| Nature Therapy is a current therapy designed to | | | | encourage movement. The goal of therapy is to |
| complement other therapies for children with autism. In | | | | improve the brain's ability to process sensory |
| addition to speech therapies, as well as physical and | | | | information. During therapy sessions, the child performs |
| occupational therapies, activities in nature promote | | | | an activity that combines sensory input with motion. |
| healing properties. Natural environments are filled with | | | | Presently,many therapists are working with autistic |
| resources for sensory exploration. Autism is a sensory | | | | children in nature, as part of programs, with much |
| processing disorder. New research shows the soothing | | | | success! |
| effects nature can have on children with autism. | | | | Natural environments stimulate all of the senses! It is |
| Children of all abilities benefit emotionally, physically and | | | | well known that being in nature reduces stress and |
| psychologically from consistent time in natural | | | | stimulates the senses through sounds, visual images |
| surroundings. Many therapists are bringing children | | | | and scents. Regular outdoor time benefits all children's |
| outside as part of their therapy programs and having | | | | emotional, physical, and mental health. Several |
| successful outcomes. Children are able to listen, to feel, | | | | promising studies have found that therapy programs |
| smell, and observe outdoors. | | | | involving natural surroundings helps children with |
| Autism is often described as a sensory processing | | | | behavioral issues, ADHD and a diagnosis of being |
| disorder. Sensory integration therapy is a type of | | | | At-Risk. Nature is a soothing resource that is being |
| therapy readily used with autistic children. During | | | | used more and more in therapy programs for autistic |
| sessions, therapists work one on one with the child to | | | | children with exceptional result! |