Georgia has SO MANY places to go apple picking in the fall. Ellijay, Georgia is known for its orchards and most of these places are family and kid friendly offering petting zoos and pick your own apples. This is a fantastic way to expose your child to all sorts of sensory stimulation while making this super fun! For the most part, apple picking would be wheelchair accessible, and depending on how tall the trees are your child should be able to pick their pwn apples right from the tree. With this, you’re getting some fine motor grasping and pulling the apples requires motor control and strength while placing them into a basket would be replicating a “put in” activity they may be working on in therapy. For children who are visually impaired have them feel the apple with hand over hand help and verbally describe the look and feel of the apple, and let them taste and smell it.
Most orchards have a petting zoo of some sort. Assist your child with touching and feeling the different textures of the animals while taking in the sounds and even the smells to help make this true sensory experience. A lot of children who become overwhelmed easily do well with animals and become calm in their presence.
With the apples you bring home you can do apple painting by cutting an apple in half and using it as a stamp to paint.
You can make apple pie or applesauce for our kiddos on a specific diet or specific food consistency. Let them help you as much as possible mixing ingredients, following directions, and tast testing.