The first day of fall is just around the corner. If you’re looking for fun fall activities to do as a family, read below. Thomas Hobson, director of Child Life at Le Bonheur, discusses some of his favorite things about fall.

Now, most people think about the summer as a time for fun with the whole family. Between vacations, trips, and any other number of activities it easy to see why people feel that way. However, autumn is a great opportunity to enjoy some great local family activities.

We’re quickly approaching the fall, which happens to be one of my favorite times of year. The 100-degree weather is becoming just a memory, and we’re in the full swing of school. The fall is a chance for families to spend some time outside being healthy, teach family traditions, and above all, spend time together.

Here are my tips for making the most of the fall.

Learn to ride a bike. This is one of my favorite times of year to teach children to ride bikes. It’s not too hot or cold, and teaching a child to ride a bike takes time and patience. When the weather is nice and mild, you’ll find you have infinitely more patience.

Ride the trails. Speaking of biking, this is a great time of year to ride bikes with your children. Memphis is filled with bike trials and paths. It’s a great excuse to get outdoors, enjoy the weather, and participate in a healthy activity.

Cheer for a team. For lots of folks, the fall means football. Include your children in your tradition to pull for your favorite team. This is a wonderful opportunity to bond.

Take a walk. Memphis is filled with opportunities to get outdoors and walk as a family. You can do something as formal as registering to walk in Le Bonheur’s Pumpkin Run 5K on Oct. 8. Or you can simply walk around the neighborhood. The most important thing is that you’re together as a family.

Zoo Boo. One of my favorite fall family activities is Zoo Boo, held at the Memphis Zoo. It’s held on the last two weekends in October and is a wonderful family tradition. It’s a fun, safe combination of a trip to the zoo and Halloween fun.

Announcing How To Tuesdays

Today, we’d like to announce a new series called How To Tuesday. From now on, Tuesday’s posts will be dedicated to “how to” information full of good, step-by-step tips and advice about everything from kid’s diets to parenting challenges. We would love your feedback each Tuesday and are looking for post ideas. Send them our way, and we’ll get some great advice posted just for you. We look forward to hearing from you!

This week's How To is: how to feed your kids healthy snacks.

Getting your kids to make healthy choices at snack time can be a challenge. Sugary snacks attract kids with their colorful packaging and fun shapes. And who can blame a kid for choosing a candy bar over a vegetable? Face it – many healthy foods just aren’t that appealing to kids.

However, teaching your child healthy eating habits is an important lesson and will likely encourage him or her to make health-conscious decisions as an adult.

 John Paul Carpenter, director of Le Bonheur’s Nutrition and Food Services Department, shares his creative ideas for how to give your kids fun and healthy snacks. With his tips, snack time can be not only nutritious, but also a fun activity for you and your kids. Here’s how to make some really fun and different snacks that will please your kids imagination and fit the healthy bill.

Ants on a Log: This tasty treat provides a source of protein, fiber and vitamin C. Spread a stalk of celery with peanut butter and have your child place raisins –“ants” - in the peanut butter.

Banana Sushi: For vitamin C and potassium, have your child spread peanut butter on a thin tortilla. Then, roll up a peeled banana in the tortilla and cut it up into sushi-sized pieces. Make sure an adult helps with the cutting. Eat the sushi with chopsticks for even more fun!

Mini Pizza: For a healthier version of this kids’ favorite, spread tomato sauce on a tortilla. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and have your child add his favorite toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers. Place into a heated oven until cheese is melted and cut into slices.

Happy Faces: Spice up ordinary round crackers by turning them into a face. Raisins or dried cranberries make great eyes, and fruit leather strips made with real fruit juices can be peeled into strips for a mouth.

Summer-time Smoothie: Smoothies are a refreshing snack during the hot summer months. Have your child pick out frozen berries and yogurt to mix together in a blender. To sneak in some veggies, Carpenter suggests adding a cup of raw spinach leaves. Your child won’t even taste the spinach.

Fruit Skewers: Make eating fruit more fun by turning it into a fruit-kabob! Let your child thread a wooden skewer through pieces of watermelon, pineapple, strawberries or any favorite fruits for an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C. 

With a little creativity and imagination, snack time can be fun and nutritious. The next time your child won’t eat a healthy snack, try preparing one of these snacks together.

Today, we’d like to announce a new series called "How To Tuesday." Tuesday’s posts will be dedicated to “how to” information full of good, step-by-step tips and advice about everything from kid’s diets to parenting challenges. We would love your feedback each Tuesday and are looking for post ideas. Send them our way by commenting below or by e-mailing us at lebmarketing@lebonheur.org. We’ll get some great advice posted just for you. We look forward to hearing from you!

This week's How To is: how to feed your kids healthy snacks.

Getting your kids to make healthy choices at snack time can be a challenge. Sugary snacks attract kids with their colorful packaging and fun shapes. And who can blame a kid for choosing a candy bar over a vegetable? Face it – many healthy foods just aren’t that appealing to kids.

However, teaching your child healthy eating habits is an important lesson and will likely encourage him or her to make health-conscious decisions as an adult.

John Paul Carpenter, director of Le Bonheur’s Nutrition and Food Services Department, shares his creative ideas for how to give your kids fun and healthy snacks. With his tips, snack time can be not only nutritious, but also a fun activity for you and your kids. Here’s how to make some really fun and different snacks that will please your kids imagination and fit the healthy bill.

Ants on a Log
This tasty treat provides a source of protein, fiber and vitamin C. Spread a stalk of celery with peanut butter and have your child place raisins –“ants” - in the peanut butter.
Banana Sushi 
For vitamin C and potassium, have your child spread peanut butter on a thin tortilla. Then, roll up a peeled banana in the tortilla and cut it up into sushi-sized pieces. Make sure an adult helps with the cutting. Eat the sushi with chopsticks for even more fun!
Mini Pizza
For a healthier version of this kids’ favorite, spread tomato sauce on a tortilla. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and have your child add his favorite toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers. Place into a heated oven until cheese is melted and cut into slices.
Happy Faces 
Spice up ordinary round crackers by turning them into a face. Raisins or dried cranberries make great eyes, and fruit leather strips made with real fruit juices can be peeled into strips for a mouth.
Summer-time Smoothie 
Smoothies are a refreshing snack during the hot summer months. Have your child pick out frozen berries and yogurt to mix together in a blender. To sneak in some veggies, Carpenter suggests adding a cup of raw spinach leaves. Your child won’t even taste the spinach.
Fruit Skewers 
Make eating fruit more fun by turning it into a fruit-kabob! Let your child thread a wooden skewer through pieces of watermelon, pineapple, strawberries or any favorite fruits for an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C. 

With a little creativity and imagination, snack time can be fun and nutritious. The next time your child won’t eat a healthy snack, try preparing one of these snacks together.