Children’s Nature Tour Guide

Name: Children’s Nature Tour Guide
Uploaded: 2020-11-04T03:57:46Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The journey through nature is very useful for children with special needs to practice focus, adaptation and movement of their hands and feet.

The journey through nature is very useful for children with special needs to practice focus, adaptation and movement of their hands and feet.

DENTY PIAWAI NASTITIE

· 6 minutes read

Nature is the best teacher. With that spirit, Agus Maulana (25) invites children with autism spectrum disorders to learn from nature. The journey through nature is very useful for children with special needs to practice focus, adaptation and movement of their hands and feet.

Tuesday (27/10/2020), Agus walked swiftly down the river at Curug Kalimata in Karang Tengah Village, Babakan Madang District, Bogor, West Java. He took a walk through nature with Efraim, a 14-year-old boy who grew up with autism.

Also read: Empowering “Mobile” Street Traders

Along the way, there was the sound of the river rumbling. The river water level reaches 100 centimeters. That is quite high considering that this is the remaining flow of rainwater that flushed the cities of Jakarta and Bogor the day before.

Agus said, Curug Kalimata is less attractive to people who want to enjoy the waterfall because the path is too long and difficult. The 4-kilometer track passes up and down a path, then continues down the river. Large rocks with a fairly heavy flow of water make the journey even more challenging. Walking time is approximately 1 hour.

Children can experience walking in the river, which is quite challenging.

Unlike other waterfalls, such as Curug Kencana, which can be reached in 20 minutes by motorbike from the visitors’ departure post. Even though it is less attractive to the people, Curug Kalimata is very good for treating children with special needs.

"Children can experience walking in the river, which is quite challenging. In the water, they practice focus, adaptation, and the motor skills of their hands and feet. Water also makes children feel calm,” said the founder of the Sentul Hill Trekking community.

Also read: Small Steps, Huge Benefits

At Curug Kalimata, Agus doubtlessly took his steps. At times, he walked in front of Ephraim. Sometimes, Agus walks behind watching the teenager passing large rocks.

Based on data from the Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry (2008), there are around 2.4 million people with autism in Indonesia, with an additional 500 people per year. It is estimated that the number of children with autism syndrome is increasing as the number of children\'s visits to the clinic grows every year.

Also read: Drawing to Hone Creative Sensitivity

Children with autism generally have common symptoms of difficulty in communicating, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests, and repetitive behavior. Agus is required to understand the character of each child, learn their moods, and be flexible in inviting children to adapt to nature.

For children with special needs, the journey through the wilderness is not carried out solely to achieve the goal. The opposite of that, the journey is carried out as a learning process. In every trip, Agus tries to have a stopping post that becomes a means of teaching children. At the post, he gives children simple challenges to train focus, concentration, and hand and leg coordination. Exercises are tailored to the needs of the child.

Also read: Maintaining Forest ”Dispensary”

For Ephraim, for example, the exercise was to increase focus. Efraim is a child who likes outdoor activities. However, when called, he does not respond quickly. It happened when Agus called Efraim who was standing on a large rock. More than three times Agus called him, the teenager did not budge.

After his name was called many times, finally Efraim turned his head. "Efraim, help me up!" said Agus. Efraim glanced at Agus, then he returned to his world. "Efraim, help me up!" shouted Agus more firmly.

He finally moved closer to Agus. The teenager reached out his hand to help Agus climb the big rock. Agus said that every time he saw a child\'s growth process, he felt proud of himself. "The progress was not as fast as people eating chilies and then tasted spiciness. However, no matter how small the children\'s progress, to me, it means a lot,” said Agus.

Challenging

According to Agus, the biggest challenge in accompanying children with special needs is when they are having tantrums, such as crying or angry. Usually, they get angry when their wishes are not fulfilled. "I\'m used to being hit or pinched," he said.

When children are angry, Agus tries to understand their desires. If the child is angry because he wants to swim, for example, he gives the child the opportunity to swim with the time agreed. Eventually, the child is no longer angry. Children also learn to obey agreements.

Also read: Guardians of the Semarang Coast

Another challenge, children with autism often feel uncomfortable if their clothes are wet in the rain or rivers when exploring the nature. Some looked disgusted with wearing muddy shoes.

In the nature\'s embrace, children are taught to deal with uncomfortable feelings. Children are also taught to exercise self-control when they encounter insects, mud, or rocks. The adaptability skill is then carried over in everyday life.