Tag: Arizona

5 Sensory-Friendly Activities in Avondale, Arizona 

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Finding activities that work for kids on the autism spectrum can be tough. Loud noises, bright lights, and crowded spaces can sometimes turn a fun outing into a stressful one.  

That’s why sensory-friendly activities matter. These experiences can create calmer environments, making it easier for children with sensory sensitivities to enjoy themselves. 

Many businesses and community spaces in the Avondale area now offer sensory-friendly areas with lower sound levels, dimmed lights, and reduced crowds. These changes can make a big difference for families looking for inclusive activities.  

If you’re in Avondale, or nearby, here are five sensory-friendly places that your family might love. 

1. Sensory-Friendly Hour at Avondale Civic Center Library 

The Avondale Civic Center Library hosts a Sensory Friendly Hour designed for kids who need a quieter, low-stimulation setting. The library lowers noise levels and limits distractions, giving families a calm space to explore books and participate in Storytime. It’s a great way for kids to engage in reading without feeling overwhelmed. Space is limited, so check the schedule and register in advance. 

Tip for Families: Bring headphones or a favorite comfort item to help your child feel even more at ease. 

2. Sensory Hours at Sky Zone Trampoline Park 

Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Phoenix offers Sensory Hours, where the music is turned down, and flashing lights are eliminated. Kids can enjoy bouncing and playing in an area designed specifically for those with sensory sensitivities. Call ahead to confirm the schedule. 

Tip for Families: Dress your child in comfortable clothes and bring water to keep them hydrated. Arriving early can help ease transitions. 

3. Sensory-Friendly Screenings at Harkins Theatres 

Going to the movies can be tough for kids with sensory sensitivities. Harkins Theatres has two area locations. They have Sensory Friendly Screenings once a month, with the volume turned down and lights left dim instead of completely dark. Kids are free to move around, talk, and enjoy the film in a judgment-free space. These screenings usually happen on the first Saturday of the month. 

Tip for Families: Bring noise-canceling headphones if your child is sensitive to sound, and check the theater’s website for movie schedules. 

4. Sensory-Friendly Play at Urban Air Adventure Park 

Urban Air Adventure Park, about 5 miles from Avondale in Goodyear, hosts Sensory Friendly Play, a dedicated time when the park lowers music and reduces bright lighting to create a calmer atmosphere. Kids can enjoy trampolines, climbing walls, and play structures without the usual overwhelming stimuli. It’s a fun and active way for kids to burn off energy in a space designed with their needs in mind. 

Tip for Families: Call ahead to ask about crowd levels and bring snacks or a sensory-friendly fidget toy to help with transitions. 

5. Sensory-Friendly Adventures at Arizona Science Center 

The Arizona Science Center in Phoenix offers a “Pal Place” sensory-friendly experience for guests who need extra support. They have a dedicated sensory room where kids can take a break if needed. The museum also hosts sensory-friendly hours where noise levels and lighting are adjusted for a more comfortable visit. It’s a great place for kids to explore and learn in a way that works for them. 

Tip for Families: Visit during sensory-friendly hours for a calmer experience, and bring sunglasses or a hat in case of bright exhibits. 

Creating a More Inclusive Community 

Finding sensory-friendly activities can make all the difference when planning family outings. These five places near Avondale offer welcoming spaces where kids with sensory sensitivities can feel comfortable and included. 

Whether it’s bouncing at a trampoline park, watching a movie, or exploring a museum, these experiences allow children to have fun in a way that works for them. 

Check out our LEARN Behavioral blog on 5 simple play ideas for more sensory-friendly ideas. 

Looking for additional support for your child in Avondale, AZ? At AST, we use science and data to deliver contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, tailored exclusively to your child’s unique needs, behavior, and personality. Learn more about our services in the Avondale area and contact us today! 

Total Spectrum Opens New Learning Center in Portage, MI

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We’re proud to announce the expansion of our services in Michigan with the opening of a new Total Spectrum Learning Center in Portage this past March. This center is a testament to our commitment to providing children with autism the resources and support they need to develop essential life skills in a nurturing, group environment. Our mission is to empower children with autism and other special needs to achieve success in school and life, and we’re dedicated to providing contemporary and compassionate applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to help them achieve their goals.

The Total Spectrum Learning Center in Portage is designed to offer a learning-rich atmosphere that caters to the unique needs of each child. Our center-based services are complemented by home and community-based services that offer flexible scheduling options. We understand that every child has individualized needs and aspirations, and we’re committed to providing a comprehensive range of services that cater to those needs.

To celebrate the opening of our new facility, we hosted an open house where families were invited to tour our state-of-the-art facility, engage with our leadership team, and participate in a range of fun, spring-themed activities. It was a joyous occasion that brought the autism community in Portage and throughout Michigan together. The event was topped off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was organized in collaboration with the Southwest Michigan First Chamber of Commerce.

