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Children on the Autism spectrum love sensory play and crafts. The trick is, is that you have to figure out which type of sensory play they will tolerate or want to do. Some like messy play and some don’t, but it’s always good to expose all children to different things, to learn and experience through playing and creating.

The best place for young children to learn in my opinion is outside in nature, at least when they are really little in their early years. You can find the whole alphabet out there walking the woods. The kids can learn all about counting sitting by a stream counting all the little guppies that swim by them.

But if you can’t get outside then here is a simple and fun table activity to do with all your children on the spectrum or not.

You will need:
toothpicks and tiny marshmallows.

If you want to work in a lesson on colors as well as one and two step directions when working with your child, then find colored toothpicks to use.

You can have your child ask you for a color or you instruct your child which color to choose then give them a tiny marshmallow to add to it. If your child is in the beginning stages of colors then each colored toothpick you hand them say the color out and have them repeat back, then give them the toothpick and marshmallow.

Or build a simple shape with your toothpicks and have your child copy you.

Before you know it, your child will be able to create a huge toothpick sculpture all on their own. They will spend hours on their toothpick sculpture and depending on how many marshmallows they use, it can get pretty big. It’s a fun activity and keeps your children off the screens.