Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Subscribe to the podcast HERE if you have an iPhone – or check out this link if you want to listen on an Android or other device!
Episode 47: Child-Led Hikes with Puddle Parenting
This episode is exciting because not only do I have three guests joining me, but the topic is something I am very passionate about, which is outdoor play. I have had a lot of guests join me lately who have discussed the negative impacts of technology on our children, and so I’m happy to have guests that share the positive impact that nature has on children. After all, even as adults we go outside for walks for our mental health so it’s our job to make that a priority for our children as well. Irene, Jenn, and Kelly are on a mission to get outside with their children and share all about how everyone can benefit from the outdoors in their nonjudgmental Puddle Parenting community.
Kelly is mom to Miss 4.5 and Mr 2. She enjoys exploring outside with her kids and learning new things about nature, as well as traveling the world when possible. She is also a public school elementary literacy teacher. This translates into her home, where she nurtures her own children’s love for books. Some of her other favorite things include kitchen dance parties, small creative projects, and practicing saying “no” to added responsibilities (in the mirror, so far).
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Irene is mom, mitten finder, personal chef, driver, and life coach to Mr. and Miss 6, Mr. 2, and Mr. Newborn. She always enjoyed the outdoors, but motherhood made her keenly aware of the benefits getting outside has for kids and adults alike. At work, Irene develops public health communications for families and children. She loves digging into research and finding ways to share the importance of outdoor play for kids minds, bodies, and wellbeing. Irene loves neatly lining up the cups and plates in her cabinets, warm buttered bread, skiing, and going on adventures, big and small, with her family.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jenn is mom to Mr. 4 and her dog Ariel. They go on many adventures together, sometimes with her husband too, having a blast! Before kids, Jenn was an environmental educator where she led hikes, took students on shoreline explorations, fielded questions about what sort of accent crabs have, and taught all about the natural world. She also loves baking, reading, board games, reheating her tea all day, and geocaching!
In this episode we discuss:
- The impact of technology in schools after Covid
- What research suggests for outside time with children
- How to navigate child-led hiking and the many benefits
- Ways to prepare yourself and your children for child-led hikes
Resources:
- Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
- Self-regulation skills
- Faber Taylor, A., Butts-Wilmsmeyer, C., (2020). Self-regulation gains in kindergarten related to frequency of green schoolyard use. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 70
- Eye Development
- Wang, Jiaxing et. al. (2021) Progression of Myopia in School-Aged Children After COVID-19 Home Confinement. JAMA Opthalmol.
- Agarwal, Swati et. al. (2021). Increase in ocular problems during COVID-19 pandemic in school going children- a survey based study. Indian J. Opthalmol
- Sherwin, Justin et. al. (2012). “The association between time spent outdoors and myopia in children and adolescents” Ophthalmology.
- Exercise
- Brown WH, Pfeiffer KA, McIver KL, et al. Social and environmental factors associated with preschoolers’ nonsedentary physical activity. Child Development. JanFeb 2009;80(1):45-58
- Risky Play
- Brussoni M, Olsen LL, Pike I, Sleet DA. Risky play and children’s safety: balancing priorities for optimal child development. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012;9(9):3134-3148. Published 2012 Aug 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph9093134
- What to say instead of “Be Careful”
- What is a child-led hike?
Connect with Jenn, Kelly, and Irene:
- Instagram: @puddleparenting
- Adventure List Printable
Connect with Lynzy:
- Join the Motherhood Meets Medicine community at patreon.com/motherhoodmeetsmedicine
- Instagram: @motherhoodmeetsmedicine
- Sign up for the weekly newsletter here
Questions Asked In The Episode:
- How are we lacking today with outdoor play?
- What does the research say about the importance of outdoor play?
- Do you have tips for parents if their kids don’t want to go outside?
- What are some tips to make good boredom rather than destructive boredom?
- What’s required for a child-led hike?
- Do you bring your own backpacks to child-led hikes and what do you wear?
- Have you ever made a scavenger hunt out of child-led hikes?
- How do we keep kids interested in child-led hikes?
- What do you do if your child needs to go to the bathroom during the hike?
- How do you get over your anxiety about your kid hurting themselves?
- What temperature is too cold to go outside?
- Any tips for getting a newborn and toddler outside?
- Do you ever run into animals that worry you during hikes?
