Hiking for Autism

Hiking to Rocky Mouth Falls

We did 20 hikes together as a family over this last summer, and we found hiking can have many benefits for kids on the autism spectrum.

1. Hiking is quiet.
Many kids with autism are sensitive to noise.  My son loves swimming, but the noise of a crowded pool often puts him over the edge.  As we would escape the city for the quiet of the mountains, a measure of calm would settle on all our souls.  The gentle sounds of a river, the wind in the trees, or the our footsteps on the path were sounds my son could handle and even enjoy.

Twin Lakes Hike

2.  Hiking isn't hectic.
There is a reason we generally avoid amusement parks, firework shows, or ball games: The Crowds!  There is nothing like the hectic cacophany and energy of a crowd to bring out the worst in my spectrum kids.  Hiking, especially if done on a weekday, is a solitary activity.  There is nothing like having a waterfall all to yourselves.

3.  Hiking is Heavy Work.
My middle two kids, like many others on the autism spectrum, have sensory processing disorder and struggle with their body awareness (proprioceptive sense).  Hiking is a great way to get the sensory input a child needs to feel grounded.  Pushing uphill with your thigh muscles and pulling yourself up some rocks can help a child feel centered.  I have been amazed at how their ability to engage appropriately grows after a hike.  Their body awareness has also increased tremendously.  Their ability to look at an obstacle and figure out how to move their bodies to conquer it is so much better than it was even a couple months ago.  I'm a big believer in heavy work.  Here are some other heavy work activities.

"Putting our dogs in" at the end of a hike.

4.  Hiking is enables appropriate sensory seeking.
Some kids with autism always seem to be bumping into stuff and breaking things.  This is another sign that their proprioceptive sense is off.  Hiking gives them a chance to stabilize this sense.  So go ahead, kids!  Pull sticks from the underbrush and whack them on the ground.  Crunch leaves in your hands and under your feet.  Get your feet in a cold mountain stream.  Throw rocks or hit them together.  I much prefer breaking sticks in nature to breaking toys at home!  And meeting those needs on the trail means your kid doesn't need to sensory seek as much at home.

5.  Purposeful Walking.
Many kids with autism have a tendency to meander.  Walking with purpose from one place to another is a foreign concept.  They go at their own pace, not paying close attention to their surroundings.  Or maybe more common, they allow their attention deficit issues pull them off course.  Hiking is good practice for walking with purpose!

6.  Hike often.
The benefits of hiking for kids with autism are best seen as it becomes a regular activity.  There was a lot of whining at the beginning of the summer.  As they accomplished more and more hikes, they gained confidence and stamina.  Hiking made them feel good and centered, so they wanted to do more of it.  They found their pace and came to know that the hard parts are temporary.  Hiking regularly makes it a part of the schedule.  And we all know how critical a schedule is for kids on the spectrum!

Hiking is great for all kids, and it can definitely be of a benefit for kids with autism.  Plus, it is wonderful for moms too!  Take a deep breath, smell those pine trees, put your feet in a cold, mountain stream, and enjoy being with your kids in nature.