🍁 Fall Tips for Children with Autism: Practical Tips for Navigating Seasonal Changes with Confidence🍁
Written by Behavior Frontiers as Part of Their Bright Futures Series
As the air gets crisp and school routines kick into gear, fall can bring both exciting moments and big transitions for families of children with autism. The change in weather, light, activities, and structure can feel overwhelming without the right tools—and that's where this guide comes in.
Below, you’ll find simple strategies to help your child feel supported, regulated, and ready to embrace all the wonder this season has to offer.
1. Help Your Child Adjust to New Sensory Experiences
Fall brings all kinds of new sensations: heavier clothes, crunchy leaves, cold air, and strong smells like cinnamon or pumpkin. These can be fun, but also surprising or uncomfortable for kids with sensory sensitivities.
Try this:
Practice wearing jackets, long sleeves, or boots indoors in short bursts.
Use soft base layers underneath to reduce scratchiness.
Let your child explore leaves, pinecones, or acorns in a sensory bin before outdoor play.
For example, if your child is hesitant about layering up, try introducing new clothing gradually and during moments of comfort. For instance, you could start by having them wear their new hoodie inside the house while doing something they enjoy.
You might say: “It’s getting cooler, so we’re going to try wearing your new hoodie inside for five minutes. We’ll put your favorite show on while we try!”
Pairing a sensory shift with something predictable and positive—like watching a familiar show—can help build comfort and confidence over time.
2. Prepare for Back-to-School Routine Changes
New teachers, classrooms, and routines can feel like a major shift. We recently shared a full Back-to-School Tips for Children with Autism blog post with even more ideas, but here are a few core strategies to help your child ease into the school year.
Gradually adjust sleep and meal routines ahead of time
Create a visual schedule of their day using icons or photos
Practice mock school morning routines before school starts
Ask the school for a photo of the classroom, teacher, or aide ahead of time. If allowed, ask the teacher for a virtual meet prior to school start
If allowed, visit the school 2–4 weeks before the first day to walk the halls, see the classroom, and explore key spaces your child will frequent, like the bathroom, cafeteria, and playground
Practice drop-off routines (e.g., driving the route or walking to the school entrance)
For example, to preview the school day, you might create a picture chart showing their backpack, the school bus, their lunchbox, and teacher. Reviewing this together in the morning can help reinforce a sense of safety.
You could say: “First we’ll pack your backpack, then the car ride, then your teacher Ms. Kelly. After lunch time, I’ll be there to pick you up!”
These small steps, paired with consistency, visual tools, and warm conversations—can help reduce uncertainty and make the back-to-school transition feel more familiar and manageable.
3. Ease Into Shorter Days and Light Changes
As the days get shorter and daylight-saving time ends, your child may notice it's darker earlier than usual. This sudden shift can disrupt their internal clock and affect sleep, energy, and mood—especially for kids who rely on predictable routines.
Try this:
Use a sunrise clock or wake-up light to simulate natural morning light
Turn on warm, ambient lighting in the late afternoon to ease into nighttime
Stick to consistent wake-up and bedtime routines, even on weekends
Try calming wind-down rituals like story time, breathing exercises, or soft music
Use a bedtime visual schedule to show what to expect each night
Add blackout curtains or white noise if sensory sensitivities affect sleep
If your child is thrown off by how early it gets dark, adding cozy lights and predictable bedtime routines can help. Try turning on a favorite lamp as the sun sets.
You might say: "The sun is going down a little earlier now. That’s okay—we can turn on our cozy lamp and read a bedtime story."
4. Rethink Halloween with Flexibility
Halloween can be full of excitement, from costumes, candy, to fun decorations. However, it can also heighten unpredictability for children with autism. Loud noises, unexpected visitors, and sensory-heavy activities may feel overwhelming for children with autism. The key is to adapt the celebration in ways that feel fun and safe for your child.
Try this:
Let your child choose their level of participation—or skip Halloween altogether if they prefer. There’s no “right” way to celebrate and opting out is perfectly okay.
Offer sensory-friendly costume options like character T-shirts, soft capes, or comfortable PJs
Practice trick-or-treating at home before the big day (e.g., knock on bedroom doors and offer treats)
If preferred, celebrate at home with a pumpkin painting station, candy scavenger hunt, or themed movie night
Prepare neighbors ahead of time or use nonverbal trick-or-treat cards to help communicate your child’s needs
If your child opts to stay in, you can still make the night special with decorations, music, or handing out candy. Giving them choice over how to participate empowers them to feel safe and in control.
You might say something like: "Some kids go trick-or-treating, and some stay home and give out candy. You get to decide what feels best for you."
5. Introduce Fall Foods Without Pressure
Seasonal foods like pumpkin, squash, and spiced treats are everywhere in fall—but for children with sensory sensitivities, unfamiliar flavors, smells, or textures can be challenging. Instead of pushing, aim to create a relaxed, curiosity-driven atmosphere around food.
Try this:
Offer new foods alongside familiar favorites without pressure to taste
Let your child smell, touch, or help prepare fall foods before eating them
Create a “try it” station where your child can explore textures with fingers or utensils
Try fun twists on seasonal classics—like apple slices with cinnamon and nut butter or pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips
Use visual aids like “food explorers” charts or sticker rewards for interacting with new items (not just eating them)
If your child is curious but hesitant, let them explore at their own pace. Making food prep part of a shared activity rather than a task can help reduce pressure and build familiarity.
You might say: "This is pumpkin bread. You don’t have to eat it. Want to smell it or help stir the next batch?"
