Helping Pre-Readers Write Primary Talks

Our kids are blessed to attend a rather small LDS Primary. An average week yields about a dozen kids aged 3 -11.  A larger primary (like that of my own childhood) would be awesome as well. However, I've really come to love our little group and the experiences my two older children have because of its small size. They absolutely adore the older children -- who shower them with attention and kindness. Also, they are frequently called upon to say prayers, answer questions, choose songs, and give talks. Last year Nell gave two primary talks as a sunbeam (that's the youngest class). I'm willing to bet that's pretty unique. 

Neither Reid nor Nell read (or write), but they love preparing and giving talks. We've had to think outside the box as we've helped our pre-readers write their talks, so I thought I'd share some of the strategies that have worked for us. Hopefully this can help some other parents of pre-readers prepare their kids to give talks during sharing time as well. 

1. Make sure the child is using their own words, and not yours (or someone else's). 

My goal for my kids, even at age three, is that they will both write and speak the talk themselves. Of course we help them with the outline and structure of each talk, but we encourage them to use concepts and language that are familiar to them. When they each gave their first talk I stood by them to offer encouragement and help get them through any hiccups, but I do not whisper the talk into their ears. The words are theirs and they are comfortable expressing them to their peers. If a child does need the words whispered into their ears (because we all have different abilities), those words should still be comfortable and natural to them. 

2. Study the topic with them every day of the week.

The purpose of speaking in Church is mostly for our own benefit. When we are asked to prepare a talk or lesson we have to spend a great deal of time studying the topic on our own. Then we put together our thoughts and deliver them to our audience. This should be no different for our children. Most recently, Reid was given a somewhat complicated topic, his assignment was: "Jesus Christ created the Earth so I could learn to choose the right." Throughout the week we talked about the two very separate ideas in that sentence. Why did Jesus create the Earth? How can we choose the right? After some good discussions on these two points, we started putting the two concepts together. We kept having Reid flush out ideas and express what he was learning in his own words. The final draft of his talk included comments about dinosaurs and the Mariana trench -- so you can trust me when I say our kids use their own words! We always encourage them to come up with their own ideas, but they can only do this if they understand the doctrine they are asked to speak on. 

3. Create a storyboard for the child to read from the pulpit. 

This genius idea belongs to Reid. As we kept talking about the reason for the creation and the importance of choosing the right, he said something about writing his talk as a picture. That was a real light bulb moment for me. I got out some paper and made six frames; then he and Ben filled it out together. I would highly recommend this method to anyone. By the time they were finished Reid had six concrete thoughts he knew he needed to hit and his talk was built on strong organization. This gave him the confidence he needed to stand at the podium (without me by his side), make eye contact with his audience, and deliver his talk with near perfection. He occasionally made quick glances at each square and then spoke from the heart as he moved from one point to the next. 

4. Use props.

I know props for talks in sacrament are frowned upon, but I think it is okay to make an exception for children's primary talks. I imagine some church members may disagree with this approach, but it worked really well for us when Reid was 5 and asked to speak on The Creation. I created a flannel board story of the Creation and it served as the outline for his talk. This allowed him to tell the entire creation story in his own words, while also offering a visual for his peers.

Props did not work for Nell when she was asked to speak on Christ's birth. I envisioned her putting out each piece of our Little People Nativity set as she told the story, but every time we practiced it at home her retelling of the story just became more and more ridiculous. She was ad-libbing all sorts of junk that certainly would have made her story interesting, but not at all accurate. In the end we just put the nativity out on the table next to us and stuck to simple story telling from the pulpit, which leads us into number five.

5. Practice, practice, and practice some more.
I really don't have any wisdom to offer here, other than what is said: practice, practice, practice. Nell had to run through that nativity talk a couple dozen times. We'd interrupt her when she got too dramatic; we'd remind her of any parts she was missing. We did it again and again and again. Reid also runs through his talks a couple dozen times before delivery. We are sure to go over it several times the morning before church.

6. Always close with a testimony.
When our kids practice their talks we always ask them to include their own testimony at the end. We have never given them instruction for this portion of the talk. It isn't something we correct or persuade. They know they need to close with two or three comments about something they are thankful for and something they know to be true. Naturally, they stick pretty closely to their assigned topic.

I'd love to hear any other ideas that have worked for parents with young children. Feel free to leave them in the comments or pass this post around if you find it helpful.

Recipe of the Week: Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

As with many of our favorite breakfast recipes, I found this one in the land of pinterest and always double it when I make it. It's such a pain to do the double math everytime I make it, so I want to put it here on my own blog for safe keeping.

