Online Recreation and Autistic Teens: A Parent’s and Carer’s Guide to Safe, Supported Gaming

• By: Emma Sharrocks, BA, MA, PGCE Officially Diagnosed Autistic Woman, Parent to a 13-year-old Autistic Boy, Full Time Applied Psychology Degree Student, and Former Further Education Teacher
• April 3rd, 2026
• autistic teenagers, cyberbullying, in-game purchases, online gaming, online safety, parental supervision, private servers, social skills development, Spring 2026 Issue
• 413    0

It’s a Thursday evening. I am just about to dish out dinner when my son Haydn runs into the kitchen with a massive grin on his teenage face whilst doing a happy autistic dance. He yells (I wince as my own autistic hearing struggles when he is so excited), “Oh my God, T, A, C and L (names...