Building, Organizing, Structuring
Sam builds. A lot and intensively.
With LEGO, complex constructions emerge – often not following instructions, but according to his own systems. Every piece has its place, every color has its meaning.
With building blocks, he creates huge, symmetric structures. Hundreds of wooden blocks, stacked for hours. Precise. Deliberate. Perfectly balanced.
What sometimes looks like simple play to us is real work for Sam. He plans, constructs, experiments.
And when something doesn't fit, it's not accepted – it gets changed until it's right.
The World of Board Games – Used Differently
Sam loves board games. But not necessarily to play them by the rules.
He frequently takes all his board games and distributes the contents in an organized way throughout his room.
Figures are sorted, cards laid out, game pieces grouped by color.
To an outsider, it looks like chaos. To Sam, it's perfect order – one that only he understands.
And he immediately notices if even a single piece is missing or has been moved.
This is his way of working with materials. Not wrong – just different.
Crafting – With All the Senses
Sam enjoys crafting a lot. There's cutting, gluing, folding, building.
Often things emerge that follow a certain logic – his logic.
Sometimes they're recreations from paper and cardboard, inspired by his special interests. Sometimes they're abstract constructions that only make sense to him.
We've learned not to ask "What's this supposed to be?" – but to say "Show me what you're making."
Because often Sam has a plan. And often this plan is brilliant – just not immediately recognizable at first glance.
Drawing – A Long Journey to Representation
Drawing was a challenge for Sam for a long time.
He only started drawing recognizable things at almost six years old.
Before that, it was mainly lines, patterns, structures – but no objects or figures.
That was sometimes hard for us as parents to accept. Other children were already drawing houses, trees, and people at three or four years old.
Sam drew systems.
But when he started drawing concretely, it was impressive. Detailed. Precise. With an incredible eye for proportions and structures.
He had to learn it his way – and that worked.
Why Creative Activities Are So Important
Creativity is more than just a hobby for Sam. It's a form of communication, processing, and self-regulation.
When he builds, he organizes his thoughts. When he draws, he expresses what words cannot. When he crafts, he creates something he has control over.
These activities help him reduce stress, concentrate, and be with himself.
And they give him the opportunity to experience success – in a protected space, without evaluation, without time pressure.
What the Science Says
Creative activities have demonstrably positive effects for autistic children and children with ADHD:
- Self-regulation: Drawing and building help process emotions and reduce stress
- Fine motor skills: Crafting, drawing, and constructing promote hand-eye coordination
- Concentration: Creative activities enable flow states and support attention
- Self-efficacy: Creating one's own works strengthens self-confidence
- Nonverbal communication: Creativity offers means of expression beyond language
Studies show that autistic children often have special strengths in visual-spatial areas. Building, constructing, and detailed drawing come particularly naturally to many autistic children.
It's important that creative activities are offered without performance pressure. It's not about creating something "beautiful," but about giving the child space for expression and processing.
Sources (Selection):
Mottron et al. (2006) – Enhanced Perceptual Functioning in Autism
Martin (2009) – Art Therapy and Autism
Epp (2008) – Creative Arts in Children with ADHD
Schweizer et al. (2014) – Visual-Spatial Strengths in Autism
What We've Learned
Creativity has many faces. Not every child draws colorful pictures with sun and house.
Some children build systems. Others organize game pieces. Still others only draw recognizable things at six – and then with incredible precision.
What's important is that the child gets the opportunity to express themselves creatively – in their own way.