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| |    Enjoying Nature's Bounty in the Fall by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. As fall sets in and you begin to plan seasonal activities with your children, take a moment to consider what left you with vivid autumnal memories from your own childhood. Quite often, it's the simple things that linger: the glorious fall colors, the joy of jumping into a huge pile of leaves, the nip in the air signaling that Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner. To help you take advantage of the exhilarating sights and smells of autumn, we've come up with some suggestions for outdoor outings that you and your children might enjoy. Apple picking Even if gardening isn't usually your favorite pastime, children young and old often have fun picking apples in an orchard during the fall harvest. The drive in the country, the fresh-pressed cider and crafts that many farms offer, and the hands-on connection to nature are all part of the adventure. There are apple orchards in many parts of the country--just pull out the phonebook, call your chamber of commerce or farmers' association for a growers' guide, or search the Internet for orchards near you. (Remember that these are often small growers with erratic hours, so be sure to call ahead for hours and directions.) Afterward, consider coming home to make some apple pie, applesauce, or caramel apples--or simply let your children share what they helped pick with friends, neighbors, and teachers. Safety tip: Unpasteurized apple cider has led to outbreaks of serious (sometimes even fatal) bacterial infections. Be sure that any apple juice products you purchase in a grocery store or at a roadside stand have a label stating that they have been pasteurized. Look to the skies During the day, fall skies can provide excellent bird-watching opportunities as many species make their migrations in preparation for the winter. To enhance the experience for your children, you might consider buying an inexpensive pair of binoculars and a field guide to help you identify the birds in your area. At night, the skies become the source of another wonder, as you point out the autumnal constellations to your children. Take along a star chart, check out a few books, or go to a local planetarium to learn more. Fall foliage While many of us probably look at the turning leaves as the inevitable source of yet another chore to add to our lists, you'll enjoy the season more if you consider their upside as well. After all, simply going for a walk or taking a drive with the kids to see the fall colors can make for a pleasant outing. When it's time to pull out the rakes and leaf bags in your own yard, get the kids to help-and then reward their efforts by allowing them to jump in the piles. (Of course, it may mean a little extra raking, but given how much fun kids usually have, it's likely to be worth it!) If your children enjoy raking leaves and are interested in doing a good deed, you might even suggest that they surprise a neighbor and rake her yard as well. Don't forget to get out your camera for some great fall photos, both of the leaves themselves and your children buried in them. And as you get ready to head back indoors, let your children collect a few of their favorites for later crafts activities. They can paint them and make leaf prints, press and dry them to glue on paper, or even laminate them to make bookmarks or placemats. Safety tip: Don't push your leaf piles to the side of the road until after everyone is done playing in them. Children hidden in curbside piles of leaves are at risk of being run over by unsuspecting drivers. Also look before they leap to make sure that there are no tools, sticks, or other potentially dangerous objects in the piles. Pumpkin patches No matter where you live, pumpkin patches seem to crop up everywhere once fall settles in-either in the guise of actual pumpkin farms or makeshift patches set up in once-vacant lots. Getting out for a few hours (again, don't forget that camera!) will not only result in some great pictures, but it also can send you home well equipped for other fall activities, such as throwing a pumpkin carving or decorating party, roasting pumpkin seeds, or baking a pumpkin pie together. Safety Tip: If you let your school-age children carve pumpkins, look for the inexpensive, blunt-tipped pumpkin-carving knives sold in many supermarkets, hardware stores, and crafts shops this time of year. They're much safer than a regular kitchen knife. Flowers You don't have to have a green thumb to enjoy outdoor gardening activities with your children during the fall. Planting some spring bulbs in your yard or in planters is a satisfying activity that gives you something to look forward to when winter finally melts away. You may even want to stop at the public library or a bookstore to help your children find a kid-friendly gardening book for some ideas. If a child is too young or too impatient to wait for spring to appreciate her handiwork, you also can make a day of collecting wildflowers and bringing them home to put in a vase, dry, or press. As with leaves, dried and pressed flowers can easily be made into beautiful bookmarks or placemats by simply laminating them. Cornfields and hayrides Having grown up in one of the corn capitols of the country, I can assure you that cornfields can provide hours of fun for kids. Nowadays, many farmers actually create cornfield mazes for just this purpose. In addition to playing in the fields, your children might be interested in finding out more about how corn is grown by talking with the farmers or checking out a book. Your family also can pick or buy corn to take home for dinner, or to dry and use for front-porch decorations and craft projects. And if you are able to find a family-friendly farm, chances are good you'll also be able to go on a hayride or two. Safety Tip: While cornfields can be fun, they also can be surprisingly easy to get lost in. Dress your children so that they won't be well camouflaged, ask about how the maze is set up, or make some basic rules about staying within eyesight in the field. If you have little ones in tow (or ones who easily become afraid), it's probably best to explore right along with them.
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