The Value of Learning in Natural Environments
Natural environments are the places where we live, do things we enjoy, and spend time with the people in our lives. For young children, natural environments include their home, Mother’s Day Out, school, church, daycare, and outings in the community with family and friends.
Learning opportunities are available throughout a child’s day. Therapy provided in a child’s natural environment is the most efficient way for children with developmental disabilities to learn new skills that they can use in their daily life and interactions with family.
A few of the benefits of providing therapy in a child’s natural environment include:
1. Children learn skills more quickly when they learn and practice new skills in the places and situations where the skills will actually be used. For example, if a child practices communication skills during daily activities at home, such as making a request for a snack or to play with a specific toy, the child will more quickly learn to use the skill on their own.
2. Children have many more opportunities to practice skills when supports are provided during daily routines and other naturally occurring opportunities at home and in the community. Therapy services provided outside of the natural environment are limited to a certain number of hours per week. A child whose parents/caregivers know how to provide support can help a child practice a skill throughout the day, resulting in more learning opportunities for the child and much quicker mastery of a new skill.
3. When parents know how to use specific strategies to support their child in daily life, it can make parenting easier and reduce stress while also helping their child learn new skills.
Our services are provided in the child and family’s natural environment to focus on real life settings, promote generalization of skills, and to encourage family and community involvement. Services are individualized for each child and family, with the parents/caregivers identifying goals and activities that are the most important to their child and family.