Community Corner

Moms Council: Spring is Here, Set the Kids Loose

Spring is here, and there are plenty of things to do with the kids now that they aren't trapped indoors as much.

Moms Talk is part of a new North Andover Patch initiative to reach out to moms and families.

North Andover Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in North Andover.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Find out what's happening in North Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This week's question:

Spring is here. What are your favorite spring time activities with the kids? And how do you deal with your kids playing outside this time of year when the yards are all muddy?

Find out what's happening in North Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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Darcy Rubino: We love to take our kids to local parks to play. Luckily we have one 2 houses away, and can easily walk over. The kids love to swing, slide, and just run around. North Andover has a few playgrounds like Drummond, Thomson School, and Early Childhood Center that are fabulous for kids to play on.

Drummond is a great place for all ages, Thomson has accessible swings for children with disabilities, and The Early Childhood Center has a new accessible playground for kids 3 and under.

This is also the time of year that we break out the sidewalk chalk. There is something about a clear sidewalk that is an inviting open canvas to children. We haven't brought out the bicycles yet, but I am hoping we can do that within the next few weeks!

I think my kids are excited when it is muddy out. What is more fun than making mudcakes and splashing in big mud puddles? I say stock up on Tide, and bring on the mud!

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Wendy Bulawa-Agudelo: For us, Spring is all about maple syrup. Once the snow begins to melt, we know that sugar shacks across New England will begin boiling sap and turning it into some of the most delicious treats imaginable. Our local favorite is Turtle Lane Maple Farm (http://turtlelanemaplefarm.com/). It’s a small, family run shop, but they produce a variety of ‘grades’ of syrup, give free tours of the entire process from tree to syrup bottle, and are super friendly. They also sell maple sugar and maple cream—and the kids really enjoy getting a taste/sample of everything.

Walking on this tour will of course take you through super-soft landscapes, and lots and lots of mud. We just strap on some rain boots (or similar) and let the kids explore. A phrase we use in our home is, “if you didn’t get dirty, you didn’t have fun,” so we absolutely expect that our kids are going to spend most days getting messy—whether they are into paint, mud, frosting, Play Doh, chalk or whatever. 

When they are done, we just hose them down (okay, we give them a bubble bath…) and start anew the next day. What would Spring be without a good old fashioned Mud Pie?

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Michele Gorham: We are out, out, out in the spring. The mud doesn't bother us one bit, in fact we do quite a few things in the spring that get us absolutely filthy. Below are some of our favs (filthy and not so filthy)!

Trips to the "Jungle" or Weir Hill in laymen terms: Because the kids are still small we enter through the Stevens Pond side because the trail is relatively flat and there are tons of kid-friendly inlets down to the water.  By the time we get to the path we are already filthy as there is a tunnel filled with mud on the way in (fair warning). Most of the time is spent poking things with sticks, throwing mud balls into the water and expanding my little one's rock collection.

The Gardens (Steven Coolidge): Again, more poking things with sticks and lots of dropping rocks in the wishing well.

Franklin Elementary Playground: Also super muddy, but it's walking distance from our house and not uncommon for the neighborhood kids to come trickling out as we pass by their houses.

Fake Snow: is also a big pastime in the spring, funny how nostalgic the kids can get after a month.  It's super easy to make and all you need is a disposable diaper and some water.  If your interested in making some there is a recipe here: http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/ht/fakesnow.htm.

Chalk: Our yard, once known as the parking lot, is covered with chalk from the time the snow melts until the time the snow falls.  The kids do everything from making the worlds longest hopscotch to fake speed bumps and cross walks.

Scouring the area for places to eat outside:  Our Favorites? Boston Chowda and The Lawrence Municipal Airport (Joe's Landing Cafe).  We're always looking for some new places so if you have any favorites please share!

Kids Fest: Every year downtown Haverhill closes Washington Street and hosts a full day of kids activities! This year the festivities will be May 1st. Check out this link for more info: http://www.haverhillchamber.com/index.php/programsevents/annualseasonal-events/135-kids-fest.

North Andover's Sheep Shearing Festival: Also in May, this festival features well...sheep shearing.  There will also be arts & crafts vendors, face painting, music (rumors of a beer tent). While I couldn't find a website with additional details the event will be on: May 22nd, 11-4 at The North Andover Common. How do I know?  I'm hosting a table! Come find me :)

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OUR MOMS COUNCIL

Wendy Bulawa Agudelo -- Wendy is the mother to three young children (5 and under) — including a set of twin boys. In her spare time, she is an avid features writer covering a broad array of parenting topics from special needs to travel with infants. During the day, she earns her stripes as an entrepreneur, operating both a public relations consultancy as well as a targeted theme gift basket business, Period Packs, which celebrates a young girl's foray into womanhood.

Michele Gorham -- Michele is the wife of a Methuen firefighter and mother of two little girls. As the owner of Cookie Central, she is an avid supporter of Share Our Strength and a community leader for MerchantCircle. 

Darcy Rubino -- Darcy is a mom to three kids, ages 5, 7 and 15. She has lived in North Andover for 10 years with her husband, Mike. She is an active volunteer in the community and is co-chair of North Andover Parents Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs (NAPAC).


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