As winter fades away and nature awakens from its slumber, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring—a season brimming with opportunities for outdoor adventures with our kids.
From exploring lush forests to picnicking in sun-drenched meadows, spring offers a plethora of experiences that ignite the imagination and foster a deep appreciation for the natural world. However, amidst the excitement of embarking on outdoor escapades, we must also be mindful of potential hazards and considerations to ensure our family’s safety and enjoyment.
Unpredictable Weather
While sunny skies beckon, springtime is notorious for sudden rain showers, gusty winds, and fluctuating temperatures. There could even be sudden snowfalls. Make sure you dress your children in layers and pack extra clothing to accommodate changing weather conditions. Checking the weather forecast before heading out will help you stay ahead of the game and allows for whatever adjustments you need to make for your plans.
Also, if you are in a park or canyon with a ranger station, ask about any flash flood dangers. Spring time is when these most often happen, so check ahead and be aware of your surroundings.
Springtime Allergies
Springtime allergies can put a damper on outdoor fun if you are not prepared. As trees, flowers, and grasses begin to bloom, pollen levels soar, triggering allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Keep your eye on your kids’ allergy symptoms and try to minimize exposure. Bring allergy meds, think about taking it a day before to get it starting to build up (check with your doctor first), and if your children have allergies, think about avoiding areas with high pollen counts, and scheduling outdoor activities during times when pollen levels are lower. Check out the pollen count tracker before you go.
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud
The thawing of winter’s frost brings with it muddy trails, slippery surfaces, and potentially hazardous conditions. Do yourself a favor and opt for well-maintained paths and keep an eye on kids to prevent slips and falls. Make sure you outfit them in a good pair of hiking trails that are waterproof and have really good traction.
The Bugs are Back
Spring is when the bugs come back big time. And they are often in nymph state and that’s when it’s hardest to spot. Lyme disease is no joke and that’s what nymph ticks can often bring if they manage to connect with your kids. Bees are also emerging from their winter hiatus. Make sure to bring bugspray, pack extra, slather them up good and I hate to say it, long pants and minimal exposure to skin when you know you’ll be going through tall grasses.
When you get back, religiously do tick checks. Look in the back of knees, the creases of elbows, behind ears, between toes, base of the hairline. Ticks can hook on anywhere, but these places are especially enticing to them. And if you do see a tick, when you pull it out make sure to include the head. Smothering it in alcohol and pulling straight out with a pair of tweezers is a good way to get them out. Then save the tick and bring itto your doc.
Remember, Lyme tick bites don’t always turn into bullseye rashes 100% of the time. If you do see a bullseye, run, don’t walk to your pediatrician, and if they tell you to wait and see if symptoms appear, my personal opinion is get to another doctor. Waiting for symptoms to appear can mean the difference between nipping it in the bud right away, and having to deal with Lyme disease symptoms that could take a while to go away.
Spring Sun
Sun safety is paramount when spending time outdoors with children in the spring. The sun’s rays grow stronger as the season progresses, increasing the risk of sunburn and heat-related illnesses. Break out the sunblock even if it is still cool outside. You can still get burns. Spring skiing is also a definitely sun burn contributor. If you don’t want goggle burn face, definitely don’t forget to slather up on your face.
The Animals are Waking Up and….Babies!
Wildlife encounters are a possibility during springtime adventures in nature. From curious squirrels to elusive deer, children may have the opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife up close. Remind your kids to respect wildlife from a distance. Also, avoid approaching or feeding animals, and know how to react calmly and safely in the event of an unexpected encounter. Don’t forget, this is when Mamma bears come out with their babies, and new babies are being born or hatching. Stay clear of anything that looks like a baby, there’s nothing worse than ticking off a Mamma animal. Also, be careful around bush and tree branches, Don’t pull on them or mess with them unnecessarily. Not all birds nest in high trees, so messing around with eye level branches could potentially disturb a nest or worse.
As Spring progresses into early summer, stay clear of baby birds learning to fly. If you encounter one on the ground, leave them alone. Their mother is likely nearby but won’t come to the baby until you are clear. And definitely, don’t touch it or bring it home. I know it’s tempting, but just leave the baby where you find it.
Getting Out After Winter Break
Remember kids have been holed up and not as active as they’ve been in the winter. So break them into the spring outdoor season slowly. Get a good sense of what they can handle. Make sure they hydrate and don’t overdue it. Not just for them, but for you. You don’t want to end up on a ten mile hike with a whiney, overtired child begging you to carry them every twenty feet. And for little ones, I can’t tell you how much I loved our jog stroller. The kind with the big rugged wheels. They are great for trail running, rollerblading or rolling along a pretty well maintained trail.
Have fun and enjoy the day as it starts to get longer. Spring is finally here!
