This post is written with neurodivergent littles and adults in mind, but these suggestions are for everyone! If you’re looking for in-home, budget-friendly entertainment ideas, this article is for you friend!

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So if you’re new here, welcome! Some things you need to know: I have a son with autism. He also has ADHD and both conditions together make for a super energetic, strong, and easily bored child. My husband and I try our best to limit screen time (though I tend to be more lenient than he, but don’t tell him I said that) for both of our young kids. But if you have a chid with autism, you know that it’s almost torture (for all parties) for an ASD/ADHD child to be without some sort of stimulation.

I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband takes our only car to work everyday. Ride shares are super expensive and we live in a suburb that doesn’t really have any fun places for families to go, aside from parks. Parks and other open outside spaces are fun, but provide very high safety risks for my eloping son (who is basically Sonic the Hedgehog in terms of speed). So needless to say, finding things to do at home that are fun for everyone is definitely the top option for our situation.

Through some trial and error, we’ve discovered some budget-friendly ways to help keep our little Energizer Bunny entertained, even if just for 10 minutes.

Bubbles!

What kid doesn’t like bubbles? When the weather’s nice, we like to spend mornings outside running around and popping bubbles. My husband and son actually like trying to blow super huge bubbles, aiming to beat each of the their previous bubbles’ size. My daughter and I like hunting them down and popping them. The perfect symbiotic relationship 🙂

If you’re no stranger to bubbles, then you know that all bubble soaps are not created equally. You want that ideal combo between soapy and watery. You don’t want anything too soapy because then they’ll be way too hard to blow; but too watery means the bubbles pop almost instantly. The perfect combo gives you sturdier bubbles while also giving you a solid quantity per blow. Hey, I’m no bubbl-ologist — I’m just sharing the strategy.

Also, I saw some folks on the innanet saying to mix sugar into the bubble soap to get bigger and better bubbles? Can’t confirm because I don’t like inviting ants onto my patio, but feel free to try and let me know in the comments how it works for ya!

Some Good Markers

Our little autie his little sister are both quite artsy! We’ve found that a top-tier activity in our household is just good ‘ole drawing and coloring. My son’s special interest is Mickey Mouse, specifically Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He could spend all day drawing the Clubhouse and the Sensational 6!

When we first introduced him to drawing, we started him our with markers. We tried the classic crayons first. But we quickly found that those wouldn’t work best for our child. He would eat the crayons, so we had to dead that pretty quickly. Then we tried colored pencils, but those were too easily broken because he would press down super hard and break the tips. So we tried some retractable crayons that were nice to use, but weren’t nearly as vibrant. Regular markers were working well for a while, but we grew tired of having to replace them each month or so because they kept drying out.

But then we found some amazing markers that we’ll soon be offering at The Shop by ‘Tism Things! Why were these awesome enough to add to our inventory? Let me break it down:

• They are guaranteed to work uncapped for 7+ days! The package says it and I’m here to confirm that this is true. For sure.
• The colors are vibrant and accurate, even after being left uncapped!
• The markers write and draw smoothy
• No overwhelming smells — perfect for sensitive noses
• Mess-free, washable ink — perfect for busy artists (and mess-concerned parents); washes easily off of skin and non-porous surfaces. Throw fabrics into the wash and the ink comes right out!

Sign up for emails and you’ll be the first to know when we have them available for purchase!

Trampoline

Are they slightly dangerous? Yes. Are they also perfect for a child who needs to jump 22 of the 24 available hours in a day? Also yes.

We were actually given this awesome trampoline by our cousin. The best part is that it’s only a foot up from the ground — that way, if the kids fall off, they only fall roughly a foot down to the ground versus that super dangerous 3-4 foot drop experienced with a traditional trampoline. It’s also only 3 feet wide, which means one jumping kid at a time, but hey, tradeoffs in the name of safety.

Our son’s trampoline also features super stretchy fabric “springs” in place of actual metal springs. No pinched fingers or toes here! Plus, ours also has a padded detachable handle, perfect for jumpers to hold on to and safely jump.

There are several affordable ones on Amazon. Another more budget-friendly (and environmentally-friendly) option is to shop for gently used ones on Facebook Marketplace. People all over the place are trying to get rid of trampolines because their kids just aren’t interested in them anymore and because trampolines aren’t exactly the easiest things to store, they’re willing to let ’em go for cheap. If you can tote it home, their loss is your gain!

Down the line, we hope to get a bigger trampoline with mesh walls and bury it in the ground. Of course that requires a much more in-depth operation to ensure that no critters can build their home under the trampoline pit — BUT, it also means a lower drop to the ground without the drop in fun. Still working out the logistics for our yard, but I can’t wait until we can make it happen. Honestly, my husband and I will probably be out there jumping more than the kids 🙂

Fidget Toys Galore!

