What is a perfect vacation for a 9 year old boy with autism?

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JonAZ
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04 Apr 2012, 8:33 pm

My 9 year old son loves school more than most anything else. Some kids like Nintendo, movies, television, and sports. My kids wants to go to summer school. Given the choice of Disneyland or summer school, Disneyland is not even a close option. He will attend summer school because it is so important to him. Still, is there a vacation activity that you would recommend?

What type of vacation would you recommend for a 9 year old boy with strong autistic perception? 8) :?:


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btbnnyr
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04 Apr 2012, 8:50 pm

Summer School!

Just kidding. Somewhere natural, mayhap. Natural wonders. National Park. Nature with lots of sensory delights for strong autistic perception without lots of hooomans and hoooman clutter like theme parks or cities.

Actually, I just recommend my perfect vacation, but maybe your son will like it too.



Last edited by btbnnyr on 04 Apr 2012, 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

dancing_penguin
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04 Apr 2012, 8:51 pm

Museums can be a good choice because they are very educational.


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Titangeek
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04 Apr 2012, 9:15 pm

Home schooling?


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CockneyRebel
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04 Apr 2012, 9:21 pm

Camping would be a perfect vacation. He'd be surrounded by nature and there wouldn't be as much people as there are in the city.


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jedaustin
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04 Apr 2012, 10:25 pm

Involve his special interests somehow - for example I distinctly remember going to an 'exploratorium' when I was around 9 that was very enjoyable to me ( a science center with lots of neat experiments) and anything space related like Space Camp or one of the shuttle launch sites you can visit.



Callista
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04 Apr 2012, 10:31 pm

When I was his age, I would have loved going to a science museum. Actually, did love going to a science museum, except I didn't get to do it until I was fourteen. And I would have loved just having free run of the public library--my mom never seemed to take me often enough, though I suspect that I'd have thought that even if I got to go there every day!

He loves learning; so give him things to learn. There are lots of educational things out there. You don't have to make him do what the other kids like to do--this is his vacation.

But make sure as always that there are ways for him to cool down in a quiet place when he gets overstimulated. Just because you're having fun and it's fascinating, doesn't mean your brain can't still blue-screen on you. :)


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Alexender
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04 Apr 2012, 10:33 pm

Well don't know where you live, a science center?


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Tuttle
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04 Apr 2012, 10:38 pm

Away from people, away from touristy things, related to special interests.

Science museums are great :)



bergie
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04 Apr 2012, 11:12 pm

If money/location is not an issue, the Smithsonian Museums in DC were the highlight of my childhood.



Callista
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04 Apr 2012, 11:15 pm

Oh my gosh YES. Smithsonian Institution. It might be awfully crowded... but... oh, wow, I would have loved that. And it's not just a matter of spending a day there. There's way more than just one day's worth of stuff to learn.

I wonder if you could call ahead of time and ask what their off hours are, when they're less crowded so your autistic kid could have some elbow room.


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Last edited by Callista on 04 Apr 2012, 11:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Alexender
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04 Apr 2012, 11:15 pm

Callista wrote:
Oh my gosh YES. Smithsonian Institution. It might be awfully crowded... but... oh, wow, I would have loved that.


I went there and it was really cool


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bergie
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04 Apr 2012, 11:18 pm

For something closer to home:

http://www.azscience.org/



abacacus
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05 Apr 2012, 1:00 am

Somewhere where he can learn and be left to learn, if that is what he likes.


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Titangeek
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05 Apr 2012, 1:02 am

Library.


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05 Apr 2012, 5:40 am

how about a place where he can ride ponies, or with lots of dogs and cats running around? most aspies love animals.
what is his obsession, anyway? besides school, i mean. maybe his vacation could be connected to his love for... astronomy, cells biology, paper planes, whatever. if he's obssessed with seashells that could be real easy. you just take him to the seashore.
of he's obssesed with aliens Mars could be a nice vacation.


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