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4 Hudson Valley Parent n August 2017 ON OUR COVER In this issue FEATURES 8 I am a Hudson Valley Parent Pamela Perry encourages her young sons to embrace their creative side and use art to express themselves and learn. By Paul Smart 10 Me Time: Just for women Have you ever tried to feng shui your home? Read about this and four other home and hearth tips! By Cassidy Brighton 15 Teens need more sleep Has a later school start time made a difference for students in the Rhinebeck School District? By Kymberly Breckenridge 18 Fun in the sun at the best swimming holes Splashes and smiles at Hudson Valley swimming holes and beaches. 20 Protect your kids from ticks Lyme disease left a preschooler from Wappingers Falls hospitalized and unable to walk. By Lisa Iannucci 23 Is your child ready for music lessons? From music in the womb, to group classes and beyond. By Kenneth K. Guilmartin 25 Could artificial turf be harming your child? Learn about the possible dangers of your kids' athletic fields. By Olivia L. Lawrence 28 Calendar Enjoy the rest of summer at awesome festivals, fairs and more! 37 Need help choosing an enrichment program? How to pick the right activity for your little one. By Dawn Marie Barhyte 38 New moms are basically superheroes New Mom Comics: The First Year offers a hilarious and relatable point-of-view on the everyday realities of parenting. By Alison Wong This month's cover kid is Amelia, a 9 year old from Newburgh. She loves to dance, read and play games with friends. Photo by Michael Bloom HV PARENT TOP LISTS Best hiking spots in the Hudson Valley The Hudson Valley is home to some of the best places to hike. Explore these trails with the whole family and enjoy the fun and beauty the area has to offer. The Cary Institute 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook The Cary Institute is the perfect place to let your children explore their natural habitat and learn about the ecosystems around them. For older kids, try to identify the types of trees you pass or the species of birds you hear or see. The Cary Institute offers several trails: Cary Pines Trail, Wappinger Creek Trail, EdVenture Trail and Sedge Meadow Trail. Visitors may also tour the Internal Road System by car, bicycle or foot. EcoStudies.org Minnie Falls Park Mountain Lakes Road, Bethel Enjoy a walk through the county in this nine-acre park. Complete with a wooded glen, rushing stream and quiet forest, the park is also home to a scenic waterfall off the North Mohican Trail. Minnie Falls Park is open year-round, dawn to dusk. SCVA.net Minnewaska State Park Preserve Route 44/55, New Paltz Found on the beautiful Shawangunk Mountain ridge, Minnewaska boasts some of the best views in the Hudson Valley. The park is open for those who want to hike, swim, mountain bike, cross-county ski, horesback ride and rock climb. Open daily and year-round. NYSParks.State.NY.US To find a hiking spot near you, visit HVParent.com/Top-Hiking-Spots