Activities for an young autistic person who isn’t sure what to do

I’m just looking online for some ideas and thought I’d ask everyone on here their thoughts - would love some help if you can.

My son is temporarily out of college - due to mental health issues he’s missed so much college that they’ve said he can’t return this year (I know - not very helpful of them!).

Anyway he now has lots of spare time on his hands but due to feeling so depressed he’s struggling to come up with things he wants to do, and if I or his dad suggests things he’s never very positive. I quite understand this as depression takes away your motivation - so I understand how he feels. However I also feel that staying in bed a lot and just watching tv and using an iPad is probably not helping his depression either. We do go out for really nice walks in the countryside and that does help a bit, but I feel he needs some kind of hobbie type thing that can really engage him, and hopefully give him some sense of achievement. He doesn’t have any friends sadly - due to his autism and selective mutism in school/college severely restricting his ability to make friends. He’s a wonderfully kind, intelligent young man with a great sense of humour - and he wants to have friends and a ‘normal’ life. But at the moment he is very depressed and feeling quite hopeless about the future. I feel he needs something to really engage him, something he can do. Does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone been in a similar position? What helped you? He feels very listless at the moment. 
so if anyone can offer any helpful ideas of comments I’d really appreciate it!

thanks 

Parents
  • In my experience it is difficult finding other things my son enjoys which are home based. Personally I find projects where there is an outcome which gives a sense of achievement. Would he be interested in making up a kit? Either the traditional type or wooden one. The other suggestion is growing things either in a garden or pots. I have seen some interesting projects on Gardeners World by people who have small indoor or outdoor spaces. Quite a few of these have been done by young men.

    Hope he is able to find something to help. It is hard when depressed.

Reply
  • In my experience it is difficult finding other things my son enjoys which are home based. Personally I find projects where there is an outcome which gives a sense of achievement. Would he be interested in making up a kit? Either the traditional type or wooden one. The other suggestion is growing things either in a garden or pots. I have seen some interesting projects on Gardeners World by people who have small indoor or outdoor spaces. Quite a few of these have been done by young men.

    Hope he is able to find something to help. It is hard when depressed.

Children
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