ABC's of Winter

We decided to go for Round 3 of our ABC's--a list of hikes and other activities for each letter of the alphabet.  We had never done any winter hiking before, and we're not a winter sports family...except for a bit of sledding here or there.  So this was a good goal for us to help pass the dreary months after Christmas and stay active instead of just hunkering down on the couch and reading a good book and getting more stir-crazy by the minute.  Here is our list.  Click on the links below the pictures if you'd like more info on each location.

Antelope Island

Battle Creek Falls

City Creek Canyon

Dimple Dell West

East Canyon

Fink Again Loop

Green Pond Trail

Hill Aerospace Museum

Indoor Olympics

Jordan River Parkway

Killyon Canyon

Leo Carrillo Beach

Murray Park

Nature Park

Old Mill Bike Path

Paradise Falls

Quail Trail

Roots Tech

Sam's Baptism

Taylorsville Park

Union Pacific Rail Trail

Ventura Harbor

Wild Rose Trail

Hunting X's at Wheeler Farm

The Y Museum of Art

Zoo

ABC's of Fall

We don't want to stop exploring the beauty around us just because school has started, so we have decided to do the ABC'c of Fall--a list of hikes, walks, and activities to tackle this autumn.  I'm adding pictures as we accomplish each one.  Below each picture is a link to the hike.

Adam's Canyon Lower Falls

Bell Canyon Reservoir

Corner Canyon

Deuel Creek South

East Mountain Wilderness Park

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

Hensky Overlook

International Peace Gardens

Jensen's Nature Park

Kay's Creek Parkway

Lake Solitude

Midway Gold Medal Mile

Neff's Canyon Loop

Orsen Smith Trail to the Old Pine Bridge

Patsy's Mine

Quarry Trail

Red Butte Garden

Stewart Falls

Tracy Aviary

U of Utah Block U

Vineyard Beach Trail

Willow Heights Trail

X (Railroad Crossing)

Yellow Fork Canyon

Z Trail

Hiking for Autism

Hiking to Rocky Mouth Falls

We did 20 hikes together as a family over this last summer, and we found hiking can have many benefits for kids on the autism spectrum.

1. Hiking is quiet.
Many kids with autism are sensitive to noise.  My son loves swimming, but the noise of a crowded pool often puts him over the edge.  As we would escape the city for the quiet of the mountains, a measure of calm would settle on all our souls.  The gentle sounds of a river, the wind in the trees, or the our footsteps on the path were sounds my son could handle and even enjoy.

Twin Lakes Hike

2.  Hiking isn't hectic.
There is a reason we generally avoid amusement parks, firework shows, or ball games: The Crowds!  There is nothing like the hectic cacophany and energy of a crowd to bring out the worst in my spectrum kids.  Hiking, especially if done on a weekday, is a solitary activity.  There is nothing like having a waterfall all to yourselves.

3.  Hiking is Heavy Work.
My middle two kids, like many others on the autism spectrum, have sensory processing disorder and struggle with their body awareness (proprioceptive sense).  Hiking is a great way to get the sensory input a child needs to feel grounded.  Pushing uphill with your thigh muscles and pulling yourself up some rocks can help a child feel centered.  I have been amazed at how their ability to engage appropriately grows after a hike.  Their body awareness has also increased tremendously.  Their ability to look at an obstacle and figure out how to move their bodies to conquer it is so much better than it was even a couple months ago.  I'm a big believer in heavy work.  Here are some other heavy work activities.

"Putting our dogs in" at the end of a hike.

4.  Hiking is enables appropriate sensory seeking.
Some kids with autism always seem to be bumping into stuff and breaking things.  This is another sign that their proprioceptive sense is off.  Hiking gives them a chance to stabilize this sense.  So go ahead, kids!  Pull sticks from the underbrush and whack them on the ground.  Crunch leaves in your hands and under your feet.  Get your feet in a cold mountain stream.  Throw rocks or hit them together.  I much prefer breaking sticks in nature to breaking toys at home!  And meeting those needs on the trail means your kid doesn't need to sensory seek as much at home.

5.  Purposeful Walking.
Many kids with autism have a tendency to meander.  Walking with purpose from one place to another is a foreign concept.  They go at their own pace, not paying close attention to their surroundings.  Or maybe more common, they allow their attention deficit issues pull them off course.  Hiking is good practice for walking with purpose!

