While not everything runs smoothly, there are some things that are working well for our family this summer. Here are my top 5 summer parenting hacks that are working really well for us right now. I hope some of them will help you figure out ways that your summer might run a little more smoothly too! 

1. Alphabet Days

The kids and I are doing alphabet-themed adventures this summer, which is helping us explore our surroundings and check out places we might not have otherwise tried. About once I week we brainstorm all the things we could do that start with that letter. This includes activities, as well as visiting places that start with that letter, or eating food that starts with that letter.

For example, for “B” day we went bowling (fun!) and tried boba tea (yuck!). We also considered going to the botanical gardens or the butterfly house. Or, we could have chosen to go boating or have ice cream at Baskin Robbins. You get the point. 

What’s great about this is the kids get to help brainstorm and pick the activity, so they’re vested. I’ve heard way less complaining about what we’re doing. Sometimes I make an executive decision about our daily activity and they have been great about going along with it.

It’s also been a great way to compile a huge list of all the fun things to do in our area, which I’ll keep and refer back to when we need ideas. Anytime we’re out and think of something fun or discover a new place, I add it to our list.

Here’s what we’ve done so far (and you can see photos from all our alphabet adventures on my personal Instagram feed – @sara_mccarty): 

• A = Aquarium + Andy’s
• B = Bowling + boba tea
• C = City Museum & Circus Flora
• D = Dinner at the duck club
• E = Echo Bluff in Eminence
• F = Foraging at Forest Gully Farms
• G = Grafton
• H = Horseback riding + Hi Pointe hamburgers
• I = Ice cream farm tour

2. Sunscreen battles

First of all, I’ll start by saying I despise sunscreen. Like, hate hate hate it. The kids and I are fair and freckly, so we need it, but I hate putting it on myself, I hate putting it on the kids, I hate how it feels, I hate that it always breaks me out, I hate reapplying, I hate wrestling and fighting with the kids about it, I hate that it’s so expensive, I hate all the chemicals. HATE. 

It’s no fun to hate something that much that you have to do every day. It was making me cranky and constantly putting me in a bad mood, so something had to change. For the last couple of years, I’ve been slowly collecting tips and tricks to make this whole sunscreen process a little easier. What used to send me into a fit of rage now is only mildly annoying, so I’m going to call that a win.

Here are a few things that have changed my attitude on the sunscreen situation:

Find a sunscreen you don’t hate

After hearing everyone rave about it, I finally made the switch from the crappy sunscreen I bought at Target to the good stuff. I now use BeautyCounter sunscreen on myself and the kids. And I love it. 

Yes, it’s spendy, but it takes away a few of the things I listed above that hate about sunscreen (no nasty chemicals (reef safe), feels light, doesn’t break me out), so that makes it worth it to me. This is slightly embarrassing to admit, but I love it so much that I signed myself up to sell it (mainly so I could get it myself at a discount, if I’m being honest). I love it that much. Get yourself some right now. (Oh, and the BC deodorant is also life-changing. I’ll stop now.)

Use a sponge to apply to faces

This is another game changer. I bought these cheap makeup sponges and use them to apply sunscreen to the kids faces. It SO much easier than using your fingers. It applies evenly and doesn’t leave the kids faces white (which they hate). 

Wear a rashguard

Less skin exposed means less skin to apply sunscreen to. I’m a huge fan of rashguards and try to put my kids (and myself) in them as much as possible. It’s not always their favorite, so if they want to wear something else, I bring them along, and they can put them on later. This a win for them because they’d usually much rather put a rashguard on than get out of the water, dry off, get sunscreen reapplied to them, wait for it to dry, then get back in the water. 

3. Meal planning and snacks

Ugh, does just the thought of making another meal make you want to cry, too? It’s a never-ending battle to keep up with meals and snacks over the summer with the kids home all.the.time. and always hungry. If we’re home, someone is asking me for food. It drives me bananas. Again, I knew this going into summer, so I tried doing things a bit differently. Not everything has worked (I’m still schlepping snacks out left and right), but here are a few things that have helped.

Snack station

I’m not a big fan of giving my kids unmonitored access to snacks because they will go hog wild, but I also don’t want to have to dole out every single snack they have all summer long, so I needed a compromise. I went to Trader Joe’s and stocked up on “healthy-ish” snacks that I didn’t mind them eating on their own (applesauce, dried fruit, fresh fruit, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, yogurt, cut veggies, trailmix, cheese, crackers, etc.) and then set everything up in a spot in the basement fridge that’s easily accessible to them.

I also added glass flip-top reusable water bottles that I run through the dishwasher and refill a few times a week (like these). I’m always looking for more goodies to add to this list, so if you have any ideas, let me know. 

Hello Fresh meals

I signed up again for Hello Fresh meal kits. Each week, I pick four meals (dinner) and get the ingredients delivered, which has been a huge time saver for me when it comes to meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal prep. I order the meals for 4 people (even though there are 5 of us) and usually add extra meat to the meal (because my husband eats enough for 3), which gives us plenty for dinner and a little leftover for lunches.

I switch up the orders each week (although we do have favorites – lettuce wraps, moo shu pork, street-cart chicken bowls), and it’s seemed to work really well. I wouldn’t say they’re the fastest meals to make each evening (probably around 30-45 minutes from start to finish), but I like the cooking part (just not the planning part), so this saves me from having to figure out what to each multiple nights each week, and thus, saves my sanity.

There are a lot of these types of meal kit services out there (pick your favorite!), but if you want to try Hello Fresh, this link will get you some free meals. 

4. Summer reading

The kids and I are all doing a summer reading challenge through our local public library. I’ve been plowing my way through some great books lately, but I’m trying to be more intentional about sitting down and reading a physical book in front of the kids. I’ve heard over and over that kids will read more if they see parents reading. I read a ton, but I realized I wasn’t really doing it in front of my kids.

I’m always reading multiple books at once. I’ll be listening to an audiobook (although some may not consider this reading) in the car or doing chores around the house, and I also have books downloaded to my phone (which sometimes just looks like me playing on a screen to my kids). My physical books sit on my bedside table and I read every night before bed (which the kids don’t see because they’re asleep). I realized this needed to change, so I’ve been trying to be more intentional about reading during the day in front of them, whether that’s at home, at the pool, at the farm, or creekside. If I have a few minutes, I read. 

I don’t know if it’s making any difference yet, but I’m enjoying it! If you’re interested, you can see what I’m reading here. I’d love to hear what you’re reading! 

5. Sober summer

This one’s probably not going to be for everybody, but in early May, I decided to cut out all alcohol for the rest of the summer. Yes, I know, it sounds awful (and sometimes it is), but for the most part, I’m so glad I did this. I was really tired of feeling SO.TIRED. all the time and wondered if my evening cocktails were making feel worse in the long run, despite feeling better in the moment. What I was thinking was a stress reliever was actually causing me more stress because I was just feeling cruddy all the time. Here’s what I’ve noticed after 2+ months of not drinking:

• I feel better, but I’m still tired. I know I’m sleeping more (going to bed much earlier than I was) and sleeping better (according to my SleepNumber sleep score), but I’m still exhausted all the time. I think this is just normal for being mid-40s and trying to keep up with 3 little kids. I’m old, I’m working through it. Ha!
• My skin looks much better and I (finally) lost a couple pounds. These were unexpected side effects that have been pleasantly surprising. I’ve noticed I haven’t been breaking out as much (even wearing sunscreen every day!) and (after two months) I’m down a few (around 5) pounds. I mean, I’m not anywhere close to pre-baby weight, but at least moving in the right direction again. 
• Social situations are a bit awkward, but not that bad. And it’s totally me being awkward, not others. For the most part, when I tell people I’m not drinking for the summer they’re super supportive. Although, I do get a lot of “good for you, but that’s not for me” responses, which is totally fine! I’m not trying to push this agenda on anyone and I certainly don’t care if people around me drink. I already know I’m socially awkward, so (again), I’m just working through it. 
• I’ve swapped out my evening cocktail for spa water (I use that term very loosely). Whatever fruit I can find in the house or garden I throw in this infuser pitcher with  some water (or sparkling water)  and viola! I’m plowing through my rouge mint patch from the garden and trying to figure out how to grow a lemon tree! Strawberries, watermelon and lemons are great (bananas, grapes and apples…not so much). 

