How to Get Kids Offline, Outdoors, and Connecting with Nature

200+ Creative activities to encourage self-esteem, mindfulness, and wellbeing

Bonnie Thomas

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781849059688
• eBook ISBN: 9780857008534
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Developmental Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Full of ideas, activities and exercises, this book provides imaginative ways to inspire young people to put down the computer games, disconnect from social media, and spend more time away from a screen. In an increasingly electronic world, creating enthusiasm for the great outdoors can seem an impossible task. Yet, the benefits of nature are endless, and they extend further than just improving physical health; being in natural surroundings is also an effective way to boost imagination, creativity and overall wellbeing. In whatever capacity you work or care for children and young people, this book will help you motivate them to reboot their connection with nature and become healthier for it.

Addressing how nature-based activities can be used for improved mental health, this book will be an invaluable addition to the library of any professional who works with young people including counselors, educators, youth group workers, social workers, and childcare providers. It is also a useful resource for parents.

Part I

NATURE IS THERAPEUTIC

Chapter 1

INCORPORATING NATURE IN YOUR THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE

As a counselor I find it puzzling that we are not educated, trained, supervised, or mentored to bridge more connections between our clientele and the natural world. There is plenty of data to back what many of us instinctively feel—that when we eat healthier, get fresh air and sunshine, exercise, and interact in the natural world we simply feel better.

In this section for professionals, I offer interventions that are nature based. I start with ways to bring nature to your office before treatment even begins. Many of us who work in the field of social work are office bound. Many social workers spend their working days in hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, classrooms, or other working environments which make it difficult to get outside with clients. If you can’t get outdoors with your clients, there are still ways to bring the outdoors in.

I also delve into tasks that a social worker (or someone in a similar profession) might be expected to do, such as gather client data, complete an assessment, actively listen to the clients share their stories and life experiences, or address treatment goals. Within each of these areas I provide ways to add nature-based materials or nature-based activities to your work.

BRING NATURE INTO THE OFFICE

Regardless of your work space, there are ways to incorporate nature-based activities and materials in your work with clients. Start with your work space—bring as much nature into your office, hospital ward, desk, classroom, group home, and so on as you possibly can.

1.Decorate the walls with images of natural spaces that invoke a sense of awe, beauty, or relaxation. If your space is limited or if you have other artwork you want on the walls, choose one section of the office to devote to nature and hang your nature-themed prints there.

2.Bring in several potted plants—they can help lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety and increase positive thoughts! Selhub and Logan note the following:

Ulrich confirms that the mere presence of flowering and foliage plants inside a hospital room can make a difference. Specifically, in those recovering from an appendectomy and randomly assigned to a room with a dozen small potted plants, the use of pain medication was significantly lower than that of their counterparts in rooms with no potted plants; they also had lower blood pressure and heart rate, and rated their pain to be much lower. As well, those who had plants in their rooms had comparatively higher energy levels, more positive thoughts, and lower levels of anxiety. (Selhub and Logan 2012, p.23)

3.It is beneficial to have a window in your office. If the window looks out to a natural setting or has a view of trees and foliage, even better. “While the view can obviously enhance the mood and cognitive performance of employees, simply allowing sunshine into the interior space has been associated with increased job satisfaction, well being, and intent to stay with an organization” (Selhub and Logan 2012, p.96).

4.Keep collections of natural items on a shelf where clients can access them. These collections can be viewed for relaxation or they can be used for specific therapeutic activities. Refer to the nature-based collections on page 43 for further information.

5.Play relaxing music that has nature sounds in it. Sound machines, specific CDs and MP3s, and even iPod applications have nature-based songs and ensembles that include the sounds of ocean waves, frogs, singing birds, and more. These sounds can be soothing for some clients and used for white noise if needed.

6.Use guided imagery that incorporates exposure to the natural world. Guided imagery helps people quiet their minds and relax. There are two examples of guided imagery on pages 45–50.

7.Assign homework that encourages more fresh air, being outdoors, and connecting to the natural world. Refer to page 20 for examples of nature-based homework assignments you can assign clients.

8.Bring in a fish bowl or aquarium. Louv notes, “Research has shown that subjects experienced significant decreases in blood pressure simply by watching fish in an aquarium” (Louv 2008, p.45).

9.Bring in therapy animals if possible. Selhub and Logan state:

Even the simplest act of petting a dog has shown to reduce physiological markers of stress reactivity and improve immune system function. Research using sophisticated electroencephalograph (EEG) readings has shown that interacting with therapy dogs brings about change in brain wave activity that are in line with states of mental relaxation. (Selhub and Logan 2012, pp.134–135)

In addition they note, “A number of studies have shown that interacting with dogs can cause an increase in the production of oxytocin. Oxytocin, a hormone-like peptide produced by the brain, is in many ways the elixir of positive psychology” (Selhub and Logan 2012, p.134).

If you are a mental health worker who is mobile, without an office, or shares an office space, then bring one nature-based item with you to a session or shift when you can. Bring a plant, a jar of seashells, or even a nature-based photo book you think your client might like. All of these interventions remind your client of what is beautiful in the natural world and provides a connection to nature, even if it’s a brief one. Get your clients interested, curious and intrigued about life outside of walls and screens.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Before our next session:

Take a 15-minute walk each day, rain or shine.
Walk barefoot on the earth (non-paved areas) for 20 minutes a day when possible.
Start a garden—indoors or outside.
If confined to the indoors, find a sunny spot to sit in for a few minutes each day.
Bring potted plants into your home or room.
Spend time with animals and be kind to them.
Explore a new natural space this week—a park, a trail, a swimming hole, a tree, and so on.
Open your windows and let some fresh air in.
Limit screen time to two hours a day.
Eat healthier ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Of Related Interest
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction: Why is nature so important?
• Part I Nature is Therapeutic
• Part II Nature is Fun
• References
• Alphabetical List of Activities
• Extract