By Sandi Schwartz
One in five children in the United States, which equates to more than 14.5 million children, has special healthcare needs such as physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health. If you are raising a child with unique needs, you know how challenging it can sometimes be.
Whether your child has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, a learning disability, a visual or hearing impairment or another disability, something free and available right outside your door can make a difference: nature. A growing number of scientific studies over the past few decades have shown the importance of nature in improving our family’s health and happiness.
Neurodiverse children can benefit from nature connection, helping to support their physical, cognitive, emotional and social development in unique and powerful ways. “Learning to feel calm and grounded in nature is helpful for any child, whether they be ‘typically developing’ or facing extra challenges such as a developmental delay or a physical difference that affects coordination and mobility,” says Lisa Louis, mother of a son with autism and founder of HikingAutism.com. “Learning to enjoy nature was not only life-changing for our severely challenged son, but for our whole family. We see this with other families as well.”
Discover the many benefits of nature for neurodiverse children. Here’s how you can help them connect to nature safely.
Benefits of Nature Connection
Making time for nature can assist children in endless ways. It can alleviate ADHD symptoms and help children with autism develop their interests and imagination, cope with change and feel calmer, according to research. Here are some additional benefits of nature for children with unique needs:
• Non-intrusive sensory experience. Nature presents diverse textures, sounds, sights and smells that stimulate and soothe the senses, which can be particularly valuable for children with sensory processing disorders or autism.
• Improved communication. Playing in natural environments encourages language development and cooperative skills.
• Positive social interactions. Time in nature allows for unstructured play and exploration, which helps enhance children’s behavior, boosts their independence and self-confidence and improves how they cope with change. It’s also a great way to connect with other families facing similar challenges.
• Increased physical activity. Nature promotes a more active lifestyle, which can be particularly important for those with physical disabilities or motor skill challenges. Activities like hiking, biking, gardening or simply walking on varied terrain can improve strength, balance, spatial awareness, agility and coordination.
• Cognitive development. The natural world offers manageable opportunities to foster imagination, curiosity and problem-solving, reasoning and observational skills.
• Reduced stress. The serene, often rhythmic setting of forests, parks, beaches, gardens and other natural spaces can reduce stress and anxiety, which is especially valuable for children with attention deficit disorders or emotional regulation difficulties.
• Improved attention. Nature has been found to help reduce impulsivity and allow children to feel more focused and on task.
Nature Activities To Get Started
The best outdoor activities for neurodiverse children are those that cater to their interests and sensory requirements. “Taking walks, whether a short stroll to a neighborhood garden or a longer hike in one of the many national, state and county parks that offer hiking trails, is the simplest way to get outdoors and experience nature,” Louis says. She also encourages people to simply look out their windows and watch for birds and other wildlife.
Growing some herbs or flowers in pots on the front porch is another great project for the family to enjoy together, she says.
Here are some additional nature activities to try with your children:
• Sensory gardens to stimulate all the senses
• Rock collecting to promote tactile exploration
• Outdoor scavenger hunts to encourage exploration and problem solving
• Nature crafts using collected objects like leaves, flower petals and pinecones
• Animal tracking to encourage observation skills, such as installing a birdhouse or birdfeeder in your yard
• Cloud watching to stimulate imagination and relaxation
• Water play activities like jumping in puddles and visiting lakes and beaches for a soothing sensory experience
• Tree rubbing for creativity and tactile stimulation
• Outdoor yoga to help with body awareness and emotional regulation
• Visiting a U-pick farm to pick apples, strawberries or pumpkins T
Sandi Schwartz is an award-winning author, freelance journalist and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness and environmental issues.
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