Visiting a farm with an autistic child: smells, noise and animals

Farms are brilliant and intense: strong smells, sudden loud animals, mud, and lots of other families. Plan for the senses and it becomes one of the best days out there is.

Name the smell before you arrive

The smell is the thing most children react to first. Say it in advance: ‘Farms smell of animals and hay. It’s strong at first and then your nose gets used to it.' Read the farm story a few times, and show photos of the animals they will see.

Pick the time

Go early on a weekday or straight after opening. Check the farm’s website for ‘quiet hours’ or SEND sessions; many offer them in term time. Avoid feeding times at the pig pen if noise is hard.

Let them watch first

Stroking an animal is optional. Many children want to watch from the fence for a long time before touching anything, and some never will. Both are a successful visit. If they do want to, show them ‘gentle hand, flat palm’ on your arm first.

Hands, mud and food

Wellies and spare clothes. Mud happens.
Hand-washing is a rule at every farm, so make it a step on the picture strip rather than a surprise.
Eat your own packed lunch somewhere quiet; farm cafés are loud.

Have an exit plan

Agree before you go: when the timer or the strip says ‘done’, you leave, even if it’s going well. Leaving on a high makes the next visit easy.

Make the free story first

Type your child’s name and get “Sam visits the farm” as a picture story: one picture and one sentence a page, in their name. Read it a few times before the day, then take it with you. Print it, save it as a PDF, or read it in the Now & Next app with every routine as a story too.

Make the story (free) Open the app

Kits that go with this guide

Everything bundle (£14.99): Every kit in the shop in one download: 24 kits and 500+ picture cards, plus the Card Maker. Save £74.27.

Written by a dad to an autistic son with ADHD. This is everyday parenting advice, not medical or therapy advice. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your GP, health visitor or school SENCo.