The recipe originally appeared on a site called Gingerbread Bagels, but when that blog disappeared I found it on Cooking to Perfection (who had copied it from GB). Like I said, we double this every time, and it is always gone within 24 hours. We enjoy it for breakfast, then again at snacktime, and if there is any left -- we have it again for breakfast the next day.

And here is a little confession. I don't actually love this meal. It's my husband and kids who eat it all. I eat the corners, but that's really it. It's a little too ... mushy? .... wet? ... for my liking. I made it once while my parents were here and they weren't big fans either, so maybe it's just a weird texture thing I inherited from my parents. Now, how's that for a selling point? Ha!

But really, my kids and hubby gobble this up, so it's worth a try. And I do love the inch around the corners and edges of the pan.

PB Banana Oatmeal Bars
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup peanut butter
Optional: 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (we've also used milk chocolate and even M&Ms. 

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside. 

Combine oats, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a medium to large mixing bowl. Stir until combined. Add milk, egg, vanilla, banana, and peanut butter and mix just until incorporated. If using, fold in chocolate. 

Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 36 hours. 

A little Nutella on top for our after school snack.

Recipe of the Week: Greek Tostadas

I wanted to keep this new recipe we used from Parents magazine without keeping the whole magazine (or hard copy of the recipe), so here it is!

Chickpea Paste
1 15 oz can chickpeas
1 TBs olive ol
1 love garlic
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/8 tsp cumin and salt, each
Lamb Mixture
1 tsp olive oil
8 oz ground lamb (we did use lamb, but turkey or beef would be fine)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Additional layers
4 whole Greek pita flatbreads, warmed (we spread all the ingredients out onto six)
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped plum tomatoes
1 cup chopped cucumber
12 pitted black olives, halved
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (optional)

1. To make the chickpea paste, rinse and drain the chickpeas and then puree chickpeas with remaining ingredients. This can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week.

2. To make the meat, warm oil over med-high heat. Add meat and cook until browned. Drain fat. Season with remaining spices

3. To assemble Greek Tostadas, spread chickpea puree on top of each pita. Top with lamb mixture, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and a dollop of Greek yogurt if desired.

My kids (aged 5, 3, and 1.5) each gobbled it up. They especially loved the pita bread and complained we didn't give them a full circle (we cut one up for them to share). Neither my husband nor I are big fans of cucumber, but we both noted how delicious it was on these tostadas. This is an easy dish to involve the kids in, as you can put out all the different layers and let them assemble their tostada on their own. I've found a little ownership over what is on their plates always gets my kids more excited about trying new foods. It also helps to talk about the different regions of the world the food comes from, and they loved hearing (what little we know) about Greece!

Great Basin National Park: What to do with Kids

Last Summer Ben and I took the kids to three different National Parks (and a couple of State Parks) and I wrote up little guides of what we did and what I had researched beforehand. I figure I'll write this Great Basin post up in the same style. It's an easy 1 hour and 45 minute drive from my parents place in Delta, UT.

Easy unless you get stuck behind an extra wide load that takes up the only two lanes on Highway 6 & 50! I've never seen such a big haul in my life. It had three flashing trucks up in front, warning oncoming traffic to pull completely off the road, and two flashing cars (one a state trooper) behind it. Thankfully, after about 30 miles, it pulled over and let us pass. Otherwise we may not have made it!

Lehman Cave Tour

Kids of any age can go on the Ranger guided 60 minute Lodge Room Tour. You cannot take strollers, so if you have young kids that need to be carried you'll need to have a pack or something. The walk itself is less than 1/2 a mile, but you stop several times in the more open areas of the cave and learn about cave creation and cave life.

Our group included four adults, a 9 year-old, two 5 -year-olds and three 3 year-olds. All of the 3 year-olds did super. None needed to be carried. Our guide was amazing with little kids and when Nell and one of her fellow 3 year-old cousins snuck up ahead of the parents the guide just let them lead the way. It was adorable. Of course, he shouted back at us for permission, but once it was granted Nell and Hudson were leading the pack.

Another thing worth note is that kids cannot touch anything. This can be hard on anyone, especially littles, but I noticed little hands constantly pulling themselves back when they realized they'd gotten too close. I was really impressed with the practice in self control our young explorers demonstrated.

The cave has been touched plenty, so a few slip ups won't alter geology. Early explorers had a "if you can break it you can take it" policy and park workers have paved a nice pathway through the main parts of the cave. So it certainly isn't 100% primitive. In fact, they once rented the cave out under a Hollywood contract and some film about Mars was created. They flooded one of the bigger rooms and spent lots of time making it look like the astronauts were floating on Mars. Special effects of the 70s, they were something!

