Walking to School

I had a vacation day I thought I'd already used, so I took today off. So I walked Boo and the neighbor kid to school.

There's just a slight dusting of snow on the sidewalk. Just enough to look for tracks. Mostly people tracks, several dogs, a neighborhood cat or two. The exciting ones are the rabbits. Boo thought they looked like deer tracks, so we had to look at the little toe prints in the paws.

They also found icicles and used them to write "secret messages" in the snow.

Then they stuck their hands in the snow, took their hats off, and licked snow off the sidewalk behind my back (I think that's where the snowy noses and grins came from).

Nature-Full Hike

Saturday, March 2, 2013.

The Plan had been a morning hike for all three of us. Lee got a migraine, so Boo and I got to the park at lunch time. We ambushed S, a favorite naturalist, for a picnic on the floor, and Boo asked if she would join us on our hike. “Well, I need to work. But I can hike with you a little bit.” Picnic was cleaned up, and it was arranged. 

Just outside the door, Boo picked up a stick and handed it to S. “What kind of stick it is? I think maple. See how the twigs come out across from each other?”

Slightly farther out, we came across a melted oval just next to the path. S told me it looked like a deer bed, and I called Boo back to ask what she thought. She didn’t know, but after looking for what could have made it melt, she decided it was a deer sleeping there. Why a deer? From the size. I then pointed out the deer prints and scat around the area. 

We’d barely started walking when we saw a fallen wasp next in the snow. S poked carefully with a stick, though she assured me that she’s never seen wasps around the nest in the summer, and any there would be lethargic from the cold. That reassured me as Boo ripped into it with her hands. “What would wasps do to us?” S explained how stings hurt. Not more than being bitten by the snake, but still not fun. (I love how she just demystified being bitten by a snake into something that happens if you handle snakes enough. Not fun, but not a huge deal.)

Boo was running ahead, and S and I were commenting on how we don’t usually see so many interesting things on such a short hike, when Boo shouted back, “I found scat!!!” And so she had. Not deer or rabbit. Not coyote. Not turkey. We poked it apart with a stick and noticed there was some fur, it folded around on itself quite a bit, and there was a long string folded over on one end. Still no idea. Took a picture and made a mental note to check a field guide. After consulting 2 guides, our tentative ID is some sort of weasel.

At the end of the Prairie Path is a mown grassy area. Somebody had made some snowmen. We discussed why their stick eyes had melted long furrows into the faces. Then Boo tackled the smaller one to the ground. 

Then S had to leave us to go back to work. Boo and I decided it was snack time. I saw three benches from where we were standing. “Boo, where is a good place to eat our snack?” She looked around, deep in thought. “Right here by the side of the path.” And so we did.

 How was your weekend?

Playing Outside

Running Snowball Fight, a photo by virithos on Flickr.

Boo and I took a little hike while Lee was out of town. There was maybe half an inch of snow on the ground. But it was just enough to scrape together some snowballs.

We ended up having a running snowball fight through this prairie trail. It was awesome.

How do you play outside in the winter?

Have You Thrown Your Kid in the Snow Today?

Have You Thrown Your Kid in the Snow Today?, a photo by virithos on Flickr.

Perfect Activity for a Saturday

A Winter Hike

January 14, 2012, Lee left at 5am to go to Denver. After a thrilling morning of laundry, a healthy lunch, and some not-very-quiet quiet time, I suggested a hike at our favorite park. “Yeah!”

Ee just had our first snow of the season. For reasons I am too embarrassed to discuss, she has no winter boots.

It’s mid 20s and sunny, slightly breezy. My winter short hike gear is my rain pants over my jeans. Her brand new rain pants are perhaps 6 inches too long. Heck, we can roll them up. Wool sweater, wool hat, wool mittens (all knit with love by her mom). We discuss our hike refreshments (Z-bars and water), and I remember that I bought a Platypus bottle and drinking tube for her. Fill that up and add it to her pack. I fill my Camelbac Mule, and we’re off.

Arrive at the trailhead, zip her up, help with mittens, and why are you wearing your sun hat? Put your warm hat on. She doesn’t want to wear two hats, please would I carry ducky hat? Fine, either she’ll get cold, and I can tell her that’s why I wanted her to wear her warm hat, or she won’t and she’ll be fine.

There’s enough traffic that the trail is already nicely tramped down. This reassures me as she goes stomping through snow over her ankles in sneakers.

