Parents of children with autism identify benefits and barriers associated with spending time in natureThe benefits of time in nature apply to all children, but there are some indications that time in nature may be especially beneficial for children with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Related research, however, is scarce. This study looked to parents of children with ASC for increased understanding about children with ASC and their experiences with “wild nature.” Two questions framed the study: (1) What benefits do parents of children with ASC perceive that time in wild nature brings? (2) What barriers do parents of children with ASC perceive towards spending time in wild nature?
“Wild nature,” as defined in this study, consist of natural environments (such as rivers, beaches, bush and forest) or “less-managed environments.” Three parents of children with ASC between the ages of 5 and 10 participated in the study. The parents were recruited from an Australian online support group. Each parent took photographs of their children in wild nature. They then shared their photographs and perspectives with the other parent participants. The parents and researchers worked together in identifying major themes relating to benefits and barriers of wild nature engagement for children with ASC. Each parent also selected a particular photograph they considered to be the best representation of barriers and benefits related to time in wild nature for children with ASC. They then discussed this photograph during individual interviews with the researchers. The interviews also gave the parents an opportunity to share their perception of the Photovoice process used for this study.
Four themes identified by the parents represented benefits of accessing wild nature for children with ASC: (1) supports the child’s deep interests; (2) helps the child cope with change; (3) helps the child be more creative and imaginative; and (4) is calming to the child. Four themes represented barriers to accessing nature: (1) being too busy with appointments; (2) dealing with sensory challenges; (3) balancing needs of siblings; and (4) dealing with the exhaustion of daily life. The parents reported that the Photovoice methodology helped them gain insight into their own perspectives.
“This small scale study adds some support to the research around wild nature and children with ASC, and speaks to the benefits of the Photovoice approach.”
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