About Sara

Sara McCarty is the Founder of Run Wild My Child (runwildmychild.com), a resource website, online community and podcast all about getting kids off screens and outside, one adventure at a time. She’s a mom of 3, wife, and a corporate securities lawyer. She grew up in the country, but now lives in St. Louis and is determined to raise her city kids to be as wild and feral as possible. You can usually find her family exploring a creek, fly fishing, hiking, duck hunting, camping, canoeing, biking, or geocaching. She’s passionate about reading, photography, plants, coffee, cooking, and key lime pie.

The post 5 Things That Are Working for Me This Summer appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Leslie

@c_l_allofus

When the Covid-19 threat first became real here in Ohio, things shut down with astounding speed. Our heads were spinning with the new information coming out daily, the threat of how this would impact our families and communities, and the frustrations of major restrictions. From the outside, though, it didn’t seem to change our lives that much. I’m a homeschooling mom to four kids. My husband works in an essential job. Our daily schedule remained much the same, and we realize how blessed we have been. Even so, the increasing closures and restrictions made an impact.  Art and music lessons were canceled. The libraries closed. Our church moved all services online. We couldn’t get together with friends and family. Even grocery shopping became a challenge. And, thanks to the weather, outdoor adventures (my favorite way to have fun with my kids) were more of an ordeal than a fun outing. After a long and cold winter, our Ohio spring remained cold, wet, and windy. In fact, if you had told me at the beginning of the quarantine that it was going to snow clear through Mother’s Day weekend, I might have crawled under my bed covers and not come out until Memorial Day!

But despite the challenges, I have so many things to be thankful for during this quarantine. We’ve spent even more time than usual together as a family—and as you all know, that comes with both challenges and blessings. But without anyone else to turn to, my children have become better friends with each other.  All our needs have been met, and I know that isn’t the case for everyone during this time. And even though the weather hasn’t been ideal, we have repeatedly turned to the great outdoors for adventure, excitement, and fun. Right before the pandemic hit, we moved into a rural farming area and we’ve been thankful for that every single day. We haven’t had to fight through park closures or social distancing for outdoor time, because we can step outside our door and wander through woods and fields and up and down our quiet country road. And we have…every single day. When the monotony of life within the walls of our house feels overwhelming, we’ve gone outside to explore. When winter has felt never-ending, we have searched the fields and woods for those sure signs of spring. And when our indoor entertainment has run out, we’ve gone outdoors and found endless new things to play and enjoy.

Nichole

@coleyraeh

The bad. It’s been a long two months. My daughter turned six almost RIGHT before the Covid-19 pandemic hit American soil. We were lucky to have her birthday party with friends the first week of March. That next week we made the decision as a family to self-isolate. My husband worked from home for one month, but then had to return to work. Nearing the end of two months at home, and we are feeling it. Workouts are interrupted with requests for snacks, writing sessions are at best, sporadic. Though we are a homeschooling family, we rarely stay home. In fact, I think the hallmarks of our homeschool are our field trips and shenanigans. Typically we are done with school at the end of April and we spend May visiting my Mom and Step-Dad in Phoenix, using their home as a base for farther explorations. Staying home hurts. Our family is so far from us and we miss them dearly.

Without the road trips, day trips, and shenanigans to seek out I’ve found myself slipping into the grips of Mom guilt daily. I’ve been shorter with my fuse and sharper with my words, stemming from all this togetherness without an outlet. My typical routes of self-care are no longer accessible and alone time is a precious commodity that looks like sitting in my car in a parking lot with a latte from home. (which is actually just left over coffee mixed with chocolate oat milk). Anxieties have reared up from where they were buried and at night when I’m trying to sleep, perceived failures and shortcomings intermix to keep my brain firing. I feel like I’m drowning. But then, when I’ve taken a moment to pause, I realize that my kids are standing in that water I think I’m drowning in. They are fine. They are thriving. And what they most need right now is our family. And we are right here. 

The good. I have never been so grateful and appreciative of our home. I’ve never been more aware of how absolutely privileged we are as a family. My husband had the ability to work from home for a while. He has a job to continue working steadily, and regularly brings our groceries home after work. Our fridge hasn’t been bare and our bellies have been full. Our back porch has become a sacred space. Our children rediscovered how much fun our backyard can be. We do not live in a major metropolitan area that has been hard hit. As a family, we our weekends were typical non-stop adventuring, staying home all weekend had been a rarity for us. So, this time of turning inwards has been a blessing for us. No nightly tennis practice, no gymnastics, no running for the next activity. My husband and I, and our kids, chose to invest that energy into our garden. It’s a space that brings me so much joy and is a source of peace in the daily grind. This year, prior to the pandemic, we added four more raised beds. I threw myself into planting them. Then we added huge barrel planters for giant dahlia blooms. Then (thanks to Instagram) I got an idea for an arch. My husband made that happen, but he went above and beyond anything I could have imagined.

This summer, we won’t be traveling like we used to, but we will have the most amazing arch tunnel, that you can walk under. It will be filled with morning glories, luffa plants, cucumbers, mini pumpkins and mini squash, sour gherkin cucumbers, nasturtiums, and whatever else I planted on it that I forgot about. Last weekend, we added a potting bench (built by my husband). We have delighted in picking fresh produce for our meals almost every day for the past two months. (We live in zone 8, so gardening starts in February). My kids enjoy our mornings outside and I enjoy my nightly garden stroll with my husband to show him what grew that day. Just yesterday, I was showing him the sunflowers that are starting to bloom. It’s been an excellent exercise in patience and presence. (#coleyraegardens). Our schooling may have been sporadic during this time, but we have read some wonderful stories, had more family dinners than ever before, played more board games, laughed together at Dude Perfect videos on YouTube, and enjoyed the gift of this slowed down time. 

Sara

@sara_mccarty

The bad – I first became aware of just how scary and devastating this pandemic could be while at work, listening to doctors, actuaries, and experts come up with a plan for social distancing. Things escalated faster than I ever could have imagined and only days later, we were officially home and self-quarantining (my daughter has a heart condition, so we took it seriously). We were working from home (two lawyers), schooling from home (2 school-aged kids + 2 year-old), and living socially distant from our friends and family. It was incredibly heartbreaking to drive down the street and see stores and restaurants closed. Friends started to get laid off; many had to close their businesses. The stock market continued to drop. The panic buying set in, the statistics got worse, the fear surmounted. Everything felt so overwhelming and scary. The kids missed their friends. We were overwhelmed with screen time and schoolwork. Nothing was getting done, the laundry piled up, the house was a wreck, there were so many meals and chores and snacks and Zoom calls. I was taking care of kids all day then working until 2:0o am every night and I still couldn’t keep up. Overwhelm set in and I lost it.

I’ve been surprised by the sheer volume of how much and deeply I felt. Somedays, within minutes I could go from being so incredibly sad, scared, stressed, and helpless to bursting with love, joy, pride and gratitude for my little family. I’d throw myself a pity party about how hard this all is and then I’d consider how much harder it is for so many people and how lucky we are. Then I’d feel guilty about feeling bad in the first place. It’s been so confusing. Are we overreacting? If we let up, could I ever forgive myself if something happened? What really would happen? How long will this last? There’s so much to think about. My temper’s been short, my stress level through the roof. After full days with my kids all over me, the introvert in me wanted to scream and hide in a closet. Never (not even while pregnant) have I felt so emotional and exhausted. I withdrew from everything and it took me weeks to (very slowly and deliberately) get back into a headspace where I felt like I could function again. That’s so not like me and very unnerving. It’s left me very worried about what’s to come and if this will happen again.

