How Can Forest School Support Those With Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)?

Today, I’m going to take a very brief look at how Forest School can support those with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)

I must stress this is very much a whistle stop tour of this topic and would highly recommend reading a recent book release by Michael James entitled Forest School and Autism; A practical guide; for a much more indepth coverage.

How Might ASC Present In Children?

Children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) often have difficulty with social interactions and cues and may exhibit compulsive or impulsive behaviour.

They also may display unusual sensory perceptions, such as a very strong dislike for something based on the way it feels or its colour.

I must highlight that it is important to remember, each individual is different, displaying or not displaying a range of emotions, impulses, behaviours or otherwise. Each person is unique and should be treated as such.

The Benefits Of Forest School For Those With ASC

Positively, there is an important link between those diagnosed with ASC and their participation at a Forest School, which is becoming supported by a growing amount of research.

One of the many benefits of the Forest School movement is it’s affordance of time, space and focus on individuality through a child centred approach, meaning a child is placed at the centre of every experience and chooses what and how they learn, usually through play.

Such an approach is inclusive and already set up for people with different learning needs. They are met where they are at and made to feel unique, valued and competent and all on their own terms.

In turn this allows the Forest School leader to know exactly how to challenge an individual to step outside their comfort zone, into the a zone where new learning can take place, whether that be new experiences, new skills or indeed perceptions in a way that helps brain development, providing opportunities to work on inter and intra personal skills. Simply the skills relating to relationships and those taking place or existing in the mind such as confidence and self esteem.

It Even Benefits The Socials!

This approach also provides opportunities for someone with ASC to approach social interactions when and if they feel ready.

Indeed at times the very nature of Forest School can also assist those with ASC who are willing to socially interact but find it difficult to do this successfully.

Whether it takes a child several weeks or several months to improve their social interactions, or increase eye contact, there are multiple opportunities for this by the mere fact that they will need help from others with most woodland-related play choices.

For example, if a child wants to move large pieces of wood, or walk through a dense patch of woodland, they’re likely to need someone to support them that inevitably requires a level of social interaction.

Once a child can do something, there is opportunity to help someone less-able or less confident with the same activity, thus providing important practice in making successful social interactions.

The Binding Ingredient Is Nature Contact

The key beneficial relationship between ASC and Forest School though, that binds all elements together I feel, is the contact with nature, that provides a pattern interrupt from the hectic lifestyle we now all lead and over stimulation of the senses.

In the natural world children are not startled or overwhelmed by stimuli allowing an adrenal response — that fight or flight mechanism- to be suppressed.

Spending any length in nature allows time to slow, and sensory overload to decrease- allowing a person to pay attention to one thing at a time as apposed to 50 all at once whilst simultaneously trying to figure out which is the one they need to pay the most attention too, so helping with delivering positive mood states and reduction of anxiety for both children and their parents.

This provides the perfect conditions for speech development, social interaction and general feelings of wellbeing. All these elements are vital and beneficial for everyone I would argue and not just those with ASC.

It Takes As Long As It Takes

For those with ASC this time, slowly works and begins to adapt their sensory perceptions of the world around them, almost like a muscle, to expand their coping abilities and confidence amongst all the other things Forest School brings.

Even the length of time it takes for change to happen has a positive relationship with Forest School as the movement itself is always carried out over a long term, regular schedule of sessions.

Does it get any better?

You’re Just One Session Away!