There is a longer tour that will take you to a couple extra rooms, but kids must be 5 and older to go on that one. All tours require tickets and YOU MUST order them at least one day before going. If you take the chance of getting tickets when you arrive you will be left behind. I booked our tickets on Monday and at the time every slot on Thursday was wide open. That morning we called to see if we could add two more and we couldn't. Every tour was filled up within an hour of the parks opening.

Easy Hikes for Kids
Hikes in Great Basin will remind you how primitive this part of the desert really is. The Bristle cone pines are older than Jesus! And most of the park has little to no traffic. While the park certainly offers developed and easily accessible trails, it feels a lot less traveled than the other major parks found in Utah.

The Mountain View Nature Trail is a quick loop around the cave area. You can even hop in the ranger station and ask for a guided tour. We did this entire loop in less than 20 minutes after we were done with the cave. The kids loved looking for lizards and cacti and the views were pretty good as well.

Taking a quick break on the Mountain View Nature Trail

When Reid was just a toddler and Nell was tucked safely into my belly, Ben, Reid and I went on the Sky Islands Forest Trail. It was late June and it snowed on us! That's how high up you are, you get snow ... in Nevada ... in June. The trail is wheelchair accessible, so even with the snow our little 18 mos old did most his own walking. There were nice little markers that identified life on the rugged mountains of the Great Basin. I remember feeling very lost in the high forest, wait ... maybe lost isn't the right word. We knew where we were (even with the snow falling down on us), I mean lost in the sense that it was just the three of us on this entire mountain range, deep in its beautiful forest. All these years later I still really enjoy the memory of this hike.

June 2012

I've also done the Osceola Ditch hike during other visits. This is hands down the park I've been to the most in my life time. My family has it's own history with the park. My ancestors used the Osceola ditch (maybe even helped build it?) and my paternal Grandfather gave tours of the cave when he was just 9 years-old. I love Great Basin and am very dissapointed I've never camped there!

Camping
Though I haven't camped in Great Basin, Ben and I certainly plan to in a few years when our kids are a bit older. Unlike Capitol Reef, Great Basin doesn't have a lot of developed campsites but you are guaranteed to see more stars than you can find just about anywhere on the planet if you happen to stay on a clear night. It is the Milky Way National Park. There is no light pollution and you are nearly on top of the highest peak in Nevada. I can't wait to stay a night there some point in the future. It will take a lot of preparation, but the pay off will be worth it.

Nearby Accommodations
There are not many towns near the park. The only one you'll go through after leaving Delta (if you come to the park from Utah) is Baker Nevada. There are two other towns in the valley, but each are as small (even smaller) than Baker. So you'll probably want to pack a picnic, or you'll end up eating all your meals at the Border Inn.

Which is just what we did when it was time for dinner!

The kids had fun playing with this old gas pump, and the heavy load we'd followed out to the desolute desert was parked on the lot -- probably waiting for the NV highway patrol to come take it to it's next destination. If you are visiting the park from Utah (and you don't want to camp), I'd recommend staying a day and night in Delta. There is plenty to do in my lovely childhood community. 

Overall the entire afternoon was one of my kids' favorites from our two week long stay at Grandma and Gramps. Thanks for planning and paying Pa and thanks for watching the two toddlers Ma! 

Baby Books, a list for 0-1 year olds

I notice anytime I'm about to have a baby, or after just having one, I get the urge to write a bunch of posts about life with a baby. While these may help some other young mothers the posts are mostly for me. I realize that even in just the few short years that have passed since Reid was an infant, I easily forget what it's like to have a baby and what habits and routines I glean while surviving (and sometimes thriving) in the newborn stage.

When my children start having babies of their own there are certain books I would like to arm them with. One, because I have grown to love these books and I think they are best for baby. Two, because these books have such a sweet spot in my heart after reading them for hours and hours to my own babies. Here's a quick (and super short) list of the best books for babies.

1. Board Books

Until my kids are more than two-years-old, I try to keep them away from our hardcovers and paperbacks. We have a shelf full of board books and that's always where I get books for the nursery or where I try to direct Coraline's attention when she wants to sit and read books like her siblings. Board books are easier for babies to handle and harder for them to destroy. Win, win.

2. Repetition and Rhyme

The books I have found myself turning to again and again with each baby fall into one of two categories, repetition of phrases/concepts and classic nursery rhyme patterns. As kids get older I love lift the flap books, touch and feel books, or classics like Hungry Little Caterpillar, but before about eleven-months-old these type of books have no effect on my children. They can't interact with them and they don't understand all the language. Repetition and rhyme are best for the newest of babies.