The good – Never in my life have I been more aware of how incredibly privileged, lucky, and blessed we are. The pandemic has made me fully aware of how much we’ve taken for granted and how grateful we need to be every day. We have a home that’s comfortable, a fridge that’s full, bodies that are healthy, and opportunities just a click away. Friends and neighbors have gone above and beyond with birthday parades, organizing virtual events and dropping off goodies like freshly baked pretzels, homemade jam and booze. After a few stressful weeks, I kicked my guilt to the curb and decided that homeschooling on a screen was just not going to work for our family. We found other ways to learn inside and out and it made it huge difference in our attitudes letting that go. Work’s been busy, but flexible enough that we can get out and do things together as a family. Ryan and I make a great team and work together so we can each get things done. We’re lucky to have friends with private land nearby so we can explore outdoors all day and never encounter another person. We’ve been camping, floating, fishing, hiking, and spending countless hours in our own backyard.

We eventually hired help (a college girl home for the summer) to take the kids on socially distant outdoor adventures during the day so my husband and I could work (necessary to keep our full-time jobs – we know how lucky we are for our paychecks). My kids have spent nearly every day of the last two months in a creek, on a trail or by a lake and it’s been incredible for them. While they still fight constantly, I think they’re also closer than ever before and they’re thriving on all the time they get to spend outside and with us. Being outside has made a world of difference to us all and really solidified my passion for helping other families get outdoors together. I love being home and (while I don’t want to be here forever) I’ve truly enjoyed having dinner together as a family every night, doing house projects with my husband, adventuring with the kids and all the time together we’ve been blessed with.

Jemma

@thimbleandtwig 

Lockdown for us has been a mixed bag. I feel blessed to have extra time with the kids and to spend loads of time together as a family. We’ve done some fabulous crafts, had a garden campout, toasted marshmallows, and played board games. There have been some days that have been truly lovely. I’ve adored watching the kids develop a lovely bond and play more together – I’m so thankful we have 4 kids – they have entertained each other!

However, the juggle has been oh so real and a struggle! Trying to work (teaching live lessons as a secondary school teacher or leading training whilst my husband takes a work call) has been super stressful. There have been days where I feel sad that the kids bickering and me as an impatient mum have dominated the day. It’s also been hard that the kids have missed out on seeing their friends and grandparents. My daughter was in the last year of primary so she won’t get to say goodbye to her friends, won’t have the leavers parties, and end of school play. Both my son starts school and my daughter starts secondary and they won’t have a transition period. Other things have been tricky – friends have had their babies and I won’t be able to meet them until this time is over. Parties and anniversaries have been missed…my 100k overnight walk with friends was canceled.

But we’re thankful. We’re all healthy happy and safe – we’re intrigued how we’ll navigate the next period – longing for life to return to normal. I am worried about how the next part of the journey goes. Will our children grow up fearful of others? Will we always be crossing the road when someone walks too close? Will we turn into a germ-centric generation? Lockdown leaves all these feelings and although I know we’re so, so lucky – it’s still hard to think about how we’ll all be touched by this crazy period of time.

Ginny 

@1000hoursoutside

Sometimes I wonder “What if?” What if we would’ve known ahead of time? How would we have prepared? But the fact that we couldn’t prepare in advance forced our family to be creative and to learn new things.

Tiffany

@dear.wildlings

The good. What a time to be alive am I right? The circumstances leading up to the stay-home orders have tremendously affected everyone’s lives including ours, homebody Homeschoolers. While there have been challenging moments I can honestly say that this time at home has been and will remain one of my fondest memories of my children’s childhood for the following reasons. Time. Oh, bittersweet time. Our days were often filled with at least one errand or obligation we had to be at and with the stay-home order, they cease to exist leaving me with my children, distraction-free. Our conversations were enriched and I felt a sense of slow normalcy I have never felt before. I didn’t pay attention to what time it was and something about the constant slow days made me appreciate my time interacting with my children without the hustle and bustle of life even more. We all ate at the table every night together. I can’t say how much this has changed our lives.

As a photographer, there are many nights that I am not home in time for dinner as I am chasing the sunlight and I miss that time. Lots of nights were wrapped up with mom grabbing something on the way home and dinners were rushed so we could keep our normal bedtime routine. Being home allowed me to cook (more than I ever have before) and enjoy dinner time with my children every single night, never missing a beat or moment or conversation I otherwise would have missed. It gave me more time with my children, my husband, and even myself.

The bad. Negatively I would say that the hardest struggle any of us went through were the days we needed a change of scenery. We highly missed our outings to lunch, spur of the moment out of town day trips, book store, and coffee shop mornings…and just having the option of getting out of the house especially with how much it rained his spring season. You can only expect kids to be stimulated at home so much when suck inside. I think those are the days I struggled and the kids struggled too. I think I personally struggled too with my lack of working, being a photographer – I missed creating. This mentally made me feel worthless some days as a high functioning creative – it made me feel a bit in a rut. However, I did my very best to challenge myself in other ways creatively and come up with new ideas on how to create income. However, I would do it all again if we had to and have learned through this experience that its okay to have slow days and ignore the “real world”. I don’t want that to ever change or “go back.” The good completely outweighed the bad. 

We’d love to hear how your family is doing through all this.
Drop us a comment and let us know. 

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Teaching kids to fly fish

It’s only natural for parents that fly fish to dream of having their child become their favorite fishing buddy. And while that may eventually happen (20-30 years from now), it takes a lot of work, patience and many years to turn a wild child into a patient fisherman. It’s about a strong connection with nature first, then making fishing fun by any means, and finally, learning how to fly fish. We’ve been fly fishing with our kids since before they could walk. Here’s how we’ve nurtured and developed their love for the sport, as well as fostered a conservation mindset and strengthened their love for nature.

Fly fishing starts with plain old regular fishing

Teaching kids to fly fish starts with teaching a child how to fish with a plain old regular push-button or spinning rod and enjoying time spent outside on the water. Little kids don’t necessarily enjoy the process of fishing – they enjoy catching! And they enjoy looking for cool bugs and snakes, skipping rocks, exploring the pond/stream, eating a picnic lunch and spending quality time outside with you.

Set kids up for fishing success

If you want kids to love fishing right off the bat, you need to set them up for success. While adults may love the peace and serenity of a quiet day fishing, kids want action! Even the most focused kid will get bored if there are no bites or catches. Start kids off by fishing with a small spinning rod in a local stocked pond for fish that are easy for kids to catch (bluegill, sunfish, bass). The more fish available to catch, the greater your chances. Adults may be willing to wait all day for that one giant fish, but kids would rather catch 50 little fish as fast as possible.

Make fishing fun for kids

Use live bait, if you can. This not only entices the fish, but keeps kids interested. If possible, don’t buy your bait, but help your kids catch it! That’s half the fun for most kids, and sometimes more fun than the fishing itself. More often than not, our kids are way more interested in playing with worms, shrimp, crickets, grasshoppers and minnows than actually fishing.

Put a bobber on their line. This helps them visually know when they’re getting a bite. If your kids are little, use smaller fishing poles that are easier for their small hands. Give them your 100% undivided attention, which they’ll remember, even if they don’t catch a thing. And when they do catch a fish, make sure you yell and clap like crazy! If they see you lose your mind over catching a fish, they’re definitely going to want to do it again!

For more on this, see our post on how to raise kids that love to fish.

What age kids should start fly fishing?

Like many generic answers about the right time to try anything, the answer to when you should start teaching a kid how to fly fish is…it depends. A lot of people will tell you not to start teaching kids to fly fish until they are between eight and ten years old. That’s about the time kids’ attention spans lengthen and patience develops so that they can fish in a serious way. However, every child is different.

Our oldest son started fly fishing with dad when he was two years old. He could cast pretty well by four years old. Now, at seven, he’s learning to tie his own flies and knots and can fish on his own for decent periods of time. Our daughter, on the other hand, is five and doesn’t have the patience or focus to fly fish beyond a few casts here and there. But, she loves being outside on the water with us, chasing butterflies and catching crawdads. Every kid is different and you know your child best.

