Take It Outside In 2009
Nature For Kids would like to share our outdoor adventures of 2008 with you. Take a look at the video we created below…
As you prepare for the New Year, we here at Nature For Kids hope you have a new found desire to take it outside in 2009. Resolve to take a family outing each week. As always, Nature For Kids will be here throughout 2009 to give you encouragement and ideas for wholesome outdoor recreation with your family! Enjoy!
nature for kids, family outing, outside, 2009, outdoor recreation, kids, family, new year, outdoor adventure
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Filed under Biking, Camping, Hiking, Rock climbing, Snow, Water | Comments (4)LIKEaBIKE
Need a good Christmas present idea for your toddler?
While in Moab this spring I came across one of Nature For Kids favorite outdoor toys. I saw a toddler scooting around on this wooden bike with no pedals. He would run straddling the bike and then balance and glide across the ground. He looked like he was having so much fun that it made me want one for myself. For how small he was he was maneuvering the bike easily and was going pretty darn fast. When I got home I went straight to the computer to find out more about it.
I discovered LIKEaBIKE! Check it out…
Prepare to throw out the rickety training wheels and hard to pedal trikes. LIKEaBIKEs provide the necessary first step for little riders (ages 2-5). They don’t need pedaling skills first, they need balancing skills. What’s so fun about LIKEaBIKEs is that it provides toddlers a way to go fairly fast, making it possibe for toddlers to keep up with the rest of the family on long walks . Most of the LIKEaBIKE cruisers are made out of laminated birch wood. They also all feature adjustable seats. Need more reasons to convince you to buy one?
At first all the LIKEaBIKEs looked the same to me, but there are some differences. I went through them all and widdled the differences down for you. Here they are…
Mountain - Most popular bike featuring pneumatic tires for better traction and control on ground that gives.
Spoky - Comes with real spoked metal rims.
Jumper - Made out of aluminum and has rear wheel suspension
Mini - For those itty-bitty tots that want to start earlier than most.
Forest -Considered the Like A Bike masterpiece. Only design made from beech wood and has a dark green cotton seat.
Race - The first Like A Bike on the scene from 1997. Features solid hard rubber tires.
Midi and Maxi - Created a little larger for those older kids who just don’t want to let go of their nice ride.
And to fully trick out your LIKEaBIKE you can add some of these accessories…
I love these gift ideas like this because they totally encourage Nature For Kids, something all of us parents should seek for. So add this to your list of must have gifts for kids this Christmas.
LIKEaBIKE, unique baby gifts, lil papoose, kids toys, gift idea, gifts for kids, holiday gifts, gifts, toys, wood toys, nature for kids
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Filed under Biking, Equipment | Comments (4)Make Tracks
Nature For Kids encourages you to trade your screen time for green time this Columbus Day Weekend!
Take part in “Make Tracks”, a family trail weekend, Oct 11-13, 2008. It’s Part of the National Wildlife Foundation’s Green Hour campaign, which urges parents to give their kids a daily dose of nature, something Nature For Kids is all about!
Just go to Nature Find and enter your zip code to find outdoor activities near you. And if you’re new to the whole outdoor scene, no problem, maketracks.org provides a list of supplies, tips for family friendly activities and a link to Nature Find. Here at Nature For Kids in our hiking and biking categories we also have a wealth of information.
Have an enjoyable weekend making tracks!
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Filed under Biking, Hiking | Comments (2)Learning To Ride A Bike
Here’s a bit of outdoor and experiential education from Nature For Kids…
While mountain biking this summer my husband and I had a nice talk with a gentlemen on the trail and when we parted ways he said to us, “Look for the open spaces not the rocks”. We laughed and said our goodbyes. One of the first things you learn when mountain biking or alpine skiing is that you should never focus on obstacles, like a tree or rock, in front of you because your body will naturally take you there. Instead you should focus on the open spaces or where you want to go.
I guess I should have taught this to our son before he headed out to learn to ride his bike this summer. I made the mistake instead of saying…”don’t hit that pole out there”. When he started off he was wobbly but kept on pedaling. He went 5 yards, then 10 and then 20! I was so proud of him. But then I could somehow hear what he was saying inside his little head…”don’t hit the pole, don’t hit the pole”. And what happened. He went right to the pole, like a magnet, the only obstacle in the middle of a 200 sq. foot parking lot. Here’s a short video clip of the incident.
My husband and I got to talking after the ironic event and came to a conclusion. Not only is “looking for the open space” a good rule of thumb to apply while learning new outdoor activities, it’s also a good analogy of how we should live our lives. By focusing on the obstacles in our lives we get hung up on them and have little progress. We should rather focus on where we want to go in life and hopefully get there without any major hang-ups.
Do you have any life lessons you’ve learned while in the outdoors? Let Nature For Kids know by leaving a comment!
nature, kids, bike, biking, mountain biking, outdoor education, learning, experiential education
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Filed under Biking, Education | Comments (2)Recharge Your Batteries
Does this sound familiar to any of you? …
“Turn that game off and go outside to play”
“Come inside I don’t want you playing in the front yard by yourself”
I think our youth of today are confused. “Out or in Mom?”