3. The Books We Love Most

    

I have never grown tired of Bill Martin and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear series. I imagine I'll purchase a set for each of my kids when they have their own baby showers. If I start to tire of Brown Bear, I switch it out for Polar Bear or Panda Bear. I've read each of these over and over to all three children.



If for any reason you do tire of the Bear series there are many other great repetition books out there. Perhaps the most popular is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd. I have really enjoyed Are You Sleeping Little One by Hans Chrisitan Schmidt, Cynthia Vance, and Andrea Nemet.

      

For classic nursery rhymes we have really liked these Tiger Tales books. I have the ones pictured above, illustrated by Sanja Rescek and Hannah Wood. There are several others in the Tiger Tales line, and many that are just one nursery rhyme done in great detail. The books we have are mini-anthologies that simply contain the first verse of the most popular rhymes, one to a page.



I love, love, love Girl of Mine by Jabari Sim and LeUyen Pham. It's a beautifully illustrated adaption of Rock a Bye-Baby. I think I read it three or four times a day to Nell when she was a baby and I never tired of it. I was drawn to it for the diversity, in the book it is the father snuggling and singing to his daughter. It's surprisingly hard it is to find books that show nurturing fathers (instead of mothers) or children who are not white. But even without those added bonuses, this is a great book on it's own merit. There is a Boy of Mine companion, an adaption of Twinkle Twinkle that references Van Gogh's Starry Night. I haven't read it, but I'm sure it is excellent if you need the boy version instead of the girl one.


A couple years ago I wrote a post with our 10 favorite toys for this age range. With #3 I did finally splurge on Sophie the Giraffe teether (which quickly became our favorite teether) and a really nice baby gym (worth every penny once you have more than one child). 

Creating Healthy Food Habits Early

When I first decided I wanted to write a post about my kids eating habits, I really just wanted to share happy memories we've recently made involving food. For example, I want to remember the afternoon Nell helped me make dinner and ate nearly half the fresh green beans before I could even start sauteing them (she had some help from her brother and sister, who were coloring at the dinning room table nearby). I also wanted to write about how fun it was to watch three preschool kids gobble up kiwi, strawberry, and banana bowls on a warm spring day.

Or the dried fruit and nut medley they had the next afternoon. 

We also ate donuts for lunch one day. And in one of the below pictures you'll find boxed mac and cheese with (turkey) hot dogs (that I shaped into octopuses per my big kids' request). I'm not here to claim we're perfect, but we do get a lot of things right.

I know it might sound silly to think we make special memories involving food, but that is one of my goals as a parent. I want my kids to have a positive relationship with food. I want them to regularly try new things; I want them to love creating their own dishes, and I want them to fuel their body with healthy food while still enjoying some favorite sweets every now and then.

Ben and I have really put a lot of thought and planning into our food strategy. I've read countless articles and we've had some long debates regarding our dos and don'ts. We regularly receive compliments for how well our kids eat. Yes, these comments are sometimes coded to hide the reality that our kids are not small and have no trouble eating a lot of food when really hungry. But the truth is they are not picky at all and they actually have healthier eating habits than I do. A friend once asked if there was anything my kids won't eat. I told her Reid doesn't like humus, and she confessed she had no idea what that even was (and he does like humus now).

Reid regularly takes bell peppers to school for snack time. Nell informed me she didn't like cabbage one night when I made chow mein, but gobbled it all up the next night when I made Thai wraps. Reid pulled a sauteed red onion out of said wrap and reminded me he doesn't like them, and then proceeded to tilt his head back and dip the whole thing into his mouth. He didn't pick out anymore after that. He ate them all.

These Thai Chicken Wraps are one of my top five favorite meals

Here are several key rules we follow that have helped our kids establish good eating habits. I am not a parenting expert or a food expert. Some people will try these things and reap little reward. Despite all that, I wanted to take some time and jot down things we've done that I hope will serve our kids well their whole lives.

1. Self feeding. The moment my kids show interest(/demand) in feeding themselves I let them go for it. I don't need to battle a baby for a spoon. You want the spoon, you got it. Oh, you're just going to use your hands anyway. That works too. Self feed baby, self feed. 

Substitute that mac for soup, oatmeal, yogurt -- whatever. Self feed baby, self feed.

This also applies to older kids. We do not force our kids to eat any more than they'd like. Not even the healthy stuff. Our kids ask to be excused at the end of each meal (or sometimes the beginning) and we may give them instruction (clear your plate off the table, go wash off your spaghetti face, etc), but we never tell them they have to take another bite.

