The goats are playing the piano! You may think it's a joke but it happens in our house. I blame the cat, our fantastical cat called Thula who helped my daughter with autism in ways that we, humans, struggled to and their bond has inspired a movement of special needs parents to see how these adorable animals can heal and teach our special needs kids. So we live in harmony with these farm animals and in turn, they help us with our little charity.
I created an autism-friendly kids club, The Little Explorers Activity Club, that offers Animal Assisted Therapy. A safe and understanding environment to have fun and socialize with other families alongside animal therapy that is very successful with anxiety, autism, ADD, ADHD, depression, and many other conditions. It has been seen to lower blood pressure, help concentration, calm anxiety, and build confidence. Interacting with these cute animals increases attention spans and has a positive calming effect helping with social interaction.
'The Goats are playing the piano, G#!'
Have you ever heard of Goat Agility? Well, Smurf and Murph, our 2 pygmy goats are experts
Helping to improve communication skills
Blue, a rescue pony not only turned his life around but is now helping children on the autism spectrum
Jack, an ex-sports horse who had to retire through injury is now on an exciting journey with these children
Casper is our old faithful in the herd, young at heart but has so much wisdom to share
Spending time with him, learning to just be in the moment is a beautiful experience
Luna and Shadow, our beautiful rabbits, are perfect for those who are sensitive to noise as they are very quiet furry friends
Their coat is gloriously soft, instant smiles and the calming effect is clear for all to see
Our gerbills, Jerry & Gonzo, are inquisitive and curious, encouraging the children to interact
Finally, Thula, our Maine-Coon cat, founder of the club, aka the Queen!
We find out what the children are interested in and use those special interests to encourage new experiences
This all provides a non-stressful, non-judgmental environment and increases self-confidence
They learn to build bonds and trust
The release of endorphins (oxytocin) has a calming effect on children that struggle with emotional dysregulation. We work to restructure their emotional response, thus access whole brain learning
It has been clinically documented that just being around horses changes human brainwave patterns
We calm down and become more centered and focused when we are with them
Being herd animals, they rely on an acute stream of sensory data to sense safety or danger; they can also hear human heartbeat within four feet
Research on heart-rate variability indicates that horses have a profound ability to synchronize their own heartbeat with that of humans
Horses have an innate ability to help us heal our emotional wounds
They are masters of reading physical movement, facial expressions, and tone of voice, which often is missed by us
These majestic animals can teach us so much about our own behavior and body language which can help us to understand and control our energy patterns in order to express ourselves more clearly
Animals also offer a powerful multi-sensory stimulus, they provide spontaneous behavioral responses which are simple and easy for children to interpret
With the help of these wonderful animals, we can connect, encourage and inspire
