Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: KARINE NOGUEIRA COIMBRA

contributions of nature baths to the development of autistic children undergoing psychotherapeutic care

neuroatipic children; contatc with nature; children development

Overexposure to the online world and easy access to technology are increasingly present in childrens reality, distancing them form outodoor play and depriving them of direct contact with nature, givin them fex opportunities to explore the environment and its many benefits. This deprivation can compromise childrens physical, cognitive and emotional development. Te concept of “forest bathing” has veen widely used as a practice that promotes well-being and development, especially for neuroatypicial children. In this sense, introducing children to the diversity of nature, from unique animals to different scenarios and climates, can encourage them to build admiration for the world aroud them and help them understand their place in it. For children to develope as expected, they need to have a variety of stimuli, experiencees, elarning, relationshipts, options and possibilities. The main objedtive of this study is to analyze the contributions of nature bathing to the development of autistic children in the psychotherapeutic context of a previously selected natural environment. Specifically, we seek to understand the impacts of this practice on sensory, emotional and social development, in addition to identifying strategies that can enhance its benefits. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used, including systematic observation, interviews with guardians and application of development scales. Data will be analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics techniques. The results are expected to show improvements in the sensory, social and emotional aspects of children.