So. Many. Fidget toys!

But they’re so helpful! If you have someone who constantly feels the urge to move around or is almost always stimming. Remember, stimming doesn’t always have to look like humming, biting nails, or foot tapping. It can also look like face picking, nail picking, bouncing, swaying, or hair pulling.

While those are fine to do when unmasked and in private, they can be a bit awkward and bring about negative comments or looks from others. A safe way discreetly to stim is by using a fidget toy.

Fidget toys have been around for a while. Many know about the iconic fidget spinner, but there are soooo many new ones out now that appeal to the general masses.

My husband absolutely loves the classic Rubik’s cube. He’s actually got a couple of variations; one’s for relaxation and the other’s for speed. He’s been wearing those two cubes out and has even gotten the people in his office super interested in trying them out too. People actually drop by his office just to grab his cube and try to solve a side. Wild to think about!

He also loves the fidget dodecagon. Something about the switches and silicone pulleys that are super fun. There are also some knobs and click rollers that are just *chef’s kiss.*

Our kids like playing with the Nee-Dho squishy cube. Frankly, so do I. You can stretch it into different shapes and no matter what, it’ll always slowly shrink back to its original cube shape. It’s relaxing to watch and play with.

Those are just a few of our faves. We’ll have these toys and more at The Shop by ‘Tism Things. And don’t forget to grab our sensory toy pouch while you’re at it!

Blocks

So in this article, “blocks” is kind of an umbrella term. When I say blocks, I’m talking about all things that can be temporarily stacked, connected, or clicked together to build something. So like Lego, Picasso Tiles, K’Nex, that kinda stuff.

As a child, my cousin got me hooked on K’Nex. I was building any and everything, from houses to working roller coasters to RC cars. They make kits for building specific things, but my dad and I would put our minds together and freestyle some of the awesomest stuff. While I wouldn’t recommend K’Nex to a young child, I’d definitely recommend them bigger kids and adults who want to do something out of the ordinary, but super fun.

Of course, Lego is a fantastic alternative. The plastic blocks allow for something like an 8-Bit experience with their chunky designs. Then there are smaller blocks for more experiences builders and large blocks for smaller children; be mindful that even though the majority of the blocks themselves are great for toddler and small children, there are very small accessory pieces that can become a choking hazard. Be mindful if you have small children or builders who tend to put pieces in their mouths.

Lego also makes specialized pieces that are usually found in kits but are also available for purchase online. And another cool thing about Lego is the Lego Mindstorm line where builders become engineers by creating and programming robots! These are perfect for those interested in the logistics behind things. Those constantly breaking things apart to figure out how they work. Those always looking for ways to improve an object’s functionality. When these devices are paired with its accompanying software, the possibilities are endless.

Picasso Tiles are pricier, but can provide hours of fun. Even a starter kit alone allows for so many building possibilities. I’d suggest buying the starter kit and adding on with other specialty kits over time to get some super cool pieces like ramps/slides, holes, even tubes!

All of these name brand options have more budget-friendly third-party dupes available on Amazon and other sites. Well, except for the Lego Mindstorm. I’m sure there are alternatives, but I feel like anything like that is going to be a pricy venture. But the elements are fairly easy to buy in waves, so I’d suggest getting stuff when you can if you or someone you know is really serious about engineering and programming. Lego Mindstorm is a wonderful first step.

Another good option for sourcing budget-friendly blocks is Ebay. There are all kinds of sellers offering both new and gently used kits and pieces. Just be sure to do a price check if purchasing from an individual seller to ensure that you’re not over-paying for stuff. Sellers occasionally over-charge because of their own sentimental connection to items that they’re not quite ready to sell.

Those are some of the items we’ve found help keep our household entertained and stimulated. What are your experiences with these toys? Let us know below!

And as always, please remember: I’m proud of you. Keep going. You’ve got this!

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About the Author

Alexandra is the founder of the ‘Tism Things platform and owner of online business The Shop by ‘Tism Things. A proud stay-at-home wife and mama to two amazing, smart, and empowered littles, Alexandra frequently spends her time learning about autism and ADHD, its effects on families and caregivers, and ways to support individuals with either or both conditions. Driven by her son and husband’s autism and ADHD diagnoses, Alexandra prides herself on employing creative methods to adapt her household into one that welcomes people of all neurological types, aiming to foster a sense of inclusivity, understanding and acceptance among anyone’s path she crosses.

When she’s not in a ’tism rabbit hole on the internet or playing with her babies, she’s likely out shopping, cooking something yummy, helping out her grandparents, or out in the garden trying to keep her plants alive in this Georgia heat. Honestly, probably that last one.