Take them fishing with you

No matter what age your kids are, feel free to take them along on your casual fishing outings. That way they can watch you fish, get excited about catching a fish and spend time with you in nature. If your little one is too young to walk, consider a carrier or a backpack (we’ve used both). If your child’s old enough, you can practice cast with them every now and then. Keep it light-hearted with no pressure. When they start to get frustrated or super wiggly, stop and do something else. Working with young children on casting basics and letting them experience catching fish on a fly rod are great at any age. The most important thing is to make it fun so they don’t get frustrated and completely give up before they’re patient enough to really enjoy it.

Practice a cast

If you think it’s time to introduce your child to fly fishing, start by teaching them the basics of casting. We recommend practice casting off the water because then it’s really about practicing and not about catching fish. Spend some time in your backyard, driveway or at the local park practicing casting with your child. Use a leader that’s no longer than 8 feet and tie something light (with no hook) to the end to mimic a fly. Choose a spot to cast to or set up a target/indicator so they know exactly where to cast.

Make a few casts in front of them to show them how it’s done. Explain that for a fly cast to work, they will need to stop the tip of the rod up high on the forward and backward casts to allow the line to shoot accurately. Show them how to keep your wrist locked, your elbow moving on a flat surface and punch forward with their thumb. Next, let them have a few turns on their own.  Introduce a cadence or rhythm and give them something to say out loud as they cast—for example, “front, back, front, back.”

Provide gentle guidance

After a few attempts on their own, next, help them out by standing/kneeling behind them and gently guiding their cast. Kids can learn fly casting very quickly by feeling someone else make the cast while holding the rod. With your child holding the fly rod in one hand, place your hand over theirs on the rod and make the cast for them. Finally, let them try on their own again.

If you can get thirty minutes with them holding a fly rod and getting used to how it feels, you’ve done well! Be very patient and verbally reward them when they do well, make improvement or hit the target. Kids love to receive positive approval from adults, their parents.

Keep fishing trips short & fun

When your kids first start fishing (fly fishing or otherwise), let them set the pace. Kids learn best by discovering in their own way and on their own time. Let your child fish for as long as he or she stays interested (probably about 30 minutes for kids under 7). Never push a kid to keep going when they’re obviously done. At this point, it’s more about making it fun for them than anything else. We know it’s hard, but try to avoid fishing yourself on some of these outings and resist the urge to show them how to do it over and over. Once is enough and then hand the rod over. And when they’d rather skip rock in the water or hunt for frogs, by all means, take a break!

Get others involved

There is absolutely no harm in letting someone else help teach your child how to fly fish. It’s particularly hard for older kids and teenagers (or even adults) to take instruction from their parents. If you have a child that wants to learn, but gets frustrated with you as their teacher, get help from a friend or relative that fly fishes. Hire a guide for a day. Or sign them up for a lesson, class or camp. Sometimes all kids need to put everything together is for someone else to show or tell them how to do something (even if it’s the exact same advice you’ve been giving them).

Another way to get others involved is to let your child bring a friend along. Sometimes kids can teach each other lessons or learn things together better than individually. Maybe it’ll spark some healthy competition between them to see who can cast more accurately or the farthest. And then, when their attention is spent, they’ll have someone to explore with or help them dig for worms.

A few other fly fishing suggestions

No matter what age or skill level your child is, there are some other things you can do to ensure the fishing outing is a success (even if you don’t catch any fish). Here are few additional ways to keep your kids safe, happy and entertained:

• Pack lots of snacks and a cooler full of drinks
• Use kid-friendly bug spray and sunscreen
• Dress kids comfortably and pack extra clothes in case they get cold or wet
• Choose fishing spots with a playground nearby or a place where kids can catch frogs/minnows/crickets
• Always bring along a spinning rod or push button rod (in addition to the fly rod)

Best fly fishing gear for kids

For the most part, kids learning how to fly fish can usually use their parents’ gear. With the exception of waders/boots and clothing, there aren’t a lot of items that need to be specially geared towards children. However, giving a child their own fishing gear that’s their size and they’re proud of is a great way to get kids interested in going fishing.

Choosing a fly rod for kids

Because their motor skills are not yet developed, and because they don’t have the diligence necessary to care for expensive rods appropriately, it can be daunting to find an appropriate fly rod for a child. You want a fly rod that is strong yet flexible, inexpensive but not cheap quality.

Most child fly rods are designed for kids aged six to nine. If your child is older or will be fishing beyond those years, it’s probably best to go with a “beginner” fly rod, as opposed to a “child” fly rod. Many fly rods designed for children are made of flimsy plastic that easily breaks or cracks. However, don’t go all out on an expensive overly-delicate fly rod. Kids can be hard on gear and you don’t want something that will break the first time your child trips or walks it into a tree (because it will happen). Constantly worrying about your kid handling and transporting expensive equipment will also kill your enjoyment of the overall experience and turn you into a nervous wreck.

Choose a fly rod that’s limber and not too long

The first and most important quality of choosing a fly rod for your child is finding a rod that is not too stiff or long. A limber lightweight action rod will allow your child to feel the rod load. This leads to a much quicker grasp on the proper timing and casting technique. A shorter rod may not necessarily help a child learn to cast better, but will weigh less and eliminate some extra weight for the child’s young arms while they’re learning to cast. A long rod will also increase the likely hood of it interacting with trees, bushes, your face, and anything else within the range of the new angler’s casting, so shorter can save you time and hassle.  Between 7-8 feet is the ideal rod length for a child to start fly fishing.

Best weight fly rod for kids

A 5 or 6 weight fly rod is the norm for adults who fly fish on lakes/ponds and small streams. However, the majority of children will find rods of this size too long, heavy and unwieldy to cast (especially for kids under 10). We recommend starting with a 3 or 4 weight rod for children. This is the ideal fly rod size for kids to fish on most ponds, lakes or shallow streams. Plus you add feel when fighting a fish.  Pair it with a nice light reel and a good fly line and you’re ready to go.

Kids fly rod recommendations

We started our kids off fly fishing with a 7’6” three-weight made by Temple Fork Outfitters.  It’s the perfect bluegill rod and works for trout and smaller bass.  It’s also not going to break the bank or be a huge disaster if it gets broken. Our recommendation for the best fly rod and reel for kids:

• TFO Rod / Reel Combo, 7’6” three weight

If you have a fly shop nearby, a lot of them will let your child try out a few rods before you buy one. Many places will let your kid test cast with a few different rods to see which one they like best. Some places will even give you a free casting or fly tying lesson when you buy from their shop! Shopping local not only supports your local fly fishing business, but provides lots of opportunities to meet like-minded people and learn new things about your local fishing areas.

Best fly line to use when teaching kids to fly fish

As I mentioned above, when teaching a child how to cast a fly rod, they often find it tricky to feel the weight of the fly line loading the rod. One common technique to help with this is to use fly line one (or even two) line weights heavier. For example, if you have a four-weight rod, use a five weight line. This “over-lining” technique is ideal if the kid is making shorter casts since won’t need to get a lot of line in the air to make a cast. Once your child has their timing mastered, you can drop the line back to the manufacturer-recommended weight for their rod.

Best fishing waders for kids

There are only a handful of companies that make really durable and quality waders for kids. We love the toddler and children’s neoprene waterproof fishing waders by OAKI. Their child-sized waders are made of 90D nylon, which are completely waterproof, but still breathable. The nylon is soft to the touch and the waders are very lightweight, which makes them easier for kids to walk around in and easier for us to pack. They have a full rubber boot, completely neoprene-lined, with a great tread, so no need to buy separate boots. The straps are adjustable and they come in sizes starting as small as 2T, all the way up to 14/15. Plus, Oaki’s customer service is great. If you ever have an issue, they will take good care of you.

Head over to Oaki.com and use the code RWMC15 to save 15% on anything in the store!

