Animal inspired respite for children with challenges

Animals Inspiring Kids is a rural respite service for children, with a focus on animal inspired learning, interactions and fun adventures. Mentoring, support and coaching is provided after school, and during school holidays.

These children live with their challenges daily, and suffer from disorders such as autism, ADHD, global developmental delay, and some have debilitating health conditions. These challenges often exclude them from school, activities, programmes and sports as they become too overwhelmed in busy environments. Instead the children that come to Animals Inspiring Kids begin to thrive once they make friends with the animals and learn about themselves and how to manage the challenges they face.

The children get one to one care and attention, tailored to their individual needs. The children learn about themselves through caring and interacting with the animals and this transfers positively to their home and school lives.

Animal inspired learning encourages the children to learn about animal behavior, their care and needs, using concepts such as respect, trust, gentleness, kindness, patience, caring, cooperation, empathy and helpfulness. These concepts are useful learning tools for the children to learn how to treat animals. This learning is reflected in how they treat themselves and each other, broadening their social skills and providing the courage to move outside of their comfort zone.

Horse riding and animal interactions are proven to be so beneficial and therapeutic for children with these sorts of challenges. I have had amazing feedback from parents and teachers who have noticed improvements in their child's learning, strategies for coping with their challenges, improvements in social skills, and a reduction in sensory issues.