6.  Hike often.
The benefits of hiking for kids with autism are best seen as it becomes a regular activity.  There was a lot of whining at the beginning of the summer.  As they accomplished more and more hikes, they gained confidence and stamina.  Hiking made them feel good and centered, so they wanted to do more of it.  They found their pace and came to know that the hard parts are temporary.  Hiking regularly makes it a part of the schedule.  And we all know how critical a schedule is for kids on the spectrum!

Hiking is great for all kids, and it can definitely be of a benefit for kids with autism.  Plus, it is wonderful for moms too!  Take a deep breath, smell those pine trees, put your feet in a cold, mountain stream, and enjoy being with your kids in nature.  

ABC's of New Skills

The newness of summer has worn off.  The 4th of July and Pioneer Day have come and gone.  Maybe you’re back from summer vacation or have accomplished your ABC’s of Summer (see earlier post).  What now?  Summer can be a great time to learn new skills because there are often big chunks of unstructured time.  So here is a list of skills to pick up before summer is over.  Which will you choose?

Archery.  Get a bow and arrows, set up a target, and practice until you are good at it.

Braiding.  French, Dutch, Up-do’s.  Learn them all.  Fishtail braids aren’t that hard!

Crochet.  Some of the cutest projects can be made with the simplest crochet stitch.

Dog Training.  Work on tricks with your pooch or a neighbor’s dog.

Emergency Preparedness.  Put together a 72 Hour Kit. 

Fishing.  Practice your casting at a local pond.

Guitar.  Learn basic chords and teach yourself to play a few songs.

Home Repairs.  If there is something that needs fixing, learn how to do it yourself.

Ice skating.  Don’t wait until winter to master this skill!

Juggling.  Now is your chance!  Start with two balls and work up.

Kite-Flying.  Practice getting your kite up and letting it soar.

Languages.  Get the free Duolingo app and start learning a foreign language.

Make-Up.  Learn to do it like a pro. Or learn Special FX make-up for Halloween. 

Needlepoint.  Start now on a needle point project to have it ready for Christmas.

Origami.  What creature could you make with just a piece of paper?

Photography.  Look up online tutorials and then start taking pics with your cellphone.

Quilting.  Connect with someone older who can teach you this special skill.

Rag Rug Making.  Take old t-shirts and sheets and make them into a cool rug.

Shooting.  Whether it’s a BB Gun or more, learning to shoot is a great life skill.

Tie Dye.  This actually takes some practice and know-how to turn out amazing.

Up-cycling.  What can you make from used objects around your house?

Video Making.  Film your adventures and edit them into sharable video.

Woodcarving.  Start with a spoon and work up to something more elaborate.

X-periment.  Look up fun experiments and try them at home.

Yoga.  Namaste!  Learn some poses to help rejuvenate your spirit.

Zip Line.  Learn how to make one in your own backyard.

ABC's of Summer How-To

Our ABC's of Summer have been a big hit!  I shared the idea as the feature article in the Dansie Orthodontics newsletter in July, and the idea has taken off.  We were having such a good time doing our list that I wrote Dr. Laura Schlessinger and told her I thought there were other moms out there who would also enjoy coming up with a list of their own.  She liked the idea so much that she made it her Email of the Day.  Then her staff contacted me and said Dr. Laura would like to share my list on the air with her listeners.  I was happy to oblige!  My friend Jen, who's also a client of Dansie Orthodontics, has come up with a list of her own, and one of the women she works with texted a local radio station, 105.1 FM, today (July 27, 2017, 59:15) and they raved about the ABC's of Summer to their listeners.  Here is the ABC List they came up with for their blog.

Our list is specific to our area and is going for practically-free-yet-physically-active activities, but each family's interests, budget, and location are unique.  So here are some tips for making your own list:

1) Have a brainstorming session with the kids of all the fun things they would like to do before summer ends.  They'll be able to make a great list that will probably include things like a water balloon fight, making ice cream, having a picnic.  That way you'll be able to fill in your list with easy activities you might naturally be doing this summer.  Then you can supplement with activities you've researched as suggested below.

2) Google parks, pools, hikes, and activities in your area.  People have usually compiled lists you can pick and choose from according to the letters of the alphabet.  

3) Look up your local library system.  They will have calendars online for the various libraries near you and the free events they are offering.  We saw Ponies doing tricks like playing the piano and painting at our library this summer.  But since we already had a great "P" hike, we just chalked it up as extra fun. 

4) Download the AllTrails app.  Type in the name of the cities nearest you, and it will tell you all the hikes in the area.  Just remember that even though the app rates a hike as "easy,"  don't take that at face value.  Do some extra research on the hikes to find out which ones are actually kid-friendly.  If it gains a lot of elevation, has really rocky or tricky terrain, or is longer that 2-3 miles, it may be better for older kids.  Plus, the best hikes for kids have something rewarding at the end like a waterfall, a lake, or a cave.  