She loves snow. She tries to make snowballs (not sticky enough). She identifies footprints (“people, people, people, deer or turkey, people, me!”). She asks why the snow sparkles, and then dances up the trail stomping on every sparkle she sees. Going up the switchbacks, she gets so involved looking at squirrel tracks that she follows them a few steps off the trail into the deeper snow.



I’m glad I put her in rain pants. She’d be exhausted already in snow pants. But she falls down every other step, both from slipping and because she thinks it’s really funny. Near the top of the hill, she complains that her foot itches. “Nothing we can do. Keep walking.” I’m so nurturing. At the section along the ridge where she usually runs, she starts whimpering because of her itchy feet. I have her sit on a bare spot and take her shoe and sock off. She’s got a tiny cut on the back of her heel. I pull one of the favored colored bandages out of my pack. The other heel is worse. Cause of damage is likely her jagged, razor-sharp toenails. I make a mental note to bring nail nippers on overnights with her. Blue bandages applied, she happily jumps along the ridgeline. “Side to side, side to side!” she zigzags in front of me.

At the listening point bench on top of the hill, we stop for a snack. She nibbled a Z-bar and has 2 raisins. I ask if she’s thirsty, and she manages to drink from her tube by herself. We need to tweak its clip point, but not in the snow. She admits to being cold and doesn’t complain about the warm hat now.



Down hill is slicker. She falls almost every step, but laughs every time, too. She pretends I’ve never been here, and tells me where we’re going, what’s going to happen, etc.

And then, her feet get cold. I feel horrible, because I haven’t even brought dry socks. I put her up on shoulders and stick her feet in my armpits. She sings loudly about jelly beans. An hour after getting out of the car, 5 minutes after she gave up on her feet, we arrive at the nature center.

I make her take her hat, mittens, and coat off. I take her shoes and socks off and realize that there’s a ring of ice around her ankles in the rolled cuffs of her rain pants. She gets a cookie and hot chocolate and settles on the floor of the store, where she is introduced to all patrons as “our youngest volunteer”, draws a picture, schmoozes enough food for a meal, and generally has a fabulous time.

What do you like to do on your winter outings?

Keeping Warm

I have taken Boo hiking in the snow in sneakers and jeans. And I’ve carried her back inside and picked ice off her socks, too. I don’t recommend it. 

Keep an eye on your little kid. They’re not as good at recognizing when they’re cold if they’re having fun. I’ve had good luck with “Are your toes (fingers, ears) a little cold or a lot cold?” Lips will turn purplish, hands will be tucked next to legs, noses and ears will be cold to the touch. 

Obviously, dress appropriately. Boots, snowpants, hat, mittens, coat as warm as you are wearing. Remember that their shoes and legs are shorter than yours. When tennis shoes or low boots are fine for an adult, your kid may need boots and snowpants. 

Did you mother tell you “If your feet are cold put a hat on”? Do it. A nice wool hat will work wonders for winter hiking ability. It can be really hard to keep kids in a hat, so make sure it’s one that fits and suits your kid’s sense of style. We’ve had the best luck with bright yellow with eyes and a ducky beak. (As with everything, bright colors make it easier to keep track of when it’s flung into the woods.) If the hat is refused, occasionally offer it again, reminding them that it will keep them warm. 

Kids run with their hands out, they touch snow, they fall and catch themselves in icy puddles. Put mittens on at the beginning of any hike where you will eventually put your hands in your pockets. 

Yesterday, we were out riding bikes. It was sunny and 50-55F. And windy. The kids’ fingers were frozen. A good windbreaker or raincoat can do wonders in windy conditions. 

Sometimes she’ll get whiny about the cold more because she’s bored or tired or hungry. Then those issues need to be addressed or whining about cold will continue no matter how warm she is. 

When she’s too cold (our poor planning), a shoulder ride or piggy-back shares some adult body heat. If that’s not enough, I have her cling to my front and wrap her into my coat. It’s resulted in mud in odd places of my wardrobe, but it’s a good way to share warmth and get her out of the wind. 

Carry spare socks and mittens. Dry shoes and a change of clothes in the car is never a bad idea, either. Your kid needs to be allowed to get wet, snowy, muddy. It’ll be easier on you if you know they won’t freeze on the way home and you can take them out in public if necessary. 

What does Boo think is good to keep warm? “Mittens, coat, jacket, boots. Pockets on your pants. Or a poncho. “

How do you keep your kids warm?