Jeanine is a self-described tree hugging, science and math geek whose love of nature, coupled with her absolute certainty that people, especially children, are happier, healthier, and wiser when they regularly spend time in nature, led her to establish Rhode Island Families in Nature. Jeanine also works for the RI Environmental Education Association, supporting formal and informal teachers as they create "place-based" curriculum. She loves to hike, run, garden, bake, and go camping, especially when accompanied by her husband, Ian, her daughter, Sierra, and her son, Devin. They live in Wakefield.
Sunday morning, 6:58am. Not my idea of sleeping in, especially after spending half the night with my son whose cough reminds me of the call of a sea lion and whose temperature reminds me of a toaster oven. But what was I really expecting anyway? My daughter has decided to wake me up by crawling all over me, seemingly unaware of the fact that her knees and feet are kicking me in the gut and in the head.
Did I mention that it’s 12 degrees outside?!
It’s a windy but sunny day in early fall, and my son and I slowly approach the gigantic spider web climbing net at Tuckertown Park in South Kingstown. My three year old is the tentative sort, and the conversation goes something like this:
“Come on, Devin. Let’s climb the spider web!”
“No, no, Mommy. I too little.”
“Nah, you’re not too little. You can do it.”
“I too scared, Mommy.”
“What are you scared of?”
“I scared I gonna fall.”
Who hasn’t noticed that every kid loves an empty box, often more so than the item that came in it? In my house, my kids are pretty much yanking the box out of my hands before I’ve had a chance to open it and planning some kind of reconstructive surgery to transform it into a castle, a dog house, a car, a dragon – whatever they can imagine.
For the last few years at about this time I start making a list (yes, an actual list because that’s the kind of person I am) of all the things I want to do with my kids during the summer. I do this because I don’t want to forget some of the great ideas I – or someone else – had over the winter; because I am just plain excited to have my kids all to myself for the summer; and because I like to organize anything and everything.
I’ve learned a little bit along the way.
Hiking, like most aspects of my life, has been completely altered since becoming a mom. Now I hike with and for my children – so they can get outside, slow down, play, and reap the many, many benefits that time outside offers. Research shows that time spent in nature is important for a child’s physical, [...]
I have struggled for many years with seasonal affective disorder and I noticed early on that my kids get pretty icky this time of year, too. The problem isn’t knowing what to do. Go outside and get some sunshine – that’s simple. The problem is motivation. Some days it’s just so darn cold. And gray. [...]
Yes, I do understand and respect the valid reasons that parents decide to drive their kids to school. But my motivation in encouraging you to put your kids on the bus instead of drive them – if and when your personal situation allows – is primarily to increase the time your children spend outside.
Wait…What?
By Jeanine Silversmith Recently, I helped a few friends out by watching their children. As a mother, I am certain I’m not built for more than two, so I was a bit nervous adding some fairly young ones into the mix. But these are good friends, and I jumped at each chance to help them [...]
1) Dirt don’t hurt. As much as I love for my children to “get down and dirty,” I have to admit I’m very particular about stuff. I like things to be clean and organized. My tolerance for crud reached a new level this summer on one of our camping trips as my children played quietly [...]
By Jeanine Silversmith As a mom and hiker, I jump at every chance to get into nature and enjoy it with my children. But let’s face it, sometimes the kids are less than inspired. Sometimes a familiar hike needs something new. Sometimes they would rather sit and stare at a puddle in the parking lot [...]
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