Our dedication to serving the autism community is unwavering, and we’re proud to have served children with autism for over a decade. Our commitment to the well-being of our clients has allowed us to emerge as one of the leading providers of ABA therapy in the country. We take immense pride in our work and are committed to continuing to provide the highest quality of care to our clients.

If you’re interested in learning more about our services or finding a Total Spectrum location near you, please visit our website. We look forward to continuing to serve the autism community in Portage, throughout Michigan, and across the Midwest.

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) Opens New Learning Center in Chandler, AZ

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We’re thrilled to announce our Arizona services expanded this March, as we opened a new AST Learning Center in Chandler. This newest center, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities, held an open house where families were invited to tour the facility, converse with our leadership team, and take part in a range of fun, spring-themed activities. The event was topped off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was organized in collaboration with the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.

At AST, we’re committed to providing children with autism the support and resources they need to develop essential life skills in a nurturing, group environment. Our latest facility in Chandler is no exception. The center is designed to offer a learning-rich atmosphere that caters to the unique needs of every child. Our comprehensive range of center-based services is complemented by home and community-based services that offer flexible scheduling options.

We take immense pride in serving the autism community in Chandler, throughout Arizona, and across our seven other states. Our mission is to empower children with autism and other special needs to achieve success in school and life. We understand that every child has individualized needs and aspirations, and we’re committed to providing compassionate and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to help them achieve their goals.

We’re honored to have served children with autism for over two decades. Our unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our clients has allowed us to emerge as one of the leading providers of ABA therapy in the country. If you want to learn more about our services or find an AST location near you, click here.

How to Plan for the Upcoming School Breaks

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In Tucson, Arizona many of our kids are heading into their Fall Break.  Your child’s breaks may come at different seasons and times of year. School breaks offer opportunities and challenges for all parents and children. These breaks can cause disruption in family routines and increase in down time for the child, which may result in low levels of motivation and higher levels of anxiety and stress. For parents of children with special needs, these may seem magnified. Below are some helpful tips to consider when planning for your child’s upcoming school breaks.

 

Keep Similar Routines
This may be easier said then done however, keeping your wake-up and bed-times similar and filling the day hours with activities will provide your child a predictable, structured environment, a sense of stability, and decreased stress. By reducing the amount of unstructured free time, your child will be less restless and bored. Don’t forget to include the homework routine as you have worked so hard to develop and maintain this prior to the break!  It is still important for children to practice academic skills even though school in not in session.

Keep Busy
Find educational, recreational and social activities to engage in daily. This will limit the amount of time your child is at home watching TV, texting, or playing video games. Ideally, an outside activity such as playing ball, going for a walk or participating in a team sport would be on the schedule daily. Even if your child doesn’t play a sport, any exercise activity has obvious health benefits, and increased physical activity helps reduce repetitive behaviors and improve sleep. Some resources to find community activities are your local Parks and Recreation Department, newspaper, and libraries. Some examples of home activities are board games, arts and crafts, academic tasks, meal preparation, outside games and reading.

Have a Daily Visual Schedule
The whole idea of a school break may be confusing for younger children since they are still developing the concept of time. School breaks also challenge the typical Monday-through-Friday predictable morning, school and after school routines. Utilizing a visual schedule will help your child understand the “what, when, where and why” of their day. It is also important to involve them by letting them choose what activities they would like to do. You can also have them cross off completed activities as well as the days so they can see how many days are left until school starts.

Read to your child
Children are exposed to literacy concepts many times throughout their school day. Continuing to expose them to books while they are home will only increase their language development, listening, and comprehension skills. Reading to your child also stimulates their imagination and facilitates a positive interaction where they receive one-on-one attention from the parent. Research recommends that parents set a side a scheduled time each day to read to their child (Raisingreaders.net).

Limit electronics
Allowing a child unlimited access to TV and computer can lead to childhood obesity, lethargy, difficulty in school, and insomnia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be limited to 1 to 2 two hours of educational programming daily. Here are some ways to limit your child’s access to electronics: First, keep them out of reach and out of your child’s bedroom. Have your child earn their time with electronics upon completion of other activities. Specifically allocate times within the day that are appropriate for your child to have access to electronics.

Work on Social Skills
This is the biggest opportunity provided by school breaks. Integrating social opportunities within your child’s day can take many forms such as homework assignments, board games, community activities, sports, and play dates. Some parents forget that activities like swim lessons, apple picking, and vacation trips can all be valuable new settings to prompt the use of social skills.

 

Hey Tucson families! Here are some additional resources to help make your season great for the whole family:

 

– Lindsay Abbott, MA, BCBA, LBA