It’s always fun to spend time as a family. Whether that be outdoors, exploring something new, or finding ways to be creative. It’s even more fun when you are doing activities that everyone can participate in. Albuquerque has so many sensory-friendly activities that the whole family is sure to enjoy!
This guide is brought to you by ABA Pathways, a service provider with a team committed to helping families find the optimal treatment program to meet each individual’s needs.
ABA Pathways focuses on autistic children. They provide center-based services, home-based services, and behavioral consultations.
They take NM Medicaid as well as private insurance.
Contact them today at 505-366-0560 or [email protected].
We have rounded up a list of all the sensory-friendly family fun activities in the Albuquerque Area. Have fun!
A Park Above
A Park Above is the first fully-inclusive and accessible playground in New Mexico. This park is a place where all children can come together, interact, be included, and grow through the gift of play. A Park Above is located on six acres at 2441 A Park Above Court (off of Westside Boulevard in Rio Rancho).
A Park Above was constructed to universal design standards to be more “usable” for everyone. The goal of the park design is to create an inclusive social play environment.
Check out this amazing YouTube video highlighting all of the great amenities at A Park Above.
Albuquerque Biopark
Located along the Rio Grande River near downtown Albuquerque, the ABQ BioPark consists of: The ABQ BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium, and Tingley Beach.
The Biopark is also one of many places you can purchase a membership, making it more available year-round!
Camp Adventure
Camp Adventure is a summer adaptive camp for children 6 to 19 years old living with permanent disabilities that receive care at Carrie Tingley Hospital. This camp allows children and teens the opportunity to unleash their possibilities.
During camp, campers enjoy sports, art, music, and games. Most importantly, they have fun and create lasting friendships and memories. Camp is staffed by qualified instructors and volunteers who provide instruction, encouragement, and support.
Chatter Paint
A fun and relaxed painting in an environment where you don’t have to be neat and clean! A fun, creative activity for the whole family! (And honestly, a great de-stress for mom!)
Daniel Webster Park
Working closely with the community, special needs experts, and the City of Albuquerque, this 4.5 acre parcel of flat, paved land in an underserved neighborhood has started its transition to a major urban park that serves not only the local community, but welcomes the entire metropolitan area with its inclusive design. The concept is to provide fun and recreation for all, regardless of age, ability or interest.
Explora
Explora is an Albuquerque staple that offers fun and learning for the whole family! They value curiosity, trial and error, learning through failures and successes, and always asking questions about the world around us. Explora prides itself in being a place for everyone to learn, no matter their age, ability, or background.
Explora offers sensory-friendly hours! Check their schedule here.
Nose to Toes Yoga
Nose to Toes Yoga Studio Owner, Liz Fitzgerald, is an experienced Kids Yoga Teacher, who guides kids in Summer Camps, Afterschool classes, Birthday Parties, Private, and Group Classes. They teach kids how to move their bodies in coordination with their Super-Power Breathing. KIDS LOVE YOGA BECAUSE IT IS FUN! In our studio, kids of all abilities learn to bend and stretch to build strength, flexibility, and focus. We create works of art and learn to work together and make new friends.
Restoration Pizza
Restoration Pizza partners with various local agencies to employ individuals with disabilities. A large percentage of their staff have a physical or mental disability. It’s pizza that gives everyone a seat at the table.
Urban Air Adventure Park
Urban Air is the Ultimate Indoor Adventure Park where kids of all ages (and kids at heart) can explore thrilling attractions, challenge their bodies and mind, and most importantly . . . have a blast! It’s WAY more than a trampoline park.
Urban Air offers sensory-friendly hours! Check out their calendar for details!
Museum of Natural History
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science preserves and interprets the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through our extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning.
The Museum of Natural History offers Relaxed Nights at the Museum. Relaxed Nights are evenings for anyone who might get overwhelmed by crowds, sounds, or flashing lights. Or for individuals who simply enjoy smaller crowds.
These sensory-friendly evenings are for guests of all ages and will feature special sensory-friendly offerings in the museum on select evenings.
AMC Sensory Friendly Films
AMC has partnered with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where the lights are turned up and the sound is turned down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout, or sing! The Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Wednesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month.
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are proud to collaborate with the New Mexico Autism Society and Summit Electric Supply in providing sensory bags for our sensory-sensitive community. These bags will help individuals come to a game and enjoy themselves with accommodations. Each bag will have headphones in either adult or child size to help block out crowd noise, sunglasses to help with lighting, gloves to help with tactile sensations, and fidgets to help focus on the game and less on the crowd around.
Whether you want to go watch a baseball game, jump your jiggles out, or learn something new, there is sure to be an activity that the entire family will enjoy!
Do you know of any sensory-friendly activities that we didn’t list? Email us at [email protected] so we can add it to the list!
