Nature Moves
By Lindsay Keating, Founder of Nature Moves
ADHD was originally described to me as a shortage of dopamine in the brain. Followed closely by this simple but powerful advice: “The best thing kids with ADHD can do is ride their bikes to school.”
As an endurance enthusiast and a late-diagnosed ADHD adult, that really landed. I started to reflect on all the activities I’ve naturally gravitated toward, long hikes, hours of paddleboarding, and wild camping adventures, and it made perfect sense. These dopamine-producing outlets weren’t just hobbies; they were medicine. So I became curious about the science behind what I intuitively knew. Here’s what I found…
Why Movement Matters
ADHD is often accompanied by challenges like difficulty sustaining attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity, all of which can take a toll on a child’s academic success, friendships, and emotional well-being. While medication and behavioural therapy play vital roles for many, we often underestimate the powerful and immediate effects of physical activity and nature-based play.
Movement increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, helping to regulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which are crucial for attention and emotional regulation. In fact, even just 20 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as biking, running, or jumping on a trampoline, has been shown to improve focus, working memory, and self-regulation in children with ADHD.
Have you ever noticed your child is calmer, more focused, or even happier after just a short burst of play outdoors? That’s dopamine at work.
The Healing Power of Nature
The outdoors provides more than just a change of scenery—it offers a sensory-rich, low-pressure environment that’s naturally calming. For children with ADHD (and those who are neurodivergent more broadly), green spaces offer a kind of quiet stimulation that helps settle their nervous systems. There are fewer rules, less structure, and more room to explore, climb, and just be.
Spending time in nature encourages kids to engage their bodies and their senses. It offers the kind of unstructured play that helps them regulate emotions, build resilience, and connect with others in a way that often isn’t possible in noisy, overstimulating indoor spaces.
My Personal Journey: From Corporate to Camping
Before founding Nature Moves, I had a very different life. I worked in the corporate world. It wasn’t until I left that world to fully show up for my autistic and differently-abled daughter that I began to understand just how deeply nature could impact a child’s emotional and cognitive development.
Our breakthrough came during a bushwalk, just the two of us. No screens, no appointments, no expectations. Just dirt under our shoes and birds overhead. I watched my daughter light up with connection, joy, and freedom. Nature gave her something the structured world could not.
That moment sparked my mission. Today, through Nature Moves, I help other families access these same benefits, especially during school holidays, when support is often limited.
What Can Parents Do Today?
You don’t need to sign up for a camp to see the benefits of nature and movement. Try these small changes to your child’s routine:
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Walk or bike to school when possible.
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Take homework breaks outdoors, even five minutes in the backyard can help reset focus.
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Replace screen time with “green time”, whether it’s a weekend hike, park play, or beach stroll.
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Let them climb, balance, dig, build, and move freely.
The key isn’t perfection. It’s consistent, playful exposure to natural spaces and physical activity.
Let’s Rethink What ADHD Support Looks Like
A comprehensive approach to ADHD doesn’t need to be one-size-fits-all. For many children and their families, movement and time outdoors can be incredibly healing. Yes, medication and behavioural therapy are important options, but let’s not overlook the tools we already have in our backyards, trails, and playgrounds.
For me, nature isn’t a supplement, it’s a lifeline. And for our kids, it’s a way back to balance, confidence, and calm.
About the Author
Lindsay Keating is the founder of Nature Moves, a passion project born from personal experience and deep love for her autistic daughter. After leaving the corporate world to fully embrace motherhood and learn everything she could about autism, Lindsay discovered the transformative power of nature for neurodivergent children. Through outdoor adventures like hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, and camping, she witnessed incredible growth in her daughter’s confidence, connection, and joy.
Fuelled by these experiences and her belief that when parents are supported, children thrive, Lindsay created Nature Moves. The organisation now runs school holiday camps across Queensland, thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of autistic and neurodivergent children. Lindsay is a dedicated child advocate on a mission to help children build independence, confidence, and friendships in the most natural way possible.
