Posted Sept 18, 2023

The leaves are about to explode in color. Every year is different depending on the ground moisture, amount of sunshine and temperature. Some years it is spectacular and sometimes a dud. You have seen it every year but.... it is all new and wonderous for kids!

It’s hard to explain how all the leaf colors have been in the leaf all summer, but was masked by the green chlorophyll. This deserves a rather extensive investigation with lots of research by your kids as to what is really happening and all the variables that are at play. Grab a magnifying glass and study leaves in various stages of turning. Try picking some leaves and putting them in the fridge and freezer.

Based on their research, can your kids predict what this years tree vibrancy will be like? Can they identify what color local leaves might turn based upon what type of tree it is? What color do pine trees turn (trick question)? Write down their predictions and see what happens.

When the leaves are actually reaching their max color, many families like to take a trip or just a local drive to see the colors. Let’s go! Drive out to the country where the traffic isn’t whizzing around so fast. Pick an area you have never explored before.

Once you have reached your discovery area, pull over and explain to the kids their role. Every time you come to an intersection, call out one of your kid’s name and they get to choose the direction – left, right or straight. (Don’t worry, google maps will get you home.) Challenge them to look closely at the landscape. Get a running conversation in the car as to what they are seeing.

Learning to really observe is an important skill. Maybe even bring some crayons or markers and stop at a nice view and let them draw what they are seeing. Can they identify what type of tree they are looking at by the colors the leaves are showing? If you see a park, stop and walk down the trail a bit and just stop and look. Maybe even sit on a log or the ground and just soak in the beauty. It will be another whole year before you get to enjoy these splendid colors again and maybe next year will be a dud.

Pull over often. If there is something interesting along the way, take the time to stop and explore. If it is a store, engage the staff or another customer in a conversation about the area and why they like it here. Get them talking. Ask if there are any favorite local legends. Your kids are watching. How you interact with people is shaping their understanding of how they should interact as they grow. Are you kind and generous, highly appreciative, do you compliment people and the places they have created or work in. Is today’s ice cream especially tasty? Our attitude towards people and the environment is shaping our kids view.

What we see along the path is just as important. Are we pointing out negatives or positives? Do we focus on big fancy houses or the beauty of our natural world? They are watching you, reading between the lines, sensing the truth of your body language. Are you loving people unconditionally, even if you might not agree with them? What we say to our kids isn’t nearly as important as what our body language is telling them. SLOW DOWN! These kids you have been gifted with are the most important thing in life. You get them only a short time. You are their hero, their most important role model.

How was your trip to nowhere?

Medina County has their yearly Fall Foliage Tour
on Oct. 14 & 15 from Noon – 5
This year's tour is southern Medina County – all around us.
Tour map can be found at: www.medinacountyparks.com
Stop by for a visit and a break –
Free Admission to Discovery Park both days!

That’s what good play is all about.

No directions, nobody telling you that
“you can’t do it that way”.

It’s pure discovery!