Winter Activities for Children with Autism in Indiana

By Morgan Andreanopoulos, Marketing Coordinator

With long winter days comes new, creative ways to have outings with the family while staying warm.

We have put together a list of places offering winter-themed outdoor and indoor activities near each of our locations. In addition, we have included some activities you can do from the comfort of your home.

Valentine’s Family Craft Day

Location: Garfield Park Conservatory and Gardens,
2432 Conservatory Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46203
Dates: February 5, 2022
Times: 10am-12pm
Cost: $5/child
Website: Valentines Family Craft Day | Visit Indy
Description: Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Celebrate with your family by creating a variety of Valentine’s Day inspired crafts, including cards – perfect for gifting on Valentine’s Day! Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Ages 17 and under.

Winter Weekends at Conner Prairie

Location: Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038
Dates: March 20, 2022
Times: 10am-5pm
Cost: General admission tickets available on their website. Kids under 2 are free.
Description: Experience Connor Prairie this winter during the winter weekends! Take a weekend winter stroll across 1,046 acres and enjoy countless other opportunities to make it your winter playground.

$5 Nights at Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Location: 3000 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Dates: First Thursday each month
Cost: $5
Website: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (childrensmuseum.org)
Description: Spend the day at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum! Every 1^st Thursday of the month is a $5 night.

Wolf Park Howl Nights

Location: 4004 E. 800 N.
Battle Ground, IN 47920-8013
Dates: Saturdays
Times: 7-8 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $12
Child Ages 6-13 – $10
Young Child Ages 5 and Under – Free
Description: Visit Wolf Park in the evening and see our animals in a whole new light. As the night falls and the air cools, the wolves grow lively. Guests will learn how wolves communicate, both through their “trademark” behavior – the howl, and through body language. Wolf Park staff members will join the wolves midway through the program to demonstrate how our animal curators communicate with our wolves through positive reinforcement training and reading body language. Guests will be encouraged to howl along as the wolves serenade the park.
First 30 Minutes: Walking Path Open (Optional)
Next Hour: Howl Program

Valentine’s Day Skate

Location: 135 S. Earl Ave, Lafayette, IN 47904
Dates: All day Sunday, February 13th
Cost: Bring Your Own Guest For Free
12:30-5 pm Family Skate $7
Website: Home | Great United Skates
Description: At Great United Skates, they have more than roller skating. They have a snack bar with lots of delicious snacks, an arcade, and party rooms! Over a dozen games to play in the newly expanded arcade. Win tickets and exchange them for tons of awesome prizes at their redemption counter. They have five brand new party rooms ready to be reserved for your party. Each room has a unique, colorful, design and will comfortably fit a party of people. For larger groups and double parties, they have two rooms that connect to accommodate your needs! Reserve your party by going to “Party reservations” on their website.

Selfie WRLD Museum

Location: 8401 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Hours: Tues.-Fri.: 3-9 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun.: 12-8 p.m.
Cost: $20 per guest
Tickets: To book your spot, visit selfiewrldindy.com
Description: Welcome to the #1 trending selfie museum in the WRLD. Arguable one of the most instagrammable places in the Midwest, here you can immerse yourself in our fun, eye-catching, interactive art installations. Experience many unique themes knowing we had your best selfie in mind. Unleash your inner child! Some tips to keep in mind: Leave as much of your stuff at home or in the car as possible. Arrive about 10-15 minutes early. Make sure your phone is charged.

Veal’s Ice Tree

Location: 6445 Mimosa Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46259
Dates: Formed every January until it begins to melt in April
Times: Hours are from dawk to dusk, seven days a week, lights around the tree turn off around 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Website: Veal’s Ice Tree (vealsicetree.wixsite.com)
Description: What started as a backyard accident in 1961 has become an annual tradition for the Veal Family. The Veal Ice Tree is a massive icy sculpture created with nearby pond water. The remarkable beauty and grandeur of the Ice Tree is impossible to describe – you must experience it in person!

Kid’s Planet Indoor Playground

Location: 499 Southpoint Circle, Suite 101-102 Brownsburg, IN 46112
Hours: Wed-Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm
Cost: Ages 2-14 Mon-Fri $13, Sat-Sun $15, 2 and under $9 all week
Website: Kids Planet | Indoor Playground (kidsplanetfun.com)
Description: Kid’s Planet offers young families in Brownsburg, Indiana and the surrounding areas a quality family recreation center. There are jungle gyms, soft contained areas, multi-level playground, birthday party hosting and lots of fun arcade games.

Visit the Hancock County Public Library

Location: 900 W. McKenzie Rd. in Greefield
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-4pm
Website: Hancock County Public Library, Greenfield Indiana (hcplibrary.org)
Description: You can easily spend a couple of hours in the children’s department of this library, especially when you plan your trip to coincide with one of the several storytime events the library offers throughout the week. The children’s department has two play houses, lego stations, nature area, dinosaur toys, blocks, puzzles and more!

Geri Girl Bakery

Address: 109 W. Main Cross
Edinburgh, 46124 US
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
Website: Geri Girl Bakery
Description: Enjoy a treat with your family or join the cookie club this winter for a free cookie every day with a monthly subscription.

Urban Air Adventure Park

Address: 1172 N Main St, Franklin, IN 46131
Hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-8pm, Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm
Cost: Ultimate Ticket $29.99 each, Deluxe Ticket $22.99 each, Basic Ticket $16.99 each, 5 and under $11.99; Parent Ticket 50% retail pass price
Website: Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park Description: If you’re looking for the best year-round indoor amusements in the Greenwood, Columbus, Indianapolis, Center Grove, and Franklin area, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure park is the perfect place. With new adventures behind every corner, Urban Air is the ultimate indoor playground for your entire family.

At Home Activities

• Magic Salt and Watercolor Snowflake Art Project for Kids (onelittleproject.com)This is such a fun winter art project! The kids love watching the magic that happens both with the salt and with the snowflakes appearing!
• How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mix (Easy, 3-Ingredients, Vegan) (livingwellmom.com)It could be a rewarding experience to make your own hot chocolate mix with your kids! You can also choose to make it a dairy-free option like this recipe, with only 3 ingrediants. The overall process takes less than 5 minutes!
• Snow Floam! Winter sensory play for kids – No Time For Flash CardsMake your own sensory slime foam that is winter-themed! It looks like snow and you can add in your own snowflakes for texture.

We hope this list gives you great ideas and activities to try with your family this season. Let us know which activities are your favorites by leaving a comment on our blog.

Last updated by Morgan McClellan at February 1, 2022.