Polarized fishing glasses for kids

Protective glasses of some kind are absolutely essential for young anglers. Our kids are not allowed to fish without proper protective eyewear and a hat. When it’s sunny our kids love the polarized Babiators sunglasses. We’ve been using this brand of sunglasses since our oldest was 1. They’re amazing. The polarized glasses have anti-glare lenses that help kids see more clearly into the water. The lenses offer 100% UVA and UVB protection. They have flexible rubber frames and impact- and shatter-resistant lenses. They DO NOT break when you bend, twist, or step on them! Trust us, we’ve tried. But my favorite thing – if you lose or break them in the first year, they replace them for free!

Outfitting your kids with flies and boxes

A simple basic bright-colored foam fly box is probably the best type of fly box to get for a child. We like this one from Orvis. That way, if they drop it in the water it’s easy to see and recover. Plus, it will float! Stock your child’s fly box with a few of each of the following basic flies that will catch just about anything:

• Woolly buggers (size 8 and 10) in olive, black and/or white
• San Juan worms in red and pink
• Large (size 12 and 14) pheasant tails
• Egg patterns

Other fly fishing tools and gadgets for kids

There are any number of fun little fly fishing gadgets and tools you can equip your child with, if you want. Most of these items are probably already in your fly pack, so no need to duplicate if you’re always the one tying their knots and attaching their flies. However, once your kid becomes a bit more self-sufficient, consider stocking their fly pack with the following items:

• box of flies
• a pair of nippers
• a small pair of hemostats for de-barbing new flies and unhooking
• some tippet
• leader
• strike indicators
• split shot

Tips for fly fishing with kids

We hope these tips and advice on how teaching kids to fly fish will help prepare and inspire you to get outside with your kids and catch some fish! Keep your expectations low and your rod tip high. Relax, be patient, and let the kids lead. Whether you catch 10 fish or just chase frogs around the water’s edge, spending time together outside will always be worth it.

Do your kids fly fish?
What tips would you add?

The post Teaching Kids to Fly Fish & Best Fly Fishing Gear for Kids appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of spending some time in and around the Overland Park, Kansas area with the kids. Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City and chock-full of fun attractions, amazing food and kid-friendly experiences. It’s the second largest city in Kansas, located in the midst of the bi-state Kansas City metro. Overland Park is 29 miles from the KCI Airport, and within a 15- to 20-minute drive of beloved Kansas City destinations, including downtown and the Plaza.

Kansas City is about a 1-hour flight, a 4-hour drive or a 5-hour train ride from the St. Louis area, making it the perfect little weekend getaway. There’s so much to do in Overland Park and the Kansas City area for the entire family – from professional sporting events (Royals and Chiefs!) to unique children’s museums. We’ve put together a great list of local attractions, holiday events, outdoor activities, kid-friendly eateries, shops and accommodations. We hope this will help you plan the perfect family trip to Overland Park and Kansas City this season.

Kid-Friendly Attractions

iFLY – If you’ve ever dreamed of flying or thought skydiving would be fun, you must check out iFLY in Overland Park. This indoor skydiving experience gives fliers a chance to experience the thrill and adrenaline rush of skydiving in a fun and safe indoor environment. Instructors provide some brief training and then suit you up for flight. They’re there to help first time flyers maximize the fun as you feel the sensation of free fall in the two story wind tunnel. The flying experience is great for kids and open for anyone aged 3 and up!

Pinstripes – Pinstripes is Kansas City’s premier bowling, bocce and bistro experience in the Prariefire complex in Overland Park. Pinstripes offers classic bowling lanes, indoor bocce courts, fire pits, great Italian food and killer drinks – all under one roof, making it a fun experience for the entire family. All ages are welcome, they offer tot playtime from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and parents bowl free.

Crown Center – Located in the heart of Kansas City, the Crown Center is one of the premier family destinations in the Midwest. Housing more than 5,000 sea creatures and 30 displays, the Sea Life Aquarium provides astonishingly close views of everything from humble starfish and seahorses to graceful rays. If you have a Lego-lover in the family, the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center offers a fun, highly interactive and educational two to three-hour indoor experience ideal for families with children 3-10 years old, featuring 2 rides, 10 LEGO build & play zones, a 4D cinema & much more! If your kid is a budding artist, make sure to check out Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope, where kids use their imaginations to make art with left-over materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. There are also 2 live theaters and the city’s only public outdoor ice skating rink (during the winter).

Apex Climbing Gym – If your whole family is up for some adventure, Apex Climbing Gym is built entirely around the principle that exercise should be fun and bring family closer together. Try your hand at the Warped Wall and other ninja warrior-inspired obstacles. Or see if you have what it takes to top-out in the expansive climbing area. They also offer yoga to further improve your mobility, flexibility, and strength.

The College Basketball Experience – Located inside the Sprint Center in the heart of downtown Kansas City, the College Basketball Experience is perfect for the sports lover in your family. With hands-on, high-energy exhibits throughout the facility, visitors are put in electrifying game-like situations, from sinking the game-winning shot to announcing the play-by-play action at the “ESPNU broadcast desk.” This is also the home of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Overland Park Outdoor Adventures

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – For nature lovers, the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens stretches over an incredible 300 acres filled with more than a dozen gardens, nearly five miles of hiking trails and a 180-acre prairie that showcases native grasses and wildflowers in their full splendor. The Arboretum is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of eight natural ecosystems. The paved and wood chip trails wind throughout the picturesque arboretum and gardens. Gardens include Monet Garden, Children’s Discovery Garden and the International Sculpture Garden. While you’re there, check out all the fairy and gnome houses! They were one of the highlights of our trip!

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead – This unique farm is bursting with things to see and do. The Farmstead is home to nearly 200 animals, vegetable and flower gardens, a fishing pond and more! Kids will love the pony rides, bottle feeding baby goats or petting a cow in the Dairy Barn. Other animals include horses, donkeys, turkeys, bison, prairie dogs and bobcats. Visit historical replicas of a country schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, mining camp, barber shop and Indian village. Pile the entire family into a wagon pulled by Belgian draft horses for a ride through the woods. Catch a fish with an old-fashioned cane pole or compete in a push pedal tractor race. This twelve acres of wholesome family fun and entertainment is open every day from April 1-October 31. On Monday through Thursday, admission is FREE!

Indian Creek Hike and Bike Trail – Looking for some outdoor exercise with a view? The Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail links two states, four communities and a multitude of parks along Indian Creek. The trail includes plenty of parks, playgrounds and picturesque places to stop for a picnic. The trail starts in Kansas City and continues (around 20 miles) through the heart of Overland Park. The asphalt paths are ideal for hiking, biking and skating. Because they’re mostly shaded, the trail is a great recreation option even during the hot summer months. A trail map can be found and downloaded HERE.

Snow Creek – Who says you can’t ski in the Midwest? Snow Creek is a winter sports destination with no mountains required! Located 40 miles north of Kansas City, Snow Creek has over 60 snow-making machines with the capacity to pump 3,000 gallons of water per minute, covering 100% of the terrain in as little as 72 hours! As long as temps stay below freezing they have snow! Snow Creek offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing. They have 12 trails, 5 lifts and 2 terrain parks. Rent your equipment there and take advantage of all their amenities such as bar, restaurant, pizzaria, private/group lessons and souvenir shop. Open mid-December through mid-March.

Holiday Activities in Overland Park

Farmstead Lane Light Show – The annual light display at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead has new features this year including lots of new fun animation. The 38-minute show is synchronized with music. Tune into 90.5 FM to hear holiday music as you watch the spectacular show from the warmth of your car!

Nutcracker – Don’t miss the magic and tradition of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Performed by the American Youth Ballet, with a 40ft growing tree, snow falling on stage, and a live orchestra. The Nutcracker is a highlight and an Overland Park tradition. Saturday show times are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday show times are 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Luminary Walk – Stroll down candlelit trails through the gardens and woods at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Thousands of candles line the walkways and trails with holiday lights on display from trees, buildings and bridges. It also features live music, Santa Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides and hot cider around a campfire. Even the mystical gnome and fairy villages are lit up. The Luminary Walk is held from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights, Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, and Dec. 8-9.