I think it is important for kids of all ages to be in charge of feeding themselves. They need to listen to their bodies and know when they are satisfied. They need to choose the pace at which they eat (and with Nell that can be painfully slow and I'm working on not rushing her). When we go to restaurants, they pick their own items (the last time we went to Red Robin Nell choose apples and Reid choose a salad as their side dishes, totally skipped the fries) and order them when the waiter looks at them to signal it's their turn. They are in control of what food they eat and how much of it they eat. 

2. Offer a variety. This habit did not come naturally to me. I picked it up for several reasons. One, the (kid) plates we use remind me to offer a main dish and some sides. Two, I do not short order cook, but there are dishes I make that I know my kids might not like, so I need to fill one of the three slots with something I know they will gobble up. Three, I want my kids to like fruits and veggies more than I do, so I need to include one (or two) with each meal. So far I have succeed with this goal; my kids eat way more fruits and veggies than I do.

My plate did not have the fruit pictured above, but it did have chocolate chips in the yogurt/peanut butter fruit dip.

3. Limit snacking. This rule has not come naturally to me either. I learned to graze during my young adult years, and it's something I've had to work on now that I'm home all day with my kids. After reading Bringing Up Bebe I adopted a new catchphrase, "It is okay to be hungry." I decided we'd have four regular eating times. We eat breakfast at 7, lunch at 10:45, light snack at 2:30, and dinner at 5:30. If they tell me they are hungry half an hour before any of those times I remind them that it is okay to be hungry; we have to wait. If their hunger strikes when we still have more than an hour before the next scheduled eating, they are told they can eat a carrot.

They eat a lot of carrots, and I'm okay with that. Sometimes, I'll let them share an apple (which they prefer to carrots). But they know there is absolutely no grazing between designated eating times. If they are truly as hungry as they claim (and sometimes they appear to be), they can eat a carrot.

4. Make food a hands on learning experience. I love cooking with my kids. But that's not for everyone and there are plenty of other ways to help kids learn about food hands on. They can help with the grocery shopping (we do this occasionally, but my grocery store offers free babysitting so we usually go with that). Growing our own food is another way we help our kids learn about food. They've watched me stress over our fruit trees and they love helping Ben in our vegetable garden. I've decided these two things aren't any cheaper than just buying our own produce, but the family time we spend together and the things my kids are learning about food make it worth it.

When kids help in the kitchen, garden, or at the grocery store they learn about food and are exposed to the variety of ingredients that are out there. Hands on experience with food encourages a more curious and adventurous palate.

(as I finished that last line my 3.5 year-old daughter turned to me and, with a smile, said "Mommy, I just found a chocolate chip in my butt, but when I tasted it, it was gross." So ... maybe I've encouraged a little too much curiosity and adventure. Kids are so gross).

5. You've gotta try new foods. If you've ever seen Daniel Tiger you can sing along with me now, "you've gotta try new foods cause they might taste go-od. So good, good." We sing this often, even when we give our kids something they've tried before and didn't like. As I said in #1, we don't make our kids eat anything. They don't actually *have to try new foods* but when they see something unfamiliar (or that they remember not liking) we sing this little song and then put the utensil in their hands and let them take control.

We talk about strange foods we have eaten. They know I ate an octopus once. I think they're disappointed I turned down fried worms and curried snake -- but they still know I was offered these dishes. They know people in different cultures eat a different variety of food. Reid has decided he loves Chinese food and it doesn't matter what I make, if I tell him it is Chinese (and I don't lie about it) he'll eat it. Mexican-American food is their least favorite, but Ben loves it so they are still offered it pretty regularly.

We've had fish (tilapia) tacos so often my kids have finally started eating them.
They loved these shrimp tacos (in butter lettuce) the very first time we had them.
On this night Nell told me she didn't like guac, but when she tried our fresh side dish she quickly changed her mind. 

Canyonlands National Park: What to do with kids

Canyonlands National Park is ginormous. It's so huge it has three separate districts, each nearly 80 miles away from the other. We visited the Island in the Sky District, which is most popular due to its close proximity to Arches National Park and Moab, Utah. The Needles District is the Southern portion of the park and the Maze District is only accessible via off road vehicle. That is how primitive this park is, you can spend days and days in the park and only see a small sliver of its grandness. We spent about 6 hours in Island of the Sky and were able to complete two nice hikes, check out a couple of jaw dropping overlooks, and spend lots of time refueling at the Visitor Center. During our time at the park I couldn't help but notice we were the only people with children. No lie. We did not see another child the entire time. Even the park ranger made a comment about that. Hikers were cheering us on ("Go Family!") and giving our kids candy (as a reward for hiking 2 miles). Since kids must be such a rarity in Canyonlands, here's a fool proof way to make sure your little ones enjoy their trip.

