The Outside: A Wonderland for Children with Autism

Bertha was a higher-unctioning child within the Autism Spectrum.

By the age of 4, she had been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a term that can be confusing, and not only because it sounds like the general category of Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD).

The challenge with this diagnosis is that children like Bertha have some of the Asperger disorder but not all of the criteria. They might exhibit language and social behavioral delays, but might not display any repetitive behaviors like the classic autistic child.

Bertha loved to go outside. In fact, Bertha loved going out so much that she would constantly try to find ways to get into the back yard. Unfortunately, she would try to leave the house at any time of day, just to be out there.

During the day time, the door would sometimes be unlocked. Somehow, Bertha knew exactly when the door was unlatched and she would run right out. Luckily, she would venture only into the back yard.

Bertha’s father, Nick, like his daughter, had a great love for the outdoors. Both of her parents understood her hunger to be outside around the trees and flowers. For a very long time, her dad had wanted to buy a pool for the family, especially for his daughter. He knew that water would be good for her sensory needs.

Nick had finally been able to save enough money to put in a pool. They made sure the girl knew how to swim at a very early age. He felt OK about the pool, as they always locked the doors at night and Bertha never had been able to unlock the door … at least not yet.

One morning, at 5 a.m., Nick and his wife woke to the dog barking. To their surprise, they discovered Bertha was not in her bed. She was in the pool.

Nick realized the door locks would no longer stop their daughter: Bertha had figured out how to unlatch them.

Nick immediately had an alarm system installed on all of the entrances and exits, including the windows. He knew they had been lucky this time. The family could not take a chance on Bertha getting out alone again.

The back yard is a great place to have a large therapy lab.

Some children will thrive with a merry-go-round. They love the sense of going in circles.

Swing sets, too, are wonderful for an autistic child’s cognitive development. Ideally, the swing set will have single-line swings, such as an old tire or a platform swing. A single rope or a single chain on the swing can be beneficial to these children in their developmental process.

Consider having an airwalker swing in your back yard for a child who requires deep pressure for relaxing.

At www.abilitations.com, you’ll find a specialized swing with a large, stretchable cloth that surrounds the child. The unique swing provides a way to calm a child by squeezing key pressure points on the body.

Also, think about buying fully and partially inflated, over-size, squishy balls. While serving very different purposes, these balls with varying inflation levels will help a child focus better.

Jungle gyms, slides and pedal cars are also great for gross motor skill development.

If possible, include balance beams, play pools, sandboxes, and small trampolines with handlebars in your playground.

At the back door to your playground, don’t forget to have pictures of the items in the yard. If you can, try to label the outdoor equipment with icons. And don’t forget, always keep the yard organized and uncluttered.

Pamela G. Downing, a special education teacher, can be contacted at downpamg@aol.com.