Family Autism Night

Thursday, August 26th | 5 PM – 7:30 PM

Once a month, we host a special night for our neurodiverse community and their families! Children of all ages are invited to come play in an environment designed for our friends on the Autism spectrum. We’ll also have community partners and resources available,  like the Orange County Fire Authority, who are here to help guide us in safe summer play!  Plus, Kyo Autism Therapies, who engage children in play-based activities to help them meet their goals.

Specifically, for: Families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum; Pretend City will be closed to the public. Watch a video tour of our museum here. 

This special evening is an opportunity for children and their parents, siblings, and caretakers to have some fun in an autism-friendly environment along with other families: 

• Art Studio Sessions (5 PM – 7:30 PM): Join us in the Art Studio as we explore sensory-based art! Using a variety of sensory stimulating materials, head on into the art studio for a summer-inspired art experience.  
• Storytime (6:30 PM): It’s storytime! Gather round in Orange Plaza for an interactive storytime with our Fire Fighters as we discover how to play safe and this summer.  

Play Partners: Orange County Fire Authority, Kyo Autism Therapies, our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and child development educators, and grown-ups!

Grown-up Tip:  Some children on the autism spectrum may have difficulty comprehending or recognizing dangerous situations, which makes traffic and street safety a top teaching priority. Teach your child to stop upon reaching a curb. Create a simple nonverbal gesture or verbal queue such a “Stop, is it safe?” for your child. This will “pair” an action with a safe behavior and give you a moment to assess the traffic situation in order to keep your child safe. 

RSVP: Register HERE*; max 350 guests. 

*AN IMPORTANT NOTE: We have a reoccurring predicament that we need your help with! Consistently, 250 guests register, but then never attend. To mitigate this, we’ve decided to open registration closer to the event’s date so parents can better gauge their ability to attend. We know that a child’s temperament, nap schedule, energy level, will and desire to play can be unpredictable – we don’t want to discourage you from signing up for that reason! We simply want to spread awareness: When you sign up knowing that you likely won’t come, you are taking the spot another neurodiverse family might use! Thank you for your consideration and kindness!

Fee: FREE to children on the spectrum or with other disabilities and their immediate family members. 

Kyo Autism Therapy: ABA is a highly effective treatment that helps people with autism to develop language and daily living skills. ABA can also be used to decrease challenging behaviors, such as aggression or self-injurious behavior. The goal of ABA is to increase independence and quality of life for the child with autism and their family. At Kyo, ABA therapy is also naturalistic and fun! The Kyo team uses child-centric, play-based activities to help children meet their goals. By incorporating each child’s interests throughout treatment, therapy sessions are both highly effective and engaging.