Explore the wonderful Educational Tools at the Visitor Center and become a Junior Ranger! I'm probably sounding like a broken record by now, but of all the National Parks we visited Canyonlands had the most crucial Visitor Center. I think it is the only place in the entire park that has running water. We stopped three times during our visit. On the third and final visitor center stop Ben sat down with the big(ish) kids and spent a good twenty minutes exploring the hands on Educational tools they offer. They have dried pressed desert plants, animal track games, artistic info on how the soil grows, and -- of course -- a park movie detailing the geology and history of the area. I really think of all the park visitor centers, this one offered the best Educational resources.

Also (I'll repeat), purchasing an item or two from the visitor center is a great way to support the park. We found an Audobon book to help us identify life in the Southwest desert. Reid loved it!

And there is a lot of fragile life in this beautiful desert
*both photos taken while on GVP hike*

 Shafer Canyon Overlook and "The Neck" offer great views of deep canyon vistas. The scenic drive through Island of the Sky is basically a drive atop a small portion of the Colorado Plateau. You can see as much of the area as your eye allows. You are at the highest points of these intense canyons and there are few words that accurately describe the wonder of it all. The Neck of the plateau is a narrow passing, just big enough to fit the road. Here you can see both sides of the canyon surrounding the plateau. It is nearly impossible to get adequate pictures of the view, so you'll just have to enjoy this one of Ben and I, proving we were there. Though there isn't much to explore around The Neck, it is worth stopping. You can always take in more of Shafer Canyon outside your car than in.

Grand View Point marks the end of the scenic drive, but not the tip of the plateau. Though the view at GVP is magnificent, if you really want to reach the end of the Island plateau you'll have to take the two mile (round trip) GVP hike. We did it as a family, Ben carrying Nell; I Coraline; and Reid walking the entire thing himself. 

Well, except for these 100 steps, where Ben carried him.

Neither my words nor my photos will do the GVP hike any justice. Ben and I both considered this one of the best hikes of our entire National Park (and State Park) tours. Solitary. Dramatic. Vast. Breathtaking. The experience will remind you there is a God. He is Grand. You are nothing. And yet, you are unique and known to Him. And if you aren't spiritual, don't worry, the experience will still shake your soul.

We had a chat on hike safety before we went; don't wander away from mom or dad!

Just taking a bathroom break off the edge of the world.

I can't imagine what it must have been like to work for the Conservation Corps and build trails like this. Hiking these parks always reignites my patriotism. I'm grateful for this wonderful country and our desire to preserve these beautiful places and share them with anyone willing and able to explore their grandeur. 

The end of the hike requires some mild rock climbing. Ben and I took turns going up to the peak. I didn't quite make it to the tip top. My nerves just wouldn't let me (even though a kind French tourist was willing to hold my hand as I finished the last five steps of the climb). After Ben and I each took our turns, Reid decided he didn't want to make it all that way and not see the very top. So Ben took him back up. He was such a trooper to do this hike with us! And his pride was all the reward a parent could ask for. 

I wish there was a way to play the panoramic shots we took. It really is such an amazing thing to have a 360 view at that final tip of the plateau. The below photo was taken near the half way mark, and the mesa jetting out from the left is the starting point. You can kind of make out the trees, but what you can't see is the whole thing is crawling with tourists.

Mesa Arch is a must do hike. If there is any chance you are going to be in the park during sunrise, make it to Mesa arch for that spectacular moment. We were there closer to sunset, but it was still gorgeous.

This hike is a short loop that will only take 20 to 30 minutes of your time. There is no reason Nell (our 2 year old) couldn't have done it herself ... but she didn't. 

Though Reid doesn't look too happy in that photo, he did enjoy the hike. He didn't want to stop playing with this log and stick he found. I love when nature is my child's playground. 

He also had a lot of fun finding Crypto bacteria. It was something we learned about at the Visitor Center. The black tips on the soil is actual fragile desert life. Watch your step! 

Headed out of the park, there are a couple stops on the spur road. We tried to catch a gorgeous sunset at the Green River Overlook (the best spot for sunsets). But the sky turned into a dud and none of the clouds had any color change. It was kind of ironic, since all our park visits had been cloudless. We tried to catch the set in Capitol Reef and there weren't any clouds, and then when we tried again in Canyonlands there were too many. Still, baby and I had an intimate moment with the Creator of all this beauty. 