The dangers are on both sides of our front door these days. Violent crimes on our streets and on game consoles is just one example. We as parents have to go to greater lengths to provide safe well rounded recreation time for our kids. That means sometimes preparing an activity, accompanying them on the activity and doing the clean up afterwards. It takes a lot of effort.
The process can become a struggle at times. That’s why it’s important to remind yourselves as a parent why you do it. Why go to the effort of taking your young kids on outdoor trips?
To remind yourself I encourage you to go on an outdoor adventure without your kids. It’s sure to rekindle your love for exploration. Leaving behind the car seats, child carriers and fruit snacks for a short time will allow you to recharge your batteries and rededicate yourself to immersing your kids in the outdoors.
Nature for parents is just as important as Nature For Kids.
My husband and I recently took an outdoor trip, just the two of us. Thanks to loving and supportive family members we were able to leave our three kids in good hands. It was my goal to wander our beautiful state of Utah with every piece of recreation equipment we had. By the end of three days I felt full, content and was bubbling with excitement. Once again I was ready to expose my children to the things we saw and experienced outside.
We rode a single track in the rain, looked over a canyon from the top of a climb, camped near a bubbling brook, relaxed in a hot pot, and stood under a freezing waterfall. Every sense was stimulated and recharged. Who wouldn’t want their kids to experience this?
What have you done as a parent to recharge your batteries? Share your experience by leaving a comment here at Nature For Kids.
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Filed under Biking, Camping, Education, Rock climbing, Water | Comment (0)Getting City Kids Outside
CBS news put together a great segment on getting city kids outside. I tried to embed the video here but wasn’t able to, so here’s the link to the video. It’s only 2 minutes and it’s worth taking a look at.
We live in a small town surrounded by lots of nature and recreation possibilities. I can’t imagine the challenge that inner-city kids have in connecting with nature especially during this day and age.
In San Francisco there is an organization called R.O.C.K. (Real Options for City Kids). They take city kids on outdoor adventures. Most of the people that make the program successful are volunteers. I love the concept and hope many parents are taking advantage of this program or taking the time to take their kids out themselves.
Photos from SFGate.com
If you’re from an urban area leave a comment about getting city kids outside. We’d love to hear your ideas at Nature For Kids.
outdoors, adventure, kids, activities for kids, activities for children, outdoor recreation, city kids, outside, SanFrancisco
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Filed under Biking, Camping, Education, Hiking, Rock climbing, Snow, Uncategorized, Water | Comments (2)Biking With Toddlers
If you want to know what the hottest things on wheels are, just head to my friends’ garage in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Andy and Adrea, parents of Elijah, Olivia and little Astoria (Story), have the dream bike setup for biking with toddlers.
We stopped by for a visit over the 4th of July weekend and were in awe when we saw all the fun toys in their garage. There was an array of long boards, snowboards, bikes, bike seats, bike trailers, rafts, motorized scooters and more!
The thing that stood out the most to us was the bike setup they have for their young kids, a front mount toddler bike seat and a trailer bicycle. Our kids took a test spin with their dad. Needless to say they have some ideas for their next letter to Santa Claus.
Currently we have a bike seat for our toddler like this.
It sits right above the rear wheel. It has worked well but unfortunately my kids have to look at my behind the entire time we’re riding. Also I feel like the seat tips with each turn throwing me off balance a bit and leaving the bike back heavy. I’d really like to give the front mounted seats a try.
I’m sure the child appreciates the ride more when up front because it’s more interactive for them. All the weight is centered in the middle making turns and bumps easier to handle too. If you’d like to learn more about front mounted child bike seats read these two reviews done by the Gear Junkie.
The trailer bikes are a great way to get new riders use to balance and pedaling without having to worry about turning. My three-year-old couldn’t stop talking about his experience on the trailer bike. It’s the perfect size for those kids too big for an enclosed bike trailer but too small to ride their own bike.
Andrea and Andy took part in Jackson Hole’s Pole, Pedal, Paddle competition. They entered the family division and took their kids along with them! Take a look!
Now if this doesn’t inspire you Nature For Kids readers I don’t know what else will!
Check out these other wild setups that allow biking with toddlers, a tandem and a quad!
*Buying Tip
Be sure you buy an attachment (trailer or seat) that will fit your bike. Some bike trailers can’t mount to bikes with disc brakes. And some seats can’t fit on bikes with large center tubes, the ones between the handlebars and front forks. So be sure you keep your bike in mind when buying attachments and always keep your receipt!
outdoors, adventure, biking, bike seat, kids, outdoor equipment
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Filed under Biking, Equipment | Comments (5)Skeeter Camelbak
For our son’s birthday we got him a hydration pack, the Skeeter Camelbak. He loves it because he thinks it’s a jetpack like Jango Fett wears on Star Wars…and I guess because he can get a drink whenever he wants.
The Skeeter Camelbak product description says it fits kids 5 and up but Corbin just turned 4 and it adjusts small enough to fit him just fine. It also has a lifetime warranty on the reservoir. And it has wicking mesh to keep his back dry and comfy. It also has reflective strips on it for when it’s dark out.
