Hudson Valley Parent

porch, where seedlings sprout before the kids plant them in raised gardens. "Kids really love gardening," says Pesola. Like she does with her own children, she helps the kids at Fort Discovery plant their own gardens. Vegetables grown in those gardens are fed to the kids at lunch or divvied up and sent home with them. "Kids are more likely to eat vegetables they have grown themselves," says Pesola. "They also have the added benefit of having fun as they garden." In mid-August the kids picked tomatoes and cucumbers. "Our carrots didn't do that well," said Lisa. "They look strange." Now they are waiting for their pumpkins to grow and hopefully they will be ready to be picked by early October. In recent years, Pesola has noticed a decline in children's enthusiasm for being outdoors and points to parents' increasing concern with dirt and germs. A tree in her front yard is often laden with her kids and their friends hanging from its limbs. Many parents have cautioned her about the dangers of a child falling from the tree. While it's natural to be protective of your children, Pesola cautions against overprotecting them. She believes there is a fine line between keeping your child safe and scaring them. "I have some children come here, and they are afraid of ladybugs," she says. In time, Pesola manages to help parents and children alike not only ease into outdoor life, but embrace it. Join your kids outdoors Cheryl and Jeff Piché, Hudson Valley parents of two, have their own way to encourage their kids to be outside. "We try to be outside with them," says Cheryl. "We love going snowboarding, paintball and hiking. One time Jeff had the boys restore an old trailer that was junk. When it's done, they got to sell it and keep the money themselves." A little willingness is all it takes Whether you want to grab your car keys and take a drive to an outdoor adventure, or are looking for something to do in your own backyard, you can help your child love the outdoors with a little ingenuity and the willingness to get some dirt under your nails. Barbara Allen is a freelance writer and a mother of four from the Hudson Valley. Don't let the fear of ticks and Lyme disease stop you from getting outside while the weather is nice! Tips to minimize your child's risk of Lyme disease Do a tick check daily. Check yourself, your children and pets. Perform a full body search from head to toe at the end of each day or first thing in the morning, especially if pets sleep on beds. Pay special attention to scalp, ears, armpits, groin and behind the knees. Run your fingers over the skin to feel for tiny bumps that may feel like a scab, which may actually be a feeding tick. Avoid areas where ticks are most abundant including wooded areas, tall grass, brush and leaf litter. If you go into tick filled areas, wear protective clothing. Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks easily. Do a thorough tick check each day. Remove clothing and turn it inside out and place in the dryer on high heat for twenty minutes to kill any ticks clinging to the fabric. Ticks should be removed as soon and carefully as possible. If removed within 24 hours of attaching, the risk of getting Lyme is minimal. Tips for removing ticks Remove the tick promptly. Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at the head or mouth, next to your skin. Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it releases from the skin. If you can, place the tick in a baggy in case your physicians asks to see it. Swab the area of skin that was bitten by a tick with rubbing alcohol and wash the area with an antibacterial soap. Monitor the site where you were bitten for the next month. The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash resembling a bull's eye. Look out for flu-like symptoms without the usual respiratory signs. The onset of Lyme can form between several days to weeks after being bitten. If you're unsure about anything, contact your doctor immediately. HVParent.com Hudson Valley Parent 29

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