Seriously, what a sweet little trooper to let us drag her all over these vast spaces. While she and I enjoyed the last few moments of sunlight, Ben prepped the other two for bedtime. And they all slept quiet soundly for the entire 4 hour drive across Central, Utah.

We did not make it to Whale Rock or Upheaval Dome, but one of those three hikes is worth trying if you have the time. The Rock is slick but does have a railing to hold onto. The Dome has two hikes, one short and one longer, but both give you a fascinating look into a crater that was likely created by a meteor that struck Earth millions of years ago. The geology of that corner of the park (both found at the end of the spur road) is intriguing and sure to engage the young minds in your family.

I am so grateful we were able to make these park visits. While Coraline and I were enjoying our moment of peace at the Green River overlook a sweet woman reminded me that one day I'll get my body back. It was an interesting comment, one I know many women take offense to. But in that moment I knew exactly what she meant. She had once had three small children she stayed at home with and cared for each day. She knew what it was like to feel worn and stretched. She knew what it means to sacrifice your body for the needs of small, demanding children. She and I both watched each other in awe, admiration, and appreciation. Our bodies, and the tiny ones we are given to care for, are truly amazing.

Arches National Park: What to do with Kids

Arches is definitely the most popular (and most crowded) of the three Eastern Utah National Parks. The scenic drive is a long, winding stretch of road so that helps it feel a little less stuffed full of human fluff, but there is no escaping tourists and liter and overflowing parking lots. Because the scenic drive is so long, you really only want to stop at the first and last viewpoints. Along the way you'll stop at other areas to complete the hikes of your choosing, but most overlook areas can be seen just fine from inside your car. There are many, many wonderful hikes, but in all my research (and in my experience both as a teen visitor and a parent visitor) I have concluded there are three must see geological features of the park. Below I'll give you an easy tour of the park you can complete with small children (the kids and I completed a much condensed version).

First stop, the visitor center. It is located just a mile north of Moab, right at the park entry. The park visitor center is fairly crowded, but it boasts a wonderful theater and marvelous Educational displays. Kids can spend a lot of time in the Visitor Center learning about the geology of the area. Arch formation really is fascinating and it was a concept even Reid's (age 4) young mind could grasp. While we were there we grabbed a Junior Ranger booklet for him to complete. 

Earning his first Junior Ranger badge!

Park Avenue is the first viewpoint worth seeing. After your steep climb into the park this is a good spot to get out and stretch your legs (and relax your nerves, if you don't love driving straight up steep cliffs). You can get out and hike through the narrows here, but if you're with little kids who only have a hike or two in them I'd skip it. Park Avenue marque gives great detail about the different layers of the canyon, and you can spot them well on the peaks that stand just above you.

One of the best hiking areas for kids is Windows and Balanced Rock, which you'll find at the end of a spur road near the beginning of the park. Due to time constraints, we weren't able to travel this spur road with our children, but I remember exploring this area of the park at age 16 (wow, half my life ago!). It is one of the easiest areas for getting up close and personal with the arches. In this small corner of the park you can actually see the North and South Window Arches and Double Arch. Seeing so many arches so close together left a big impression on my young mind. I think that is the reason I have such a vivid memory of this particular hike (I'd actually forgotten that my family went to Dead Horse Point, the state park of my dreams, on that same vacation 16 years ago).  

Delicate Arch is the most iconic arch in the park. And for good reason. As far as I'm aware, it is the most free standing arch in the entire world. It really is quite spectacular. It is also located along a spur road, just a mile or two past Balanced Rock. We dropped Ben off and let him hike Delicate Arch on his own. The park guide says this is a strenuous hike, but Ben is confident we could have done it as a family IF we had gone first thing in the morning, when the temps are cooler and the sun isn't so scorching. It took him less than two hours to complete. Like windows, it is a very busy trail.

Phone photo Ben took while on his hike

Sand Dune Arch is *the* most kid friendly hike in the entire park. It is located near the end of Skyline Drive. I wanted to take the kids to both Sand Dune and Windows Arch areas, but we really only had time for one. I'm really glad I choose this one. Both Reid and Nell were in heaven. As we began the trail an exiting hiker told them they were headed to a giant sandbox. That description could not be more accurate. It is the best sandbox on planet Earth. No lie. The Arch at the end of the super short (just over a quarter mile round trip) hike is almost secondary compared to the amazing natural sandbox.

