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

Kate Kestrel

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

  • Its a good idea if he does something productive, something that mimics a job and provide opportunities.  I don't know his abilities or focus levels, or what might appeal, so its difficult - might be an idea to set him a task to do, google for ideas of things to do or get into. Something might jump out at him that he wouldn't normally think of.  I was into electronics and computers growing up, that got me in to an apprenticeship in electronics because I was able to show I had interest and knowledge they needed.

    He has an iPad so you can do productive things with that like learning digital drawing/painting, photography, animation (stop animation can be good fun, or cartoons), online courses to learn about things, make music, make videos, put a website together.  He could put things like photos or videos on social media and that can help you connect with people.

    Many hobbies can be expensive and out of reach, so making the most of what you already have is best - and focus on affordable hobbies.  

    I went through school and college with social anxiety and selective mutism, I just did the learning and got through it - Chris Packham the autistic naturalist and TV presenter went through school and university that way, but his passion got him through and it led to a successful career.

    We are all different of course, but role models can help - if he goes online and reads and watches videos of autistic people around his age, that might encourage and motivate him, give him ideas.

    Creative hobbies are best, where you learn to do something and then get the reward of making progress and completing it.  You learn skills and build confidence that you can do things, and something to offer employers or self-employment if that is more appropriate.

  • in reply to Autimator

    Thanks Autimator - these are really helpful suggestions - thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really like your idea of Animation - I think that might really appeal to him. Do you know of any good apps or websites that would be a good place to start if he wanted to try this? All the suggestions you make could be helpful though - thank you. I will share these with him. 

    I’m sorry that you experienced Selective Mutism at school too - it really is such a difficult thing to have to cope with. It’s made life so difficult for my son - he has struggled with it throughout his whole education. It was so incredibly difficult to get good support for him with this. 
    We really like Chris Packham too - he’s a very inspiring person and has achieved so much. 

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    Found a great video about stop motion animation, different methods and styles, and examples.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ppedXZHhE0

    It may start as fun but if good at it videos can posted on social media and that can lead to social interaction, maybe friendships, you never know even a job.

    It was popular to build a lego scene and a smartphone or tablet to take photos and animate it, not sure if it still is.

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