HIKING WITH YOUR KIDS WATCH THEIR WORLD EXPAND WITH EVERY STEP
Hiking has many benefits as a family activity, such as mental health improvement, strengthening your relationships, and experiencing new sights and discoveries together. It’s also great exercise, and you get plenty of quality time, fresh air, and sunshine. Here are three guidelines to help you and your kids have fun on your next hike. ENCOURAGE THEIR CURIOSITY One of the best ways to have your children learn about the world is letting them explore it. Being there for your children and encouraging them to ask questions about flowers, bugs, or animals you see on the trail will help them expand their vocabulary and learn how things work. When they learn they can explore independently and ask about the world around them, they’re gaining the confidence to teach themselves. BRING ALONG SOME TOOLS OF DISCOVERY Getting your children to engage in nature while you’re out hiking can be as simple as bringing a magnifying glass along with you. Let your kids look at leaves, rocks, insects, or anything else you might come across on the trail.
You can also bring binoculars to help them look at a bird that might be perched a little too high up. Another option is a bug holder to let your kids catch smaller insects, such as grasshoppers or pill bugs, and give them a close-up look. KEEP SAFETY IN MIND While you’re out on the trail, it’s essential to make sure that both you and your family are safe. Wear breathable, noncotton material and sturdy shoes that don’t expose your toes. It’s important to dress according to the weather. For example, if the day is sunny, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and apply plenty of sunscreen on any exposed skin. Bring your kids’ favorite snacks and water bottles for everyone to stay hydrated. It’s crucial that you also bring a fully stocked first-aid kit in case someone is injured on the hike. Starting with one of your local hiking trails can be a rewarding way to spend the day with your kids. You can watch their excitement as they expand their world with new discoveries.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: HALEY A FULL HEART AND A FRIENDLY SMILE
Over the past year, we’ve gotten to know Haley well here at Marshall Orthodontics, and our time with her has been nothing short of a joy. As our current finance manager, Haley has given our patients plenty of meaningful face time as well. To be honest, we think we’re all a lot better off for it. Through her work and friendly demeanor, she has quickly become a staple around our office — truly someone we all look forward to seeing every day. In her position here, she’s able to take her positive attitude and facilitate real changes with our patients and staff. Frankly, we don’t know what we’d do without her. We were all very happy to celebrate her one-year anniversary recently, and we look forward to many more years to come! We haven’t always been lucky enough to have her as our finance manager; she started this new position in early January after serving as our patient liaison. The daily smiles on our
patients’ faces are evidence of her wonderful relationship with all of them.
Her journey in the orthodontics industry started when she graduated from Greenville Tech in 2015 with a degree in dental assisting. We were lucky enough to add her to our team last year as an important member of our front office. Haley has expressed time and time again just how much she loves hands-on work with the patients. Through talking to them, hanging out, and helping them through their journey here at Marshall Orthodontics, she plays such an important role in their journey to a better smile. Like most people in our area, when she’s not in the office, she loves spending her days outdoors and going to the lake. She even picked up ax throwing as a hobby recently. Talk about being adventurous!
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