Starting at top right: 1. Sand Dune Arch is hidden inside the spires you see from the road. 2. Reid preparing to pass the second narrow, just before the dune. 3. Reid, Coraline, and I at the Arch. 4. Reid playing with three scout aged boys (mom in back pushed me through the first sandy narrow, read story below). 5. The arch.

Fun side story. We visited Arches after the wedding. So our kids (the eldest two were both in the wedding) had already had a full day. Over the last three days they'd been in the car an average of five hours per day. They were spent. They just wanted to watch movies, eat junk food, and play with cousins. But no. Mom and Dad were dragging them to yet another park (a word they grew to resent because we obviously were not talking about swings and slides -- oh how they would have loved to play on some swings and slides)! I knew completing this tiny little hike would be a challenge. I knew they'd fight me the entire time. But when I pulled up to the trail head I just told myself I'd drag all three of them in there if I had to. I could not come to Arches and spend the entire time in the mini van -- listening to the Boxtrolls for the third time in two days.

Reid hardly complained at all. Coraline sat snugly in the Ergo (Ben had taken our Kelty with him to Delicate Arch). And Nell, Nell had to be drug in kicking and screaming, just like I'd envisioned.

At one point I was piggy backing her through the rocks. There was a narrow passing, and despite my obvious strain of carrying one child up front and another (40 pounder) on back, none of the exiting hikers stopped to let me through. I just stood at the entrance of the narrow, waiting for a chance to hike UP the rocks and through the sand. Waiting and waiting, loosing energy with each second. Finally the dozen exiting hikers were all through and it was my turn to go. Only, I couldn't. I could not step up and keep both my girls in my arms.

Thankfully, a voice behind me said "would you like a boost." To which I replied. "Yes! Please!" And a mother to three tween-teenaged boys hoisted me up onto the rocks and I squeezed through the passageway. I took another five or so steps to clear the way for everyone else and dropped Nell to the ground. At that point we were in the shady sand box. I begged and begged her just to take a few steps on her own. But it was a failure. I bribed her with Frozen toys "I already have so many Frozen toys mamma. I have like five. I don't need anymore." So we sat in the shade and played in the sand while I worked back enough energy to carry her, through sand, one more time.

I couldn't quite make it to the end of the hike, so I just left her. I left her in a spot about 40 yards away from our final destination. She was content. No, she was in heaven. She loved that sand box! Reid was content, because he was able to finish the hike, and I stood between the two of them, watching them play in the sand on opposite ends of the sandbox.

It was quiet the experience, but we did it! We enjoyed it, and it was worth it.

I'm cool mom. I don't need any Frozen toys, I've got this gorgeous sand to play with!

See ya later Nell, I'm headed to the arch!

Can you spy her? She was totally safe, a little abandoned, but safe.

You can actually see where part of the arch is falling apart. Chunks can fall off at any moment. 

I had a blast mom! I don't know what you're so grumpy about.

In fact, I had so much fun I'm going to refuse to leave!

Oh, you're threatening to just leave me? Fine I'll just crawl out at turtle pace!

Devil's Garden marks the end of the Scenic Drive. It is a wonderful place to stop and have a picnic. There are plenty of tables and bathrooms all around the loop. The shade of the Junipers was a nice reprieve from the day's cloudless sky. This seems like an excellent place to mention the importance of bringing in your own water. There are limited fill stations in the park. We had a cooler fool of chilly treats.

The four of us ate nearly that entire container of yogurt in one sitting. 

Aside from bringing healthy snacks and lots of water, if you are going to visit National Parks with kids, be prepared to rely on the kindness of strangers. At this stop, both my daughters needed their poopy diapers changed. I had to ask the woman sitting at the table behind us (you can kind of see the family in the above photo) if she'd hold Coraline for me while I changed Nell. Coraline screamed her head off the entire time and the whole ordeal wasn't super fun. But this mother (of tween boys) was so patient and kind. And yes, she is the same woman who helped me at our hike to Sand Dune arch (bet she was tired of bumping into me!).

Bonus: Fiery Furnace I know virtually nothing about this part of the park, as I have never been to it. But I wanted to make note of it here because Ben and I have every intention of taking our kids there if we make it back to the park when they are a bit older. Exploring the area requires prior registration, hiking skills, and a few hours of your time; so it wasn't something we could do with this visit. But we have definitely put a pin in it!

I would not recommend camping in Arches NP, but I would recommend trying to visit for more than just one day. Moab, UT is a super convenient location for visiting both Arches and Canyonlands NP. You could easily spend two days in each park and a day or two just exploring Moab. We loved it and would definitely go back, even with our young family (dragging them around if we have to!)