Nature-Based Therapy

      It’s funny,  just a couple of weeks ago as I was driving to the barn, I was thinking to myself just how much I love being outside. It dawned on me that even as a child I spent much of my time playing outside, whether it be riding bikes, playing in the front yard, riding horses, or pretending I was riding horses, I was outside. So I was super excited to find out that nature-base occupational therapy even existed. It was like an aha moment when the Glass Half Full pod cast guest speaker Amy Seymore spoke of all the amazing ways the outdoors can lend itself to a plethora of learning.

     Sensory integration at its truest form. Yes! I never really thought of it that way before. I mean, I knew that stepping blocks used inside a clinic or a gym, I even used them myself as an adaptive physical education teacher, resembled stepping over stones that where outside. But the thought of going outside to a creek and stepping over it as part of the lesson, well it really did not enter my mind. Gosh, I’m embarrassed to even admit that. The act of taking the lesson outdoors and physically  being outside can bring such a rich quality to the wholeness of the learning process it is really so - to repeat myself- exciting! 

    Amy gave an example of how climbing outside can be a great way to improve handwriting. How you might ask? Well swinging on a tree branch or climbing on a tree builds core muscles and grip strength. Both of which are very important building blocks for the foundation of developing good handwriting skills. I also found it very inspiring that her job as an occupational therapist was to encourage play and direct free play in a way that she motivates her clients, the children she is working with, to do things they might not be comfortable doing. She encourages imagination, innovation, and in doing so helps children break through sensory defensive behaviors.

 Wow this is so refreshing! So since I am now having to kind of be a “home-school” teacher to my two children, I am making sure we go outside as much as possible. Friday we took advantage of the weather being so beautiful. I found a way to weave the lesson plans their teachers from school had sent with some things we could do outside. In fact while we were outside Aiden asked if he could climb the dogwood tree. I gladly said, “Yes, go for it!”