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Touch Tray
Indoor Activity
Here’s your free nature prescribing activity called Touch Tray - perfect for indoor environments, emotional regulation and joy.
Touch Tray Written Instructions
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This one never fails. The element of mystery and awe make it a winner for children and adults. Our NatureFix trained health care worker have used this with clients who have complex PTSD and with children struggling to regulate. It can be done solo or in groups.
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It is regulating, mindful, and likely to induce feeling of joy. Did you know that research has found that simply touching natural object lowers stress levels when compared to touching manufactured objects.
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Anywhere that is relatively quiet - inside or outside.
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5-8 interesting and safe natural items and 1 or 2 un-natural items.
A tray or table.
A cloth to cover all the items.
Some good natural items are shells, sticks, stones, an egg, a feather, prickly cones, rough bark, smooth bark, a sprig of a smelling herb, coral, flowers, natural fibres like wool.
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Ask the participant if they are comfortable closing eyes, or if would like a blindfold. If neither is possible, they can look away while holding one hand in front of them.
Explain that you will place a series of safe and fun to touch natural (and un-natural objects) into their hand. They are to explore the object with any sense they like except sight.
Explain they might recognise some items, or they might not. It doesn't matter, just enjoy exploring them with your senses, especially touch and smell (but not sight).
Pass them the first object...
When they are finished exploring the first object place it back under the cloth on the tray or table, remind them to keep their eyes closed (or averted).
Repeat for the rest of the objects, returning each under the cloth.
Open the eyes...
Ask - "Would you like to see what you have been touching?"
Do a "grand reveal". You can take the cloth off in one go, or produce the items one at a time.
Often people will feel the items again one by one.
Watch the joy on people's faces as they feel each object.
Do some story catching. Let people talk about what the experience was like.
Or you might ask questions such as
What was the hardest object to guess,
Which one did you like touching most
What did these items remind you of?
How did touching them make you feel.
Enjoy!
If you are doing this activity with youth, it can be more engaging to turn it into a guessing game. To do this…After you have covered up the items and everyone has opened their eyes. Take some time to question the group/person about what items they remember touching. When they have guessed as much as possible do a reveal.
You will receive all this!
High quality science-backed online training
Over 40 nature connection routines as audio and scripts to use anytime, anyplace
Activities for indoors, outdoors, youth, and more
Trauma informed facilitation guide
Optimal nature site selection guide
Beautiful poster for your workspace
Case studies
Our easy to follow 5 steps to connect framework
Free bonus access to our 10 day program to run with your clients
A certificate for 6.5 hours CPD
Applications for trauma, anxiety, depression, and ADHD
Personal skills like nature mindfulness and emotional regulation
A program that replenishes you, while you support others
Special Offer
Let us help you! For a limited time, we are giving you an exclusive discount. Get 30% off the Nature Prescribers Toolkit and training.
Enter Nature30 at checkout.
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Nature prescribing involves a primary health care or wellbeing worker recommending time in nature for a health benefit, similar to a doctor giving you a prescription.
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Everybody can benefit from time in nature. Research (1) shows that nature is particularly good at regulating emotions, improving mood, and helping with memory, focus and concentration. It can decrease stress and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
(1) see https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1663
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Yes! A recent systematic analysis (1) of the literature found that 98% of people who engaged in a nature-based intervention experienced positive mental health outcomes.
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Everyday nature! You don’t need to go for hike; your backyard, courtyard, or local park will work. Try a botanic garden if you have one nearby. You can bring nature inside too, or even enjoy virtual nature.
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Yes, humans are hardwired to connect with nature; coming into alignment with nature is automatically health promoting.
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Sure, but you will miss a lot of benefits if that is all you do. If getting the health benefits of nature was as simple as “being outside”, then everyone with an outdoor job would be thriving and we know that’s not the case. It’s about how meaningful the moment is, not just the number of minutes. Using our evidence backed routines ensures you will be providing a healing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
SPECIAL OFFER Get 30% off the Nature Prescribers Training and Toolkit.
Enter Nature30 at checkout.
Help your clients recover with the healing powers of nature
Ask about our in-person workshops
Our popular in-person workshops. This full day of training gives your people everything they need to start delivering nature prescriptions. It includes lifetime access to the Nature Prescribers Training and Toolkit for all attendees.
We often get feedback that this is the best heath training participants have ever attended, and that they left feeling refreshed and restored from all the practical nature activities.
97.6% of our attendees report being “very satisfied” with the training
“Everything was fantastic, I felt lighter after spending time in this training.” Clinician, Snowy Valleys Training
"What you brought was the perfect intersection between evidence and playfulness but also such embodied wisdom." Lauren Stracey, Sector Engagement Manager FAMS
Cost: $6000 for 10-18 people + travel. (Includes free lifetime access to the Toolkit valued at $ per person)
Contact us to find out more. https://www.naturefix.life/contact