Ice Skating at Park Place – The Ice at Park Place is Leawood’s only outdoor ice rink. It’s open November 17th through February 19th, including holidays. The Ice is surrounded by seasonal festivities, warm food and drink options and unique holiday shopping. Now in its tenth season, enjoy special events like Skating with Santa, Princess Skate and Valentine’s Day Skate. Skate rentals are available, but bring your own helmets for the kids.

Carriage Ride – If you want to go all out for the holiday, book a horse-drawn carriage ride to take you through Country Club Plaza to see the lights and sights. From November to mid-January, Kansas City Carriages offers horse-drawn carriage rides to the public. Rides are available daily starting at 5 p.m. from the corner of Nichols Road and Pennsylvania Avenue and hit all the highlights as the lights illuminate the area’s pretty Spanish architecture. Reservations are recommended if you don’t want to wait in line for hours. Dress warmly and grab some hot chocolate from a nearby coffee shop for the ride.

Overland Park Eateries

Grimaldi’s Pizza – For authentic, coal-fired brick oven pizza, look no farther than Grimaldi’s at Prariefire in Overland Park. Pizza and calzones are baked to perfection in coal burning ovens, which offer a unique flavor and a crisp crust that is not possible from gas, convection or wood-burning ovens. Made with fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella, ‘secret recipe’ dough and pizza sauce, Gramadi’s is the most award-winning pizzeria in the US. The kids loved “The Don” pizza and my husband and I fought over the last piece of “Brooklyn Bridge.”

The Big Biscuit – The folks at the Big Biscuit pride themselves on having the friendliest service in town. They’re known for portions that are impossibly generous and a staff with Big smiles. They’ve been serving up breakfast at lunch to the Kansas City area for 17 years, from a variety of locations. No matter which part of KC you’re in, you can usually find a Big Biscuit near you.

Decadent – Decadent is a delicious dessert and coffee bar in Overland Park’s Prairiefire district. Pastries and desserts are made from scratch daily, which also means the selection regularly rotates. Pair your sweet treat with a freshly made espresso beverage or a decadent drinking chocolate. Want to go all out? Try the skillet chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla bean gelato, hot fudge, caramel sauce and whipped cream. Heaven, I tell you. They also serve ice cream, wine and beer!

Q39 – You cannot take a trip to Kansas City without having some world-famous BBQ. Q39 is a relatively new BBQ restaurant, with a created-from-scratch menu by classically trained chef Rob Magee. Prior to opening Q39 he worked the competitive barbecue circuit (and won a lot)! The restaurant is fun and contemporary, while also being rustic and friendly. You can’t go wrong with any of their amazing BBQ dinner entrees, served with apple coleslaw and your choice of beans or potato salad. It draws a crowd on a weekend night, so go early with and try the brisket. You won’t be disappointed!

McLain’s Market – The stocked pastry case at McLain’s Market is a dessert lover’s dream—cupcakes, brownies, donuts and pastries, oh my (plus a whole lot more). They serve an incredible breakfast and lunch, too – everything from breakfast BLTs to veggie spring rolls and avocado toast. There’s even a Poutine made from housemade fries covered in a goat cheese fondue with bacon and chives. Consider yourself warned!

Gigi’s Cupcakes – If you’ve never tasted the best gourmet cupcake to ever come out of a Kansas grandma’s kitchen, you need to go to Gigi’s. Featuring 30 varieties of cupcakes each week, in addition to adorable mini cupcakes and the perfect-sized cheesecakes. Everything is baked fresh each day. They even have gluten friendly fans covered with three different gluten friendly cupcakes made daily.  Try the chocolate salted caramel cupcake, a dark chocolate cupcake that’s filled with caramel, then topped with caramel frosting, dipped in ganache and sprinkled with sea salt. Amazing.

Shops for Littles

Scheels – While a mega sporting goods store might not sound like the most kid-friendly destination, this one certainly is entertaining! Kids can marvel at a 16,000-gallon overhead aquarium, hear from fully animated talking presidents along the Walk of the U.S. Presidents and ride a 65 foot indoor Ferris wheel! Scheels is the largest selection of sports, sportswear and footwear – under one roof – in the entire state of Kansas! There’s also a deli and fudge shop, sport simulators (golf, soccer, hockey, baseball, football and basketball), plus a wildlife mountain.

American Girl – At the American Girl Store in Overland Park, your little one can explore the doll collections like BeForever, Girl of the Year, Truly Me, and The Bitty Baby. The store is full of fun accessories to browse and a full library of award-winning books. Make a pampering date and treat your doll to a new look in the doll hair salon or get her ears pieced. Dolls in need of a little TLC can be brought to the store and admitted to the Doll Hospital for refresh and repair.  There are also exciting programs and special events held throughout the year.

Fat Brain Toys – Fat Brain Toys in the Prariefire complex in Overland Park is a fun place to learn while you play! The highly educated staff includes real school teachers that will help you find the perfect educational game, activity or toy. Kids also have the chance to try, learn, and play before you buy to ensure satisfaction! The store boasts over 7,500 in stock toys, games, and gifts, including their own original line of educational toys.

Places to Stay in Overland Park

Mariott Overland Park – This hotel boasts gracefully designed accommodations, superb service and an excellent convenient location. You’ll find our hotel just moments from premier shopping centers, as well as museums, attractions and the convention center. Epicure restaurant and the 210 Bar and Grill both have delicious American cuisine and innovative cocktails. There’s a fitness center for the parents and an indoor/outdoor pool for the kids!

Convention Center hotels – Are you headed to Overland Park for a meeting, convention or corporate event? The Overland Park Convention Center is within walking distance of 1,000 hotel rooms, including Hyatt Place, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott. The Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center is attached to the Overland Park Convention Center for the ultimate in convenient access.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of all the fun family-friendly activities, adventures and outings in and around the Overland Park and Kansas City area. Keep this in mind when planning your next weekend getaway with the kids. And make sure to check out the Visit Overland Park website for the most up-to-date info on local events and happenings.

Have you been to Kansas City?
What’s your favorite KC activity?

The post Out & About in Overland Park with Kids appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

While you might expect a pro-nature argument against cutting down a live tree, it’s actually the opposite. When you choose a real tree over a plastic artificial one, you help both the environment and your community. While there are benefits of artificial trees (convenience and accessibility), we hope you’ll consider a real tree this year, for environmental and economic reasons. A there’s no better way to find the perfect real tree than getting out there and cutting down your own!

Benefits of a real tree

Artificial trees will last for seven to ten years in your home, but centuries in a landfill. Artificial trees are produced in overseas factories, with less stringent environmental regulations, poorer working conditions and lower wages. On the other hand, real Christmas trees are produced locally, from sunlight, rainfall and soil. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree farms. Those farms grow approximately 350 million trees and employ over 100,000 people.

Planted like an agricultural crop, these trees provide wildlife habitat, air filtration and prevent soil erosion as they grow until they are harvested and replaced by another tree. Each tree grows for an average of eight years. A fresh cut Christmas tree is recyclable and biodegradable. Once used, the tree can be chipped for mulch, burned, or land filled, where it will naturally break down over time. There are also thousands of Christmas tree recycling programs across the U.S.  Trees are used to make sand and soil erosion barriers or placed in ponds for fish shelter.

Forest or farm

If you want to cut down your own tree, you can either go to a tree farm or venture into the woods to find your own. If you want that extra sense of adventure, head into the woods, but be prepared. Some areas require a permit to cut down a tree (usually a nominal fee). There may be areas where cutting is restricted or allowed only during a certain time. The size of tree (diameter of the trunk at the base) may be regulated and gas powered tools (chainsaws) may not be allowed, so tools are limited to axes or handsaws.