5) Think of friends and family members' names.  Is there someone you could visit or invite for dinner?

6) Pick and choose from this general list:

     Airplanes (Make paper airplanes and fly them at the park or go to a military museum)

     Badminton (Baseball, Basketball, Batting Cages)

     Crafts or Camping (even if it is just in the back yard)

     Dogs (Visit the local shelter and volunteer to walk the dogs or work on teaching your dog some obedience skills)

     Elderly (Do a service project for one of your elderly neighbors)

     Farm (Visit a local farm or Farmers’ Market) or go Fishing!

     Garden (Plant one) or Game Night (Play board and card games as a family.)

     Home Improvement (Make something together to beautify your home) 

     Ice Cream (Make it homemade or go for a family outing)

     Jumprope Contest (Jello Wrestling would also be hilarious!) 

     Kid’s Movie Night w/ Kettle Corn or Kickball

     Lake (The local lake is calling!  Swim, fish, or canoe!)

     Marshmallows (Make a fire and roast them up)

     Night Games (Play steal the flag or hide-n-seek)

     Olympics (Create a neighborhood or family Olympics)

     Pool Party!

     Quiet Acts of Service

     Race (Make Pinewood Derby cars or Rain Gutter Regatta boats and have a race.  Or try one of the fabulously fun relay races from the race link!)

     Splash Park

     Tennis

     University (See what free museums your local universities have to offer)

     Volleyball

     Water Ballon Games 

     X Marks the Spot  (Make a treasure hunt or try geocaching)

     Yoga (Maybe try it in the sprinklers to give it a fun twist!)

     Zoo

ABC's of Summer

This idea came on the first day of summer break when we found ourselves out on Antelope Island.  My son said, “A is for Antelope Island,” and an idea was born.  Here is the list we are tackling.  We’re going in alphabetical order and hoping to finish by the end of the Summer, but it would be just as fun to go in random order and try to accomplish 26 activities in a month!  Since we wanted to do this list as inexpensively as possible, many of the activities are hikes.  We wanted to get out and see new things, and it’s always nice to escape the heat of the valley for the cool mountain air!  Plus, since most of the hikes are short, they can be done in the evening after work so Dad can come.  If the activity costs anything more than the gas money to get there, the price is listed.  Take this idea and adapt it for you family's area, interests, and budget!

Antelope Island

Antelope Island.  $10/car.  Bison, pioneer ranch, and the Great Salt Lake!

Bowling.  Valley Bowling is offering $1 games and $1 shoe rental all summer.

Cecret Lake.  Funny spelling but nice family hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon. 

Donut Falls.  Pretty hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Ensign Peak.  Hike at dawn and watch the sun rise over the entire Salt Lake Valley. 

Fort Douglas Museum.  Military Museum up at the University of Utah.

Grotto Falls.  Beautiful, easy hike on the Mt. Nebo Scenic Loop.

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls.  Mini hike to a lovely waterfall in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Indian Bath Tubs.  Steep but fun hike in Farmington off of the Davis Creek Trail.

Jordan River Parkway.  Bring your bikes and explore the trail and its many parks.

KOPFC Pool. $5/child.  Great outdoor pools for every age!

Lisa Falls.  Easy Hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Mill B South Trail.  Another short fun hike near Hidden Falls!

Nobletts Creek Trail.  Gorgeous hike near Heber City.

Orson Smith Park.  Hike up to the Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge near Draper.

Twin Lakes

Payson Lakes.  $8/car.  Bring your fishing poles and stroll around Big East Lake.

Quail  Trail Loop.  Enjoy a lovely shady stroll at the Ogden Nature Center

Rocky Mouth Falls Trail.  Check out this waterfall near Sandy.

Silver Lake Loop Trail.  Gentle hike in a gorgeous setting up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Twin Lakes Hike.  Half way through the Silver Lake Hike, take the trail to Twin Lakes.

Upper Falls.  The hike is steep and rocky but very short and ends in a 40ft. waterfall.

Valley Regional Park.  Grab some frisbees and try disc golf at this course.

Wardle Fields Regional Park.  Great new splash park in Bluffdale.

X Marks the Spot.  Try your hand at Geocaching and see what you can find.  

Y.  Head down to “the Y” (BYU) to tour the Bean Museum and the Museum of Art.
Zoo. Hogle Zoo, $6/child, is always a blast.  And I guess it is cheaper than a drive to Zion’s National Park.