Mindfulness for autism: Science supports this new path to well-being for people with autism and their families

04/21/2025 / By Olivia Cook

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can reduce stress and behavioral challenges in individuals with autism, while also improving focus, emotional regulation and social interaction.
Caregivers, including parents and teachers, benefit greatly from mindfulness practice, experiencing lower stress levels and better emotional coping when supporting individuals with ASD.
Programs tailored specifically for autism – like MYmind – tend to work better than general mindfulness classes, especially when adapted for age and developmental needs.
Simple at-home practices – like stuffed animal breathing or “five senses” check-ins – can be powerful tools for creating calm. connection and resilience in everyday moments.
More high-quality research is needed, especially for children and teens, but existing studies already show mindfulness is a promising, practical and accessible support for families living with autism.

What if something as simple as sitting still for a few minutes, breathing deeply and noticing your thoughts – without trying to change them – could make life just a little easier?

For individuals living with autism, daily life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether it’s loud noises, sudden changes or intense emotions that seem to come out of nowhere, the world doesn’t always feel like a “friendly” or “predictable” place. But a growing number of studies suggest that mindfulness, the ancient practice of being fully present in the moment, could help take the edge of that experience.

And it’s not just helping people with autism – it is also helping the parents, caregivers and teachers who support them.

In a world where Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects millions, an expanding body of research, as published in Brain Sciences (September 2024), suggests that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could be a game-changer – not just for individuals with ASD but for their families, too. But what exactly are these interventions and how do they work?

What is mindfulness?

You have probably heard the word thrown around a lot these days in apps, podcasts and studies. But at its core, mindfulness is about paying attention to what is happening right now – without judgement. That means noticing your breath, tuning into your body or simply observing your thoughts without getting carries away by them.

It is a practice that comes from traditions, like meditation and Buddhism, but is now being used in classrooms, hospitals and even therapy rooms around the world.

A gentle approach to autism support

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, processes emotions and experiences the world. There is a lot of variation from person to person – some folks may have intense sensory sensitivities, while others may struggle more with social cues or managing their emotions.

Traditional therapies for autism often focus on behavior but mindfulness offers something different. It doesn’t try to change the person. Instead, it helps them feel more grounded, less anxious and better able to manage stress – without demanding that they mask who they are.

What the research says

Researchers recently looked at 37 studies on how mindfulness works for people with autism and their caregivers. They found something striking when done thoughtfully, these practices can lower stress, improve emotional regulation and even ease some of the behavioral challenges that often come with autism.

And the benefits are not just for the person with autism. In many of the studies, parents and caregivers also participated in the mindfulness training.

The results? Better sleep, less anxiety and a stronger sense of connection with their children. In a few cases, both the parents and the children. In a few cases, both the parents and the children practiced mindfulness at the same – which made the effects even stronger.

Bringing mindfulness into daily life

The way mindfulness was taught in these studies varied, but many programs followed a similar path. Imagine this: once a week, a small group of parents sits in a quiet room, guided by a teacher who invites them to pay attention to their breath or scan their bodies for tension. They learn how to pause before reacting, how to notice their stress before it spills over and how to respond with compassion.

Meanwhile, in another room, their children are learning those same skills through fun, age-appropriate exercise – like imagining thoughts as clouds passing by in the sky or practicing slow breathing with a stuffed animal on their belly.

Sometimes, families even come together at the end to share what they have learned. That kind of shared experience builds emotional closeness – and can make the practices more meaningful at home.

Mindfulness for different ages and needs

The research included people across the autism spectrum – from highly verbal adults to children with limited speech and even individuals with additional intellectual disabilities.

Adults who practiced mindfulness often reported feeling calmer and more in control of their emotions. In some cases, their anxiety and depression improved and they felt more connected to the world around them.

Kids and teens had a slightly different experience. While fewer studies focused on this age group, the ones that did showed promise. Teachers and therapists noted that children who practiced mindfulness had fewer meltdowns, better focus and improved social skills. In school settings, mindfulness-based programs helped students better manage classroom stress – and even build friendships.

One important note: programs that were tailored specifically to autism – rather than general mindfulness classes – tended to work better. That means slowing things down, using more visual supports and creating a predictable structure for each session.

But here’s more good news: you don’t need a clinic or special training session to start bringing mindfulness into your home. Many simple exercises can be done with your child in everyday settings:

Stuffed animal breathing (for younger children): Have your child lie down and place a favorite stuffed animal on their belly. As they breathe in and out slowly, they watch the toy rise and fall. It turns breathing into a game and teaches awareness of the body. Learn more about stuffed animal therapy from The Zoo Factory.
Five senses check-in (for all ages): Pause and ask: what are the five things you can see? Four things you can touch? Three things you can hear? Two things you can smell? One thing you can taste? This grounding technique helps bring focus to the present moment – especially helpful during transitions or when emotions start running high. Learn more about the 5+ senses that affect how a child with autism learns from Autism Early Learning.
“Thought clouds” visualization (great for kids and teens): Invite your child to imagine their thoughts like clouds floating across the sky. Some are light and fluffy, others dark and stormy – but they all pass. This helps with letting go of intrusive or overwhelming thoughts. Learn more about this “cognitive defusion” technique from Mindful.
Shared quiet time. Set a timer for two minutes. Sit together in silence, perhaps with your hands resting on your hearts or bellies. At the end, share one word about how you feel. It’s a small moment of connection that builds emotional awareness. Learn how to raise resilient kids with different strategies for nurturing emotional strength in children from Dr. Dr. Candice Feinberg on Medium.
For parents and caregivers, even just five minutes a day of intentional breathing or mindful walking, can lower stress and reset your nervous system. Apps like Smiling Mind, Insight Timer or Headspace for Parents offer short, guided meditations that can be done before school, after bedtime or during a coffee break.

If you’re curious about age-appropriate mindfulness activities, check out these sites:

Mindful.org – great tips for adult and kids
The MYmind Program – a structured mindfulness course designed specifically for families with children on the autism spectrum

It’s not just for individuals with autism – it’s for families too

If there’s one theme that stood our from this body of research, it’s that mindfulness can have a ripple effect.

When parents practiced mindfulness, they not only felt better – they become more attuned to their children. They were more patient, more emotionally present and less reactive during stressful moments. And when both parent and child learned together, they developed a shared language of calmness – one they could turn to when life got tough.

Some families even described it as reclaiming joy in their relationships.

Of course, mindfulness isn’t a magic fix. The researchers behind the review were careful to point out that many of the studies were small and that not everyone benefited in the same way.

There’s also no “one-size-fits-all” mindfulness program for autism yet. Some programs are eight weeks long, others are shorter. Some are done in schools, others in clinics or online. More research is needed to figure out, which approaches work best – for different ages, personalities and levels of support.

Watch this video about mindfulness and sensory at home.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.