Winter Weekend Activities for Children and Adults with Special Needs

To steer clear of complete boredom, chaotic scenarios, or anything in between during the weekend, it’s beneficial to discover well-organized, supervised, engaging, and enjoyable activities. Eventhough this means challenges for families and caregivers with special needs individuals, as routine often provides a sense of security and normalcy.

Moreover adding to those challenges the winter time weather and the fact of having to find fun activities can become overwhelming for parents or caregivers.

Do not worry about spending quality time on weekends with adults or kids with special needs. Here you´ll find a list of ten activities so you can have more ideas to do whether inside of your house or outside.

Before Planning Have in Mind this Clues

Use a Calendar

Incorporate various activities in vibrant colors to foster positive excitement for enjoyable events in the midst of an ordinary day. Place it where you can see it easily, make it large, enjoyable, and just like any other day. Maintaining your family’s usual daily routines (waking up, breakfast, lunch, bath time, nap time, etc.) during the weekend can help individuals with special needs understand that Saturday and Sunday are regular days too.

Plan some downtime

Ensure that there’s time set aside for individuals with special needs to engage in independent play, imagination, rest, or time in an activity corner. Consider creating a special weekend box filled with games and toys that don’t demand constant supervision, such as stuffed animals, puzzles, books, crafts, and favorite toys. Keep in mind that everyone needs the weekend to rejuvenate for the upcoming week.

Get a timer

Ensuring positive closures to activities is just as crucial as engaging in positive activities. If a child understands when an activity ends and another one starts, they will be more willing to collaborate and accept this transition.Visual timers are a great collaborative tool that help children anticipate and navigate transitions more easily.

Creative Fun to Have

Here are our top ten suggestions for fantastic winter weekend activities:

1. Snow Play: If you’re in a snowy area, engage in sensory play with activities like building a snowman, making snow angels, or going on a snowshoe hike. Consider snow painting as a creative alternative.
2. Painting Snow: Get some squirt bottles, pour some water with food coloring and have a blast doing some artwork on the blank snow canvas. Bring the winter indoors by creating an indoor snowman using cornstarch, foam shaving cream, and various household materials. This activity offers a mess-free way to enjoy the snow.
3. Fort Cozy: Build a cozy fort using old sheets, blankets, pillows, and household items. Enhance the experience with snacks, books, games, and sensory bins for hours of play in a soft blanket fort.
4. Outdoor Recreation: Explore adaptive outdoor recreation options for winter sports like skiing, sledding, or snowboarding. Look for organizations offering therapeutic programs to make these activities accessible. To prepare your individual, reading a book about the sport or watching instructional videos on YouTube can be beneficial. If possible, introducing your child to ski or snowboard areas during weekdays when the slopes are less crowded could be more beneficial.
5. Hockey: If able to ice skate, consider introducing special needs individuals to ice hockey. Engage in family street hockey to assess interest and abilities, and communicate with local coaches for potential accommodations.
6. S’more Fun: Build a winter bonfire and enjoy roasting s’mores. Invite friends and neighbors for a social gathering around the fire.
7. Pool Time: Create a sensory playtime in an indoor pool using cut pool noodles. The vibrant colors and foam noodles provide a stimulating experience similar to a ball pit.
8. Good Clean…Work: Turn wintertime chores into stimulating activities. Shoveling snow, scraping ice, collecting firewood, and washing windows can provide enjoyable, physical development opportunities.
9. Obstacle Courses: Set up obstacle courses indoors or outdoors, featuring tunnels, visible markers, and creative challenges. These courses help develop motor skills and offer hours of learning fun.
10. Quiet Time: Schedule downtime to allow for independent play, imagination, or rest. Create a special weekend box filled with games and toys that promote engagement without constant supervision.

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