It’s one of those days when being outside isn’t an option. It’s too rainy, too snowy, too cold, or just plain too much for your kiddo. You’re looking for indoor activities for your autistic child and you’ve come to the right place.

I get it. You probably want ideas on how to keep your child entertained, learning, happy, quiet, and not tethered to a screen for the next 8 hours. You want the same things I want for Sean (my son who is also autistic) when days like this come around: a plan that will make the day easier for all of us.

Even though we have learned a lot about neurodiversity, many people still confuse autism myths and facts. If we’re going to open ourselves to seeing each individual as they truly are, we need to identify the myths, stigmas, and stereotypes of autism…and acknowledge the roots of this thinking and where we went wrong. Here are some common stereotypes and an invitation to shift your perspective for each:

When we hear about someone having Down syndrome, it can be easy to fall prey to common myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes. After all, when we don’t have personal experience with a group of people, we may not have the knowledge to question or challenge the status quo. But, in the words of Maya Angelou, “When you know better, you do better.”

“Is my child ever going to speak??” I’ve heard this question so many times over the years from parents I work with who have nonverbal neurodiverse toddlers and older children. Sadly, the truth is not usually what they want to hear: There’s no way to know for sure.

Siblings are often each other’s first teachers, models, and playmates. Whether they develop a deep friendship that lasts a lifetime or not, there’s no denying that siblings share a bond and a unique relationship.

For siblings of autistic children, there is often a more nuanced relationship. From increased empathy to sacrifices and frustrations, the effects of autism on siblings range, and are not always top of mind for us parents. It’s easy to spend so much of our focus on what to do (and NOT to do) with our autistic child that we forget that our neurotypical child may also have additional needs.

This is something I am especially attuned to with my neurotypical daughter (my son, Sean, is autistic and has sensorineural hearing loss), because I am that sibling, too.

As parents, you already know that play is an important part of childhood. Just watching our kids in the world we see how use most moments as an opportunity to play. The truth is, play is critical for children’s development, especially for our neurodiverse children.

The difference for children with autism is that the way in which they play might need to be adapted to accommodate their specific sensory needs and motivations. Especially non-verbal children, who are not able to communicate their likes and dislikes using spoken words.

With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of fun, engaging activities for your non-verbal neurodiverse child.

Here’s what I say to families I work with who are navigating a neurodiverse diagnosis for their child: The diagnosis does not change the individual.

Your child is still the unique, beautiful individual they always were. Only now, they also have a word that describes their brain, which can come with a whole lot of feelings for parents: confusion, overwhelm, sadness, and maybe even relief that you finally have a diagnosis that will help you get the help your child needs. It’s a lot.

As the number of children diagnosed with autism rises, chances are good you know someone who is parenting a neurodiverse child. Here are some ways you can support parents and caregivers of autistic children, and tips on how to handle some common situations.

Hello fellow parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Welcome to a place where we can talk openly and honestly about what it’s like to parent our children. If you’re like me, you could use a place like this.

Families, like their members, change over time, and neurodiverse families like yours and mine are no different.

I grew up with my brother, Mikey, who has Down syndrome. We’re close in age, and his care has always been a part of my life, but as our parents got older, my role shifted from sibling to a primary caretaker. When my father passed away in October of 2021, Mikey came to live with me for the next few months. My role changed from playful sibling to supportive caregiver in real time.

I have a secret I don’t often say out loud, but I’m going to name it here. I feel totally overwhelmed…so much of the time.

The night my oldest child was born, she came out screaming…and didn’t stop. She screamed the entire night, so much so doctors and nurses were coming through to check she was alright. The only thing that pacified her even a little bit was a double-swaddle but she broke out of it within minutes, so round and round we went.