my mind when I really want to not go out. I believe it is at least some of the same reasons for the refusal of my autistic child to go out
- Temperature changes: The sudden shift from a controlled indoor climate to an unpredictable outdoor environment can feel uncomfortable and even distressing.
- Noise: Outdoor environments are full of unpredictable sounds—cars, birds, people talking, and more. For a child with sensory sensitivities, this can be overwhelming. It still is for me, even as an adult!
- Bright lights: Direct sunlight, the reflection off buildings, or even a cloudy but bright sky can be harsh for children with sensory issues.
- Crowded spaces: Crowds can be chaotic and disorienting for autistic children, who may feel overstimulated or anxious in such environments.
- Unpredictability: Many autistic children rely on routines and familiar environments for comfort. Asking an autistic child to go out, can feel like you asking them to step into chaos, where nothing is in their control.
These are just a few reasons to refuse to go out. While home is a safe, predictable space where we control our environment, the outside world often feels like the exact opposite.
Outside is chaos!
Encouraging My Autistic Child to Go Out
I’ll be honest—getting my autistic child to go outside was a struggle.
Whenever I asked them if they wanted to go out, the answer was always the same: a resounding and firm “No.”
Pleading, coaxing, or bribing did not help much either.
But as a full-time mom with two children, one of whom is autistic, I didn’t have much of a choice. There was no one to stay at home with my autistic child, so I had to find a solution.
Why It Was Necessary For My Autistic Child To Go Out
In my case, I was responsible for the shopping, taking my kids to appointments, and handling day-to-day activities. My husband worked long hours, so it all fell on me.
The challenge was the refusal of my autistic child to go out, which meant that I had to figure out how to get them comfortable with going outside.
At first, I was frustrated, but I quickly realized that forcing them would not work. And it could possibly break our relationship and ruin it.
I needed to be patient, observant, and creative in finding ways to make the outside world feel less threatening.
How I Started Encouraging My Autistic Child to Go Outside
I have put together a list of tips that worked for me, in helping my autistic child to go out.
And I hope they will work for you too. These ideas are based on both my personal experience and advice from other parents and professionals who have walked this road in helping their autistic child to go out.
Tip 1: The “Comfort Zone” Setup
One of the first things I learned was that sensory overload was a big factor in the refusal of my autistic child to go outside.
Certain noises, like
- Trams or Trains
- Loud street sounds
- Ambulances
- Police cars
- Shouting etc
triggered my autistic child’s anxiety.
To combat all of this, I invested in a seat that attaches to our pram, a set of noise canceling headphones and an old iPod. I filled the iPod with my autistic child’s favorite music and soothing sounds.
I really, really, really recommend this strategy to any parent of an autistic child who has trouble handling the sensory overload of the outdoors.
Allow your child to take comfort in familiar sounds while slowly adjusting to the new experiences of being outside.
Shutting down one of the senses helps stop your autistic child becoming too overstimulated outside.
So if we had been out longer than expected or if my Autistic child was getting too bothered, I would pull out the equipment and let them go into their own little world for a while.
The seat that attaches to the pram came with a seat belt, so my autistic child could feel secure, and it allowed them to observe the world at their own pace.
Whenever they felt overwhelmed, they could sit back and tune everything out with their headphones.
Over time, as they became more comfortable, they started taking the headphones off themselves and engaging with the world around them.
This was a huge win for us, and a reminder that giving your child a way to control their sensory experience can make the idea of going outside less scary.
Tip 2: Use Visual Schedules
Many autistic children do really well on routine and knowing what to expect.
I have created a visual schedule that outlines my autistic child’s day’s activities, including when you plan to go outside.
This allows your autistic child to go out while having mentally prepared for the outing. This also reduces the anxiety of the unknown of whatever might be going on outside.
Consistently including outdoor activities in my autistic child’s schedule can help your them become more comfortable going outside.
Tip 3: Play Outside at Home First
If your child is especially resistant to going outside, start small by playing in your backyard or front yard, balcony or garden.
Create a safe outdoor space where they can explore without the overwhelming stimuli of public spaces.
As they become more comfortable with this controlled environment, you can gradually introduce new outdoor activities.
