[Report] Outdoor experiential activities for families of autistic children held in Goshiki-cho, Awaji Island on May 24th. 'Autism Research Center Horn' conducted onion harvesting and BBQ to increase the number of 'I did it!' moments.

Pastel Communication (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kayoko Yoshino) held an experiential event titled 'Outdoor Activities for Autistic Children: Let's Experience Agriculture and Have a Barbecue in Awaji Island' for autistic children and their families on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Wellness Park Goshiki on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture.

This event was part of the 'Developmental Science Communication' project, which aims to smooth parent-child communication and accelerate children's development. It was planned by the information site 'Autism Research Center Horn,' operated by project instructor Horn Imagawa. Five families (22 people) from Saitama, Osaka, Hyogo, and Tokushima prefectures participated, enjoying onion harvesting and a barbecue. They showed various signs of growth, such as interacting with living creatures and inviting friends to play.

⬛︎ Background Children with developmental issues such as autism and speech delays often struggle with social relationships due to biases in communication, and may experience tantrums or loud outbursts due to their developmental characteristics. Sometimes, they may become overly cautious and remain immobile or move away from a situation. In addition to focusing on specific interests, they may have rigid adherence to procedures, which can make social life feel difficult.

When raising an autistic child, parents often feel nervous about unpredictable behavior when outside, even while wanting to provide various experiences. This event was organized to create a place where autistic children and their families could spend leisure time with peace of mind.

This was the second time the event was held, with the first occurrence last year. Parents and families learning 'Developmental Science Communication' participated from across the country. 'Developmental Science Communication' is a method where adults provide positive reinforcement to children for what they have achieved—such as 'You were able to ride in the car' or 'You were able to eat your meal'—during activities like outings or dining.

The goal of the event was to have adults provide positive reinforcement to all participating children, not just their own, to create many successful experiences. By accumulating successful experiences, the aim was to broaden the children's interests, encourage their development, and promote further growth.

⬛︎ Event Report On May 24, 2026, an onion harvesting experience and barbecue social were held at Wellness Park Goshiki. During the onion harvest, under the guidance of farm staff, each participant chose their favorite onions and pulled them out by the leaves. Onions are easy for children to pull, and families enjoyed the harvest together.

Participants then moved to the barbecue terrace in the park. Under the watchful eyes of adults, children used knives to slice the onions and hollow out zucchini like donuts. The ingredients, prepared freely by the children, were then enjoyed by everyone.

＜Participants' Comments＞ - When touching an onion, one child said 'No.' I responded positively by saying, 'You were able to say no' and 'I see you don't like it.' The rest of the time, they enjoyed collecting small stones. - Although a child who couldn't enter the field saying there were 'bugs' initially, they ate the home-harvested onions sautéed in rings with great gusto later, saying, 'This is delicious!' - One child was seen proactively appealing to a friend by saying 'Let's play tag,' for the first time. - One child got hooked on feeding the carp, requested 'One more time,' and joined in a lot of clapping. After the feed ran out, they understood 'it's finished' and were able to switch their mood. - A child who didn't want to go to the field last year entered immediately this year, and once their hand was guided to help hold the onion seedling, they were able to pull it out at once. It was a major growth. - During last year's barbecue, a child spent time at a distance from other participants, but this year, they approached the cooking area, sat down to eat, and even moved between tables, jumping happily. - In Horn-sensei's opening greeting, it was stated that 'the purpose is not harvesting onions or having a barbecue, but focusing on what the children have achieved and creating successful experiences,' which allowed parents to participate without feeling pressured to 'make the children do it.'

In this event, the participating adults made an effort to praise the children extensively. As a result, the children were able to engage in activities calmly and energetically.