6. Tackle Clothing Transitions with Choice and Comfort
Fall often means switching to bulkier, layered clothing—jackets, jeans, socks—which may feel scratchy, stiff, or tight to a sensory-sensitive child. Making these changes gradually and offering choices can reduce discomfort and resistance.
Try this:
Let your child choose between two clothing options to give them a sense of control
Use soft, stretchy, or tag-free fabrics as base layers under heavier clothes
Practice wearing new fall items indoors for a short amount of time during preferred and familiar activities
Wash new clothes several times or remove tags before introducing them
Consider adaptive clothing brands with sensory-friendly designs and closures
For example, let your child wear a hoodie or boots at home while playing their favorite game or watching a show. Connecting the new texture to something they enjoy helps it feel less foreign.
You might say: "Want to wear your soft hoodie while we play your favorite game?"
7. Plan Fall Activities That Fit Your Child’s Interests
Autumn offers rich learning opportunities—changing leaves, cool weather, new textures—but not every seasonal activity works for every child. Choose sensory experiences that align with your child’s preferences and skip anything that feels overwhelming.
Try this:
Go on a nature walk and collect leaves, acorns, or pinecones—then sort by color or size
Create a fall-themed sensory bin with dried corn, mini pumpkins, scoops, and toy animals
Try simple science activities like “Will the pumpkin float?” or apple taste tests
Involve your child in decorating your space with window clings or garlands they help make, like cut out paper leaves in fall colors strung together!
Make it visual—use a “Fall Fun” board with pictures of activities to choose from
Activities don’t need to be long or elaborate—just meaningful. Tuning into your child’s interests helps you create sensory experiences they’ll actually enjoy.
You might say: "Let’s scoop the acorns into the truck. Want to find a yellow leaf too?"
8. Create Cozy, Predictable Home Routines
As daylight fades and outdoor time becomes limited, building cozy routines indoors can help maintain structure and calm. Familiar sequences reduce the uncertainty that seasonal changes may bring.
Try this:
Set up a cozy sensory space with bean bags, dim lighting, favorite books, or fidgets
Use a visual daily schedule for after-school and evening routines
Include movement breaks like yoga stretches, hallway races, or a mini trampoline
Incorporate shared rituals—like a favorite show after a snack, or reading together before bed
Make transitions easier by giving verbal countdowns or using timers with lights or sounds
Keeping a consistent flow each afternoon and evening can help your child feel grounded—even as everything outside starts to shift.
You might say: "After snack, it’s time for your show. Then we check the next thing on your board!"
9. Support Communication About Change
Whether it’s a new teacher, colder mornings, or early sunsets, fall brings lots of transitions. Supporting your child’s ability to express what they’re feeling—and helping them understand what’s coming—can ease anxiety and boost confidence.
Try this:
Use visuals or first/then boards to preview changes
Offer emotion cards or mood meters to help identify feelings
Practice role-playing or social stories for upcoming events (like Halloween, fire drills, or weather changes)
Model self-talk out loud: “I’m feeling chilly today. I think I’ll grab my scarf!”
Celebrate small expressions of communication—spoken, signed, pointed, or drawn
If your child is unsure how to describe what they’re feeling, give them tools to show it. Communication doesn’t need to be verbal to be meaningful.
You might say: "It’s okay to feel unsure when things change. Want to show me how you feel on your chart?"
10. Make the Season Fun with Fall-Themed Activities
Beyond routines and transitions, fall can also be a wonderful time to explore your child’s interests through sensory-friendly, low-pressure activities. These moments don’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful—they just need to feel safe, enjoyable, and aligned with what your child loves.
Try this:
Follow your child’s lead and choose a few seasonal activities that match their sensory preferences
Offer flexible, no-pressure ways to engage—whether that’s outside with leaves or inside with cozy textures and soft lighting
Skip anything that doesn’t feel right—there’s no “right” way to do fall fun!
Here are a few favorite sensory-friendly ideas to try:
Leaf Scooping + Sorting – Collect colorful leaves on a walk, then sort them by color, shape, or size at home.
Create a Pumpkin Washing Station – Fill a tub with water and soap. Let your child scrub mini pumpkins with sponges for calming sensory play.
Make a Fall Sensory Bin – Fill with corn, leaves, acorns, and scoops for tactile, open-ended fun.
Decorate Pumpkins Without Carving – Use stickers, paint, or pom-poms to create fun pumpkin art.
Go on a Glow Walk at Sunset – Explore the dark safely with flashlights and glow sticks as the light fades.
Fall Window Clings – Use fall-themed window clings to decorate windows with pumpkins, apples, or fall leaves.
Backyard Autumn Obstacle Course – Jump over leaf piles, roll pumpkins, or crawl through pop-up tunnels or blanket forts.
Have a Cozy Fall Movie Picnic – Watch a seasonal movie in a blanket fort with snacks and soft lighting.
Set Up a Fall Food Tasting Corner – Offer small bites of apples, pumpkin bread, or cinnamon snacks—no pressure to try!
Helping Your Family Thrive This Fall
You don’t have to prepare for every change all at once. Just choosing one or two small strategies can go a long way in helping your child feel safe, supported, and confident this season.
From layering up to adjusting routines and exploring new experiences, fall is a chance to slow down, tune into your child’s needs, and build meaningful family moments—one cozy, connected day at a time.
With gentle planning and a flexible mindset, you can create a fall season that works beautifully for your child—and your whole family.
Need extra support this fall and beyond?
Our ABA therapy programs are personalized to your child’s unique needs and strengths. Whether in one of our welcoming centers (up to age 6) or in-home (up to age 25), we’re here to help your child thrive—season after season. Get in touch today by calling us at 888-922-2843 or by filling out the form below.