3: My 3 Favorite Outdoor Therapy Activities for Children
If you're working with children who have challenges with attention, sensory processing, social skills, or executive function, gather a few simple supplies and try these 3 activities in your next outdoor therapy groups!
In this episode:
2-minute takeaway from the research: 5 ways you can create the conditions for children to engage with nature
Why I love the giant spider web game to teach learning through failure, problem solving, and motor skills
The ONE knot to know how to tie (that will make your work SO much easier as a nature-based therapist)
How to use map-making activities to help children become more comfortable with and aware of their surroundings
Why I love fire building with children after a less-than-ideal therapy session
How to balance risk-taking and keeping children safe during sessions
Why it’s important to let the children take the lead and practice problem-solving themselves
Resources from this episode:
This week's 2-Minute Takeaway article: The Art of Working With Nature in Nature-Based Therapies
My video on how to tie the bowline knot
My Book, Therapy in the Great Outdoors
The ferro rods we use in my practice when teaching fire building
🌳 Are you a pediatric therapist interested in taking your work with children out into nature? The ConTiGO Approach Online Course will open for registration soon: visit www.ConTiGOapproach.com to join the waitlist.
Welcome to the TGO Podcast!
The Therapy in the Great Outdoors podcast is about the business & practice of nature-based pediatric therapy of all kinds. If you are an outdoor-loving practitioner in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, behavioral health, mental health counseling, or outdoor education THIS is for you! You'll learn how you can take your work with children outdoors into nature. We'll cover exactly what it takes to run a successful and profitable nature-based practice that changes children's lives (and yours!) forever.