Tip 4: Incorporate Their Special Interests
Many autistic children have specific interests or hobbies that they are passionate about.
Try incorporating these into your outdoor activities.
For example, if your child loves trains, take them to a park near a train station or go on a tram ride. If they love animals, visit a petting zoo or animal sanctuary.
When you tie outdoor activities to something they already enjoy, it becomes less about going outside and more about engaging with their interests.
Tip 5: When you want to go out Short Distances
Another breakthrough for us was finding a mode of transportation that encouraged my autistic child to go out.
My child loves riding their bike, so whenever we needed to go for a walk or run a short errand, I would let them ride their bike. If you want tips on how to teach an Autistic kid to ride a bike see my other post
It became something they looked forward to, rather than something they dreaded.
This makes them happier to leave the house.
My autistic child also developed a fascination with trams.
If I said to my autistic child to go out using the tram as our mode of transports my child would get excited about going outside.
This taught me that sometimes, it’s not the destination but the journey itself that can motivate an autistic child to go outside.
Tip 6: Gradual Exposure to Longer Distances
When we needed to go longer distances, I used my “mama bike,” which had a special seat for my autistic child.
This allowed them to still feel like they were in control and in a familiar environment, while still being able to experience the outside world.
I placed things that my child personally loves inside the bike so that they can be surrounded by familiar things.
Over time, my child became more engaged with the surroundings, and even started commenting on the weather. For example noticing the wind or rain.
This was a huge step forward for sensory control whenever my autistic child goes outside.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
It’s important to remember that exposure to the outside world needs to be done slowly and gradually.
Forcing any autistic child, who is uncomfortable or scared to face too much at once will only increase their anxiety and encourage your autistic child to go out while kicking and screaming and refusing.
Start with short trips to familiar places, and slowly extend the time spent outside. Celebrate every small victory, whether it’s a short walk around the block or a trip to a nearby park.
This is my ‘mama bike’
The good news is that my kid no longer needs these and actually enjoys being in their surrounding and looking around!
My kid is okay with having the top off now and will also comment on the wind and rain if they feel it. YAY!
Tip 7: Allow Comfort Items
Many autistic children have comfort items that help them feel safe.
For my child, it was long sleeves and a hat, even in the summer heat.
At first, I was concerned that wearing these items in warm weather would make them uncomfortable, but I realized that they were key to making my autistic child comfortable going outside.
I will try to wean them off this soon as it starts to get warm.
It is their comfort item. And if your Autistic kid has a comfort item. Allow your autistic child to go out with it.
We want them to be happy to go outside first!
As time went on, I started to gradually wean them off these items, allowing them to switch to lighter clothing or wear just a hood instead of a full hat.
We have made progress in that my Autistic kid wears any hood they can. Such as the hood on their jumper. Not only specifically the hat.
Changing it to something more sustainable is progress too!
But I didn’t push too hard. The important thing was making sure that my autistic child was happy and comfortable going outside, even if it meant letting them hold onto their comfort items for a little while longer.
Dealing with Setbacks
Despite all of these efforts, there will be days when your autistic child might still refuse to go outside.
That’s okay.
It’s important to acknowledge that setbacks are part of the process.
Some days will be harder than others, and it’s essential to be patient with both your child and yourself.
My Autistic child still says “I want to go home” quite often.
So, we are not completely there yet, but we do get excitement when we mention that we are going to go outside as a family.
The response from my autistic child is now “yaay” or “YES”.
However, when they have had enough, they do let us know that now it is time to go home.
Tip 8: Respect Their Boundaries
If your child expresses that they’ve had enough and want to go home, respect that boundary.
This helps build trust and reassures them that their feelings matter.
Over time, they will likely become more willing to go outside for longer periods as they develop confidence in their ability to communicate their needs.
I honestly encourage it when they express they have had enough. It is good to know your own limits and even better to have the confidence to say it out loud.
Their limits should be respected.
The key is to be patient, flexible, and consistent.
Gradually, you’ll find that your autistic child becomes more comfortable going outside and exploring the world.
Each small step forward is a victory worth celebrating.
If you’ve found any other methods that have helped your child enjoy the outdoors, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
We’re all in this together, and by sharing our experiences, we can help each other and our children thrive!