We got this for him mostly because we want him to get used to carrying something on our outings. It’s also nice because he can drink whenever he wants and we don’t have to stop, take off our pack, unzip it and hand him his water bottle. I think it will help him stay better hydrated in the future.
At first I was frustrated that the Skeeter CamelBak didn’t have a sternum strap because I didn’t want it slipping off of his shoulders. But after going on a short hike this morning I realized it fits him just fine. No slipping, it’s fairly secure. Overall I like the new CamelBak, but don’t take my word for it…take his.
Me: “Corbin, do you like your new CamelBak?”
Corbin: “Yes, cause I love it. And I maybe can uh…uh….drink out of the hose. And I look like a hiking person.”
Me: “Is it heavy?”
Corbin: “No”
Me: “Does it make you tired”
Corbin: “No, when I’m sweating I get a drink out of the hose”
And there you have it from a freshly turned 4-year-old! I think Corbin’s older brother, Cru, will be getting a CamelBak for Christmas. I’m thinking I’ll get the larger capacity CamelBak for him however, the Mini-MULE, which has a waist and sternum strap. The Kelty Starfish is also a great option as a hydration pack for kids.
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Filed under Biking, Equipment, Hiking | Comment (1)Hydration For Kids
One crucial aspect of hiking and enjoying time outside during the summer is staying hydrated. As a parent it’s important that we stay conscious of our children and the amount of liquids they are consuming. WebMD describes how kids are different than us adults when it comes to hydration, “Parents… should know that active children do not adjust to hot temperatures as well as adults. Their body surface, as a proportion of their overall weight, is much greater than an adult’s. So they produce more heat during physical activity and they sweat less than adults. This reduces their ability to get rid of body heat.”
One of my children will drink anything on the planet if it has some kind of color additive in it. But when it comes to clean and clear water he won’t swallow unless I’m hovering over him like a hawk. He has gotten better with time though and I think that has to do with the way we’ve learned to present it to him. We let him pick out his own water bottle from the store and then had him decorate it with stickers. That little bit of independence seemed to make him more excited to drink from his very own water bottle. Now when we go on hikes or to his baseball games he’s more willing to stop frequently and take a couple swallows.
We went and explored Goblin Valley in South East Utah this last summer. It is an amazing place that makes you feel as if you’re on another planet, with mushroom shaped sandstone scattering the landscape.
We were visiting in August! If you don’t already know it’s unbelievably hot there during this time of year. We decided to go during the cooler part of the day but it was still roasting. This was our setup…
It’s a good rule of thumb to take 16 floz. of water for each hour you plan to be outside in the heat. And that’s just per person. So as a family of five we had to organize ourselves a bit. We took our Kelty Kids pack that we carry our youngest child in. There is a built-in hydration reservoir on the pack which holds 70 floz. On this particular day we filled that reservoir and then we took another daypack, our favorite Lowe Alpine, which held two 32 oz. Nalgene water bottles, a Powerade, a first aid kit and snacks. So that was enough for us to stay out for about two hours. Also, waiting for us back at the car, we had two gallons of water. We try to always keep two gallons available in case of emergencies.
Watch for these signs of dehydration - dry mouth, tongue and lips, no tears when crying, sunken eyes and grayish skin, decreased urination, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, headache, fatigue, muscle cramps.
Other helpful hints
- Plan activities during the cooler part of the day.
- Have your children wear clothing made of a good wicking fabric that keeps them cool and doesn’t trap the heat.
- Kids can get the liquids they need from other things like popsicles, juice and fruit. Have them available for quick access.
Do you have any tips concerning hydration for kids?
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Filed under Biking, Equipment, Hiking | Comments (4)Nalgene Water Bottles
When children play outside, usually the first necessity considered to bring along is a water bottle. With all of the talk about polycarbonate and other different types of plastics it leaves many parents wondering whether their child’s water bottle is safe.
Our three kids each have a Nalgene water bottle made of polycarbonate, which has a key element of a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA). It is said that BPA mimics the femal hormone estrogen and has been shown to cause defective cell division during development. Nalgene presents a wealth of information including the results of several studies done on this subject on their site. It’s really worth checking out if you have any questions.
Nalgene and many other manufacturers have decided to discontinue their polycarbonate bottles. At first I thought it was because they believed them to be harmful. But as I read into it further they are simply doing it because consumer demand is weakening for that product.
Nalgene says they have reviewed the studies and tests done by several agencies, administrations and councils and they claim to have proven BPA to be safe. These studies can be found on the site I linked to above as well. To keep in step with what consumers are seeking Nalgene has decided to transition from polycarbonate to Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, a BPA free alternative.
Overall the studies say that the amount of BPA leaching into the liquid inside a polycarbonate bottle is so minimal that there is no risk involved. As a parent it’s comforting to hear that statement ”no risk involved”, but the idea of even a minimal amount going into your child’s body is somewhat unsettling.
So it seems our choices when coming to polycarbonate water bottles are either over cautious parent or trusting consumer. Which one are you?
Find BPA-Free Water Bottles at REI
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Filed under Biking, Education, Equipment, Hiking | Comments (3)