There are lots of benefits of cutting down a live tree from the forest. It provides more room for remaining trees to grow, which are less stressed and better situated to cope with disease and insects. Reducing competition allows for easier access to water, nutrients, and sunlight and reduces wildfire risk by providing less potential fuel for a fire.

If you go to a Christmas tree farm, you will be supporting your local community. Farm trees will be much more uniform in size and shape. Trees are usually grown in rows so they get plenty of sunlight to form a symmetrical shape. They’re usually anywhere from 3 to 10 feet in height and cost an average of $55/tree. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, so there’s bound to be a farm by you (check out this website for state-by-state info).

Tips for cutting your own tree

We’ve been cutting down our own Christmas tree from a local farm (Eckert’s in Belleville, Illinois) for the last few years. It’s become one of our family’s favorite annual traditions. Riding the tractor out to the field and choosing the perfect tree is always a fun outing for the kids. Plus, there’s always a lot of other fun holiday related activities to do at Eckert’s, including making gingerbread houses, visiting Santa and story time.

Over the last few years, we’ve learned a few lessons about cutting down our own tree, which we’re happy to pass on to you! So, before you embark on your own tree-chopping journey, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Don’t go too early – the best time for cutting your own Christmas tree is between late November and mid-December. The average time a well-watered cut tree holds its needles is 3-4 weeks.
2. Measure your space – make sure you measure both the place in your house where the tree with go (height & width) and the space in your vehicle where you’ll be transporting your tree.
3. Take a tape measure – a lot of farms will provide measuring tapes or sticks, but it’s always best to bring your own. Expert parenting tip: if you have more than one kid, bring a tape measure for each so there’s no fighting over it.
4. Boots and gloves – wear sturdy boots that protect your feet and good, heavy-duty work gloves.  Sunglasses also protect your eyes from rogue pine needs. Wet wipes are great for removing sap from hands and fingers.
5. Do a walk through – before you choose your tree, walk through the grounds and scope them all out. Sometimes trees are arranged by size, shape, breed, etc. Get a lay of the land before making your final decision. Also, when you think you’ve found the perfect tree, walk-around the entire tree to make sure there are no bald spots, dead patches or animals living in the tree. 
6. Test for freshness – in order to make sure your chosen tree is fresh, run a branch through your enclosed hand. The needles should not come off easily. Bend the outer branches – they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry.
7. Lightweight saw – it’s best to use a lightweight saw that is meant for cutting live trees. Most farms will provide these for you; just call the farm ahead of your visit to make sure.
8. Cut low – cut your Christmas tree low to the ground and quickly, if possible. The low cut will allow the tree to re-sprout a central leader to form another Christmas tree for the future. Once the tree starts to lean over, finish your saw cuts quickly. Don’t push the tree over. That can cause the bark to rip and splinter. It is best to have an assistant support the tree as you are cutting.
9. Shake it – the tree  may well have become home to birds, bugs and spiders during the year, so once it’s cut, shake it! A vigorous shaking will not only get rid of loose pine needles, but will also evict Charlotte (and her web). Lots of farms will shakes your chosen tree on a mechanical shaker for no additional cost.
10. Be careful during transport – be careful not to break branches or bend the thin part at the top. Also, you should prepare your vehicle for transport. If you’re putting on top of your car, bring ropes or tie-downs. If you’re going to put it in the vehicle, bring a large tarp or blanket to keep any pine needles from shedding all over.
11. Ensure freshness – when you get your tree home, take a 1 inch slice off the bottom of the trunk where the tree was cut to allow it to soak up nutrients and water faster. Get the tree into water as soon as possible. Make sure the water is not too cold (it can shock the tree).

I hope you and your family try a real tree this holiday season! And for an extra adventure, cut down your own tree. Make it a family tradition. Don’t feel guilty – it’s good for the environment! And it feels great to get outside together and choose a tree as a family. I guarantee you’ll have fun and make amazing memories while you’re at it. Don’t forget your camera!

Have you ever cut down your own tree?

The post Tips for Cutting Down Your Own Christmas Tree appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Fly fishing with kids at Dry Run Creek, Arkansas

We recently spent three action-packed days fishing with the kids on Dry Run Creek and now consider ourselves totally spoiled. Not only is it an absolutely gorgeous area with lush canopies and easy access to the water, but the fish were giant! My fly fishing obsessed five year-old caught his fill every day, each bigger than the last. Dare I say, he may have even got bored after a while from catching so many fish! Even the three year-old got in on the action and netted a few, although it was hard to pull her away from feeding the fish in the hatchery and chasing butterflies.

About Dry Run Creek

Flowing from Norfork National Fish Hatchery, Dry Run Creek is .75 miles of spring and hatchery effluent fed, ice-cold, highly-oxygenated water (32 million gallons/day) coming up from below the surface of Lake Norfork. Located alongside the hatchery (home to 2.5 million brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout), Dry Run Creek contains significant numbers of large trout trying to migrate from whence they came.  Amazingly, despite its proximity to the hatchery, Dry Run Creek is not stocked by Arkansas Game & Fish.  Instead, all the fish living in the creek have found their way out of the Norfork River and jumped “the waterfall” to access this trout-nirvana.

Until 1988, Dry Run Creek had been closed for 30 years to all fishing. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission decided closure of the stream was unnecessary and re-opened it as a catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial-lure fishery for kids under 16 and the handicapped (an Arkansas handicap fishing license is required). Handicap wheelchair-bound individuals may fish from the newly built decks and ramps.

Designed for ultimate fish habitat and growth, Dry Run Creek is open year round to anglers and host to many fishing events and school field trips each year. Children not only have the chance to learn more about trout, but also have a great opportunity to fish for the monsters that lurk in the depths.

Best kids’ fly fishing location

As you can imagine, Dry Run Creek is hog heaven for the fishing-obsessed kid and a great place to get them hooked on fly fishing. The number of trout in the creek is astounding and it’s common to see fish lined up so thick it looks like you could walk across the water using them as stepping stones.

The cold, clear, shallow water allows amazing sight-fishing opportunities, but there are still nooks and crannies to allow the bigger fish to hide. Just because there’s an abundance of fish, doesn’t mean they’re all easy to catch! These fish don’t get this big being careless and fishing here still takes patience and skill.

Trout food sources

The fish in Dry Run Creek thrive on all-natural food sources – sow bugs, scuds, midges, aquatic worms, leaches and an abundance of terrestrial insects.  No protein pellets here! Essentially, Dry Run Creek contains everything that you would find in the Norfork River, but more concentrated. Therefore, the fish are well-fed and have very little reason to ever leave! The creek also contains populations of beaver, mink, muskrat, and other animals that use or live in the stream and add to its biodiversity.

Fish for big trout at Dry Run Creek

Because the stream is well-fed and strictly catch and release, the fish have the chance to get massive. There are scores of rainbow and brown trout over five pounds and trophy trout are the norm here. In December 2005, this “little stream that could” gave up a rainbow trout that may have been bigger than the Arkansas state record (estimated somewhere near 25 pounds) to an 11-year-old angler from Kansas!

Kids can fish for the grand slam of trout

The creek has one of the thickest populations of trout in the world and is possibly the best fly fishing stream in the country for young ones learning how to fly fish. Dry Run Creek is absolutely teaming with rainbow and brown trout, but it also has some brook and cutthroat trout. This means your little one could catch a Grand Slam (four different types of trout), all in one location!

Kids only fishing location

Sorry mom and dad, but Dry Run Creek is strictly for kids. All kids must be with a licensed adult and do the fishing themselves. A certain level of parental teaching is permitted, but only in the direct presence of the child.

The kids fishing should be able to cast, hook up and fight the fish on their own, with limited parental guidance and interaction. Parents can rig the rods, coach the youngster and net the fish, but it is really important that the child actually catch the fish. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officers frequent the creek and will issue tickets to adults fishing.

