Forest school activities for children with autism thoughts?

[Beth0768]

I hope this is the right place to ask this but I’ve been thinking about education for people with autism. I’m quite passionate about forest schools especially for pre school children and thought perhaps I could look into working with a forest school that specialises in autism as I feel like these activities could be beneficial for both the social and communication development of the child. What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

 

[Outdated]

It could be a good path for you to take, but the same as with anything else, do your research. There seems to be quite a few of these types of places popping up in Australia at the moment but I can't see all of them surviving, there's just too many of them.

I'd suggest properly looking in to different companies and try to judge which are likely to end up with better reputations and therefore likely to survive longer.

 

[Beth0768]

Thank you for your advice

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Any successes and failures will be in the details, and although I truly believe there is some merit to children learning outside, in plant conservatories, etc. Light, air movement, the smells of nature, even being barefoot outdoors has health benefits and can actually raise your IQ. You can't have children learning "fluff", primarily because as an educator, your time is limited, but rather real-world life skills and knowledge that can integrate with the arts and sciences that they will need later on in life in the working world.

I am 56 and still learning new things every day about nature and the "grand design". For example, did you know that plants can communicate with each other through their roots and leaves? Did you know they can make ultrasonic "clicking" and "screaming" sounds when they are under stress, injury, attack, etc, and plants nearby will respond with biochemical defense mechanisms? Did you know they can communicate with each other by releasing chemicals into the air that are sensed by other plants? Did you know they can share nutrients with each other? There is so much more, but teaching children about the natural world, as well as, real-world applications of that knowledge seems to be lacking. So many children get bored, "Why do I have to learn this?" "I'm never going to use this." and then we loose them.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

This book was written in the late 1970s, early 80s.

It was a wonderful book from my wilderness childhood. My parents would sometimes take me way out in the deserts, or up in the mountains, and we'd play the games featured in the book.

The games are really wilderness exploration, meditation, and self discovery lessons, for even the littlest children, up to adults.

I made sure and bought it when my daughter was small. We played the games in the book too.

Sharing Nature With Children: By Joseph Cornell

 

[Forest Cat]

The best memories I have from kindergarten and primary school, are from the trips we went on in forests. We had outdoor days where we would hike during summer and ski during winter and just spend time in nature. So I think it sounds like a good idea.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

The best memories I have from kindergarten and primary school, are from the trips we went on in forests. We had outdoor days where we would hike during summer and ski during winter and just spend time in nature. So I think it sounds like a good idea.

Yes! The special field trips and outdoor activities (not sports) were the days I learned the most in school. Those are the ones I truly remember.

 

[tree]

@Beth0768
Do you mean this, specifically?

https://www.forestschools.com/pages/what-is-forest-school-an-introduction
Or do you mean 'forest school,' generically?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_school_(learning_style)

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

If you are in the Portland Metro Area, this is a good one:

https://www.rewildportland.com/nature-immersion/

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I worked through this program with my foster daughter who is adhd. She loved it. Many years later she remembers it fondly and so much of what she learned.

It is full of fun exercises to expand learning.

 

[TBRS1]

As an old retired former teacher who also happens to an A, I just want to say that this is a fantastic idea.

I'm biased - the outdoors is the place I find most fascinating. All the things mentioned by Neonatal RRT, as high level as they are, all fall into place while being in nature, and I just want to learn more and more.

If I had been taught like this, especially if taught by someone who knew how to work with autistic children, I'd have been in heaven.

Best wishes & good luck!

 

[Beth0768]

This is all really helpful thank you

 

[Tom]

I always thought the first lesson of the forest was how not to get lost in the forest. Trail marking, orientation, that sort of thing. I still use those skills once in a great while to indicate the right way at intersections. After that what you can drink or eat was valuable. Thse are very unlikely to be used, but are confidence builders and make you more comfortable in the woods.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

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I always thought the first lesson of the forest was how not to get lost in the forest. Trail marking, orientation, that sort of thing. I still use those skills once in a great while to indicate the right way at intersections. After that what you can drink or eat was valuable. Thse are very unlikely to be used, but are confidence builders and make you more comfortable in the woods.

True that!