\u201cWith ecotherapy, we consciously tune in to how we\u2019re feeling and the effect it\u2019s having on us,\u201d says Craig Chalquist, psychologist at the California Institute of Integral Studies. \u201cLots of people garden, but not a lot of people garden with their gloves off, checking in which themselves and asking, \u2018How is this helping my mood?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is ecotherapy? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ecotherapy \u2013 also known as \u2018nature therapy\u2019 \u2013 is a sort of catch-all term for the many ways therapists and counsellors might incorporate nature into their client\u2019s treatment plan. These range from animal-assisted therapy to arts therapy and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While ecotherapy is often practised with a counsellor, parents can also use some of the ideas and techniques with their own kids to help improve things like anxiety and focus.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"ecotherapy](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ecotherapy-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\u201cEcotherapy is easy for parents to use with their kids because it takes activities that they already enjoy, such as art or movement, and helps them feel more at ease as they connect with their natural environment,\u201d says Sandi Schwartz, author of Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even better, experts say that when parents match their child\u2019s personality with an ecotherapy activity, the benefits can be even bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s why ecotherapy works \u2013 and how to incorporate it into your kids\u2019 activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plenty of research has shown that mindfulness can help people focus and de-stress, and much has been made of studies showing the many benefits of getting kids outside \u2013 from resiliency to creativity to empathy and communication<\/a>. So, it makes sense that combining outdoor activity with mindfulness can provide an even bigger mental health boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEcotherapy guidance can help us calm our feelings and busy minds, allowing us to take in a whole different world where nature\u2019s animals, plants, water and sky move at a different pace,\u201d says Linda Buzzell-Saltzman, a psychologist at Pacifica Graduate Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, mindful outdoor activities provide a calm environment that engage a kid\u2019s senses, which research shows<\/a> can help them focus, feel more confident, experience less anxiety, and be more empathetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea, says art therapist Jillynn Garcia, is that a slow, mindful walk through the woods will help kids focus on their surroundings \u2013 then help them focus after <\/em>their walk as well.<\/p>\n\n\n Ecotherapy can also help build confidence, according to psychologist Thomas Doherty, who uses it at Sustainable Self in Portland, Oregon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLearning to do something outdoors can then transfer to other settings,\u201d he says. But mindfully <\/em>conquering an outdoor skill \u2013 for instance, hiking up a mountain while paying attention to how the ground feels under your feet the higher you climb \u2013\u00a0builds confidence around one\u2019s own wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat brings a much deeper sense of connectedness that\u2019s more powerful than just some kind of nature conquest,\u201d Buzzell-Salzman says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Empathy is another trait that can be boosted in children through ecotherapy. Buzzell-Saltzman says that she often asks kids to sit in nature and observe a small creature, like a worm or a bee. \u201cFocusing on that creature \u2013 thinking about what it feels like to be that animal or insect \u2013 helps build empathy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecotherapy activities vary widely, and Doherty says children won\u2019t respond to all of them. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to match your kid\u2019s personality with the activity. \u201cWe want to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key, says psychologist Caroline Hickman, is to nurture a child\u2019s curiosity however they\u2019re engaging with nature \u2013 and that includes eventually trying different activities when they\u2019re ready. \u201cI think it\u2019s important that they do a bit of everything so that children can develop all parts of their personality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas to get started, matching personalities with ecotherapy techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art therapy incorporates outdoor elements into a child\u2019s artistic activities, and parents can find similar benefits for their kids by encouraging mindfulness when they\u2019re doing art projects<\/a> outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask them to notice how their surroundings affect them. For instance, instead of just painting or drawing under a tree, have them use all five sense to create the art. Where can you find that colour in nature? Do you notice any smells? Or sounds? How can they incorporate those into their artwork?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Horticultural therapy uses gardening to improve well-being, and parents can try elements from this practice for their oh-so-logical children. For instance, planting a seed and watching it grow helps kids develop mindfulness about change. \u201cGardening<\/a> improves focus and gives kids a sense of accomplishment,\u201d Chalquist says.<\/p>\n\n\n While planting seeds with your kid, ask them things like how the soil feels or how it smells. As the plants sprout, have them pay attention to how the plant changes, which can help them understand adaptability as they watch the plant grow towards the light to grab nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green exercise<\/a> therapy \u2013 basically exercising outside while paying attention to your surroundings \u2013 can help people develop focus. Parents can challenge their kids to use all five senses when doing their favourite sports activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your runner to avoid headphones and instead see how many birds they can hear. See if your tennis player can describe the boink of a ball against the racquet. Perhaps your swimmer pays attention to how the water feels when doing backstroke versus butterfly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adventure therapy engages people doing extreme(ish) outdoor activities, like rock climbing and skiing to mountain biking. To minimise risk, these activities foster problem-solving skills (for instance, participants often are figuring out where to go next), as well as concentration and patience. When kids add mindfulness, it helps them to slow down and appreciate their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Challenge your little risk takers to pay attention to their heart rate \u2013 did it increase? How did that feel? Ask them how it felt when they completed the activity, or what they noticed about nature while on their quest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Animal-assisted therapy is when animals are used during counselling sessions to help kids communicate or feel calmer. Parents can incorporate some of these techniques to promote similar benefits in their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have them sit outside quietly and pay attention to animals they see. Why do they think the animal is behaving in a certain way? What do they think it\u2019s thinking? The goal is to focus on the colours, sounds and movements of the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBenefits of ecotherapy activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"ecotherapy](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ecotherapy-3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTrying ecotherapy activities with kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If your child is creative\u2026\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your child is analytical… <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"ecotherapy](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ecotherapy-4.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIf your child is athletic… <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your child is adventurous… <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your child is sensitive… <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Looking for another family-friendly ecotherapy activity? Try out forest bathing<\/a> with our beginner’s guide.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by Cheryl Maguire. Image credits: Dad and daughter \u00a9 Cavan Images \/ Getty Images. All others \u00a9 Adobe Stock.<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"