But don’t worry, parents – even though you can’t fish, you won’t get bored. There will be so much action with your kids catching fish that you won’t have time to think about all the fish you could be catching. Non-stop fish after fish (and tangle after tangle) will keep everyone in the family entertained, busy and excited for the next one.

Best fly fishing gear for kids

As for fly fishing equipment, a standard 9-foot, 5-weight rod is the ticket.  Light enough to enjoy the pull of the smaller fish and sturdy enough to help control the lunkers when they decide to go for a run.  You’ll want to be careful with your leader and tippet size though.  When the water is stained, you can get away with heavier leaders and tippet (3X and 4X); however, most days the water is crystal clear so consider using the smallest tippet you can get away with. 

(You can find all our favorite fly fishing gear recommendations for kids in this post.)

As for flies, use anything to mimic the trout’s natural diet. We had success with midges, San Juan worms, scuds, and terrestrials, as well as attractor patterns like eggs and stimulators. A strike indicator and split-shot will be necessary when nymphing, and it’s always important to have floatant for your dry flies after they get hammered several times. Make sure you also bring the biggest net you can find. We lost quite a few giant trout at the net because our biggest net wasn’t quite big enough!

What to pack when fly fishing with kids

If your child has waders, bring them. The water is cold and while there are plenty of spots to fish from the bank, with waders they can fish virtually the entire stream. Parents may also want to wear waders and boots in case you need to get in and release hung-up flies and more effectively net the big trout.

Feel free to bring snacks, lunch and a cooler. The stream is less than a mile long, so you’re never too far from your car in the parking lot. There are picnic tables and trash cans scattered along the paths and walkways, so you never have to get off the water.

Tips for photographing catch and release trout

Finally, bring a camera! Dry Run Creek definitely provides opportunities to catch a once-in-a-lifetime fish and you’ll want it documented. Just remember, when you’re taking a picture, handle the fish carefully. Dry Run Creek is a catch-and-release stream and trout must be released immediately after they are caught.  Leave the fish in the net, suspended in the water, until you have removed the hook and have the camera ready.

Handle the fish gently and as little as possible when photographing.  A quick lift out of the water with a firm (but gentle) grasp is all that’s required. Have your child hold the fish out in front of them so you capture that big giant smile on their face. If it’s super hot out, leave the fish in the water (keep them wet). Be sure to fully revive the fish before release.

When to go fly fishing in Dry Run Creek

Dry Run Creek is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset. There’s never a bad season for fishing and there’s lots to do and explore any time of year you visit. The paths and walkways along the creek were recently remodeled, are well-kept, shaded and a very beautiful in any season. The Mountain Home area is beautiful and filled with all kinds of amazing outdoor activities to partake in with kids: hiking, biking, swimming, boating, kayaking, etc. It’s conveniently located right between Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals, making the fishing and water activities prevalent. 

While you’re visiting Dry Run Creek, make sure to check out the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. Feed the trout and take a tour. It is truly a great experience and the kids will love the break in action.

For more information

If you’d like to find more information on Dry Run Creek and the surrounding area, check out the Friends of the Norfolk National Fish Hatchery’s website.

For more info on fly fishing with kids, check out our other posts:

• Teaching Kids to Fly Fish
• Fly Fishing Basics for Kids
• Tips for Raising Kids that Love to Fish

If you’re looking for an awesome place to go fishing with kids,
Dry Run Creek in Mountain Home, Arkansas is definitely worth the trip!

The post Fly Fishing with Kids at Dry Run Creek, Arkansas appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

We’re all so excited to have a new member of the clan and we cannot wait to see what kind of adventures come our way. Having a baby, a toddler and a school-age kid is going to be so much fun and we’re already planning trips, outings and activities with all three in tow. Of course, we’ll share all our tips, tricks, fails, advice and stories with you along the way!

If there’s a particular topic you’d like to see us cover related to babies (e.g. baby carriers for hiking, camping with a baby, etc.) or anything else, just leave it in the comments and we’ll get working on it!

Things are about to get crazy! Thanks for being part of the journey!

The post A Little Announcement appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

HELLO THERE!

Hi and welcome to RUN WILD MY CHILD, your one-stop shop for all things kid-friendly and outdoorsy. This website is dedicated to getting kids (and parents) outside and back into nature, one adventure at a time. Whether it’s through family travel, nature crafts, forest school lessons or outdoors games and activities, we know that kids are happiest and learn best when they’re outside, exploring and getting their hands dirty.

There’s no denying that children benefit greatly from being outdoors. Kids need fresh air and exercise, room to explore and a connection with nature. We all do. Families who find ways to be outdoors together nurture not only their bodies, but their connection to life and each other.  Research shows that kids who spend time outside in nature are happier, healthier and calmer. Playing outdoors builds confidence, encourages creativity and teaches responsibility.

We also believe that as parents and educators, we can teach children invaluable lessons with and through nature, but we also know that it’s not always (or maybe ever) easy. Our goal is to encourage you to get outside with your kids and help them connect with nature in fun new ways, even if you’re not “outdoorsy.”  And if you want to learn how to be “outdoorsy,” we’ll show you how! (or at least how to fake it ’til you make it.) We want to be your main resource for outdoor family inspiration and help you find new ways to encourage your child to run wild.

Meet the family

I’m Sara and I’ll be your tour guide. My husband Ryan and I are both attorneys in St. Louis, MO, have two children and share a love for the outdoors. I grew up in the country and did lots of camping, canoeing, creeking, hunting and exploring the woods when I was little. While Ryan was raised in the city, he developed a passion for fly-fishing, snorkeling and skiing at an early age and his deep love for all things nature-based turned him into a biology major in college.

Together we’ve hiked an active volcano, swam with sharks, explored ancient Mayan ruins, fly fished mountain streams, skied black diamonds, climbed waterfalls in a bamboo jungle, rafted through underground caves and camped in the snow…just to name a few of our outdoor adventures. But our biggest adventure by far has been parenting two wildlings!

Our little wild ones, affectionately nicknamed Mac (almost 5) and Mim (almost 3) are both happiest when they’re outside. Whether they’re fly fishing in a frigid trout stream, hiking through the woods, geocaching in a local park or camping in the backyard, we try to get them outside as much as possible. We’re committed to raising our kids to respect and appreciate nature and we put a huge emphasis on making sure our “city kids” get plenty of sunshine on their faces, fresh air in their lungs and dirt under their fingernails. The fact that they actually like bugs and worms is just an added bonus!

Where we adventure

While we love opportunities to travel to exotic places like beaches and national parks, most of our adventures take place in and around the area where we live (the good ole, land-locked Midwest) – making them doable, affordable and practical for parents everywhere. Whether you live in a rural area, the mountains, close to the beach or in the middle of a city, we want to make getting outdoors fun, easy and accessible for everyone.

We’re excited to share tips, advice and encouragement on outdoor activities, nature crafts, educational lessons and family adventures. We’ll let you know what works for us (and what doesn’t work), lessons we’ve learned along the way and all the funny and unexpected stories that inevitably happen with two small kids in tow. We hope this will be a place where you feel inspired, supported and encouraged to get yourself and your kids outside, no matter where you live!

Coming soon to the website

I’m so excited that you’re here and hope you’ll stick around for the ride. This website has been in the works for a long time and is a passion project of mine (one of the many). We might not have new content daily, but we’ll try to keep you consistently entertained and inspired.  While I’ll be your main source of info as we get started, we’ll soon feature some incredible adventures, advice, trips, outings, projects and tutorials from parents all over the country (and hopefully worldwide). We’re currently accepting guest posts, so if you have a fun outdoor adventure you’d like to share here, just click that CONTRIBUTE link up top.

Feel free to poke around on the website and follow us across all social media channels. Bookmark our site or add us to your blog reader. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on all happenings and be automatically entered to win an amazing nature-inspired prize pack!

And now that you know a bit about me, please tell me about yourself in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!

Where do you live?

How many kids (and their ages)?

What kind of outdoor activities are you (or the kids) most interested in?

Any particular topic or activity you’d like to see covered here?

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