The Florida Children’s Museum is an inclusive space for all children. As a family planning a visit with children with autism, we know there are some unique considerations when planning a day out. Children with autism have unique challenges when visiting public places like museums, but you’ll soon see how much they love spending time exploring our museum. Keep reading as we share our top tips for planning a successful museum visit with a child on the autism spectrum.
Before the Visit: Prepare Together
A successful day out starts before you even enter the Florida Children’s Museum with a bit of pre-planning. Before your visit, talk to your child about the visit and what they can expect so they don’t feel too overwhelmed upon arrival. Use social stories, photos from the museum’s website, or YouTube videos to preview the experience and give them a good idea of what to expect when they first step inside. From there, you can create a visual schedule for your time at the museum. This schedule will help your child to know exactly what to expect with a step-by-step plan for your day out. Call before your arrival if you have any questions or want to speak to the museum staff about special accommodations during your visit.
Sensory Considerations
Before your visit, you’ll want to review the museum map to find the quiet areas to retreat to if you need some time out and an area of calm and low stimulation. At the Florida Children’s Museum, we partner with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida. Our Social Story is an excellent tool to help you plan your visit. We encourage you to check out a Sensory Kit to use during your visit, which you can request at the front desk when purchasing a ticket. The kit includes noise-reducing headphones, a handheld fidget toy, and sunglasses.
If your child is used to using their headphones or sunglasses, you should pack these instead. We also encourage you to check out our events calendar ahead of time, as you may find events throughout the year that will interest your child. Our daily program schedule is available online to help you plan your day.
Tips During the Visit
Our top tip to make your day out to the Florida Children’s Museum with a child on the autism spectrum is to let your child set the pace. Respect their interest levels and let them explore freely without forcing them to engage in activities they don’t seem interested in on that day. Have a plan in mind to take regular breaks throughout the day, step outside for fresh air, or visit the designated quiet area if they feel overwhelmed. Throughout your visit, celebrate small wins and remember that every successful step or exhibit is worth acknowledging. Don’t expect to see every exhibit on your first visit, and remember that you can always come back in the future to try to see other exhibits you missed this time.
After the Visit: Reflect and Revisit
The experience of visiting a museum doesn’t end the minute you leave. When you get home and in the days following your visit, talk to your child about what they liked and enjoyed doing at the museum. Encourage discussion as a family about the favorite parts of your day out and what they’d like to see if you visit again shortly. This feedback can help you prepare for your next Florida Children’s Museum visit. You’ll be able to adjust your approach to the day out based on what worked well to make every future visit even more enjoyable for your family.
Museum Resources for Families
The Florida Children’s Museum creates memories for families by supporting them with resources to help them make the most of their time at our museum. Sensory maps help highlight the areas of the museum that your child may or may not enjoy spending time in, allowing you to plan your time at the museum well. Our staff are well-trained on neurodiversity and will be able to answer your questions about the museum upon arrival and during your visit. We can recommend areas of the museum your child might particularly enjoy based on basic information you can share about them. Our Sensory Kits are also available at the front desk, so don’t hesitate to ask for one when you arrive and purchase your tickets if you think this will enhance your visit.
Our team strives to provide the Florida Children’s Museum with an excellent experience for every family that enters our doors. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for our visitors, and our team will do all we can to help you make the most of your time with us. After your visit, we encourage you to share your tips or experiences on social media to help other families with children on the autism spectrum learn from your experiences. You’ll find plenty of families with similar questions to yours planning a visit, and they’ll appreciate learning from your time there.
By following the ideas we’ve shared here today, we hope these practical tips will help parents and caregivers plan a successful museum visit with a child on the autism spectrum. By taking a little time to prepare at home and then interacting with and enjoying our sensory-friendly features during their trip, you’ll have a memorable day for the whole family. Are you planning a visit to the Florida Children’s Museum with your child on the autism spectrum? We’re here to help make your experience stress-free and full of joy! Contact us today with any questions about your visit and how we can help you plan your day at our museum.