Please join K12Genie and Eastern Mountain Sports (Soho) for free clinics this November that will help you enjoy the winter and the outdoors with your family. These events will be fun and educational for parents, teachers, and kids of all ages!

Clinics are Free.  Feel free to attend any or all sessions. Space is limited, so an RSVP is requested. RSVP here.

SESSIONS:

SESSION 1:  Things to Know, Places to go for a Family Hike
Saturday, Nov. 14
1 PM – 2 PM
EMS SoHo, 530 Broadway at Spring St., Manhattan

Workshop Description:

• What to wear on your feet,and your body to stay warm and dry.
• What kinds of snacks to bring.
• How to stay healthy by treating your water and keeping clear of poison ivy.
• What’s inside a Guide’s first aid kit?
• Bringing the outdoors back home; photography while hiking.
• Respect for plants and animals you’ll find outside.

This clinic will be conducted by The New York Wilderness Guide Company. We’ve scheduled a separate hiking trip to Bear Mountain on Nov. 22nd for those families that are interested. See below for details.

SESSION 2:  Mom, do I need a Coat? Warm and Dry in Winter
Saturday, Nov. 21
1 PM – 2 PM
EMS SoHo, 530 Broadway at Spring St., Manhattan

Workshop Description:

• Staying warm and dry from head to toe
• Dealing with temperature changes between indoors and outdoors
• Staying healthy during the winter season

SESSION 3: Family Bonding Through Winter Sports
Saturday, Nov. 28
1 PM – 2 PM
EMS SoHo, 530 Broadway at Spring St., Manhattan

Workshop Description:

• Dressing for outdoor activity
• Skiing/Snowboarding and winter sports
• Family time, family moments

Space is limited. Please RSVP here. All clinics in this series are FREE but donations are accepted and help support our ongoing efforts to help families interact with each other and with the world around them.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the New York City Outward Bound.

Family Hiking in Bear Mountain

Sunday, Nov. 22
“Family Hiking in Bear Mountain”
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Join The New York Wilderness Guide Company for a great hike up Bear Mountain.  The hike is an easy-to-intermediate hike in Bear Mountain offering an introduction to hiking for novices while giving veteran hikers an opportunity to enjoy a favorite local hike and great views from the top, weather permitting.

Tickets

There are two ticket packages, with transportation to Bear Mountain and without. There are also discounts for kids. For those needing transportation from the city, the morning starts at Grand Central.  The group will leave at 8:30 AM and return to the city by 6:30 PM. For those not needing transportation, the meeting location will be at Bear Mountain, with the exact location TBD. You can see more details and purchase tickets here.

ENTER A CONTEST FOR 1 FREE TICKET.  ENTER HERE.

About Bear Mountain: Bear Mountain State Park is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River and offers spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands, and Harriman State Park.  Click Here for more info.

About the Guide: Nathan Todd is the Chief Guide of the New York Wilderness Guide Company. He has traveled the Rockies, the Andes, the Appalachians, and loves to hike nearby destinations in New York.

For those persons thinking about the hike, please consider attending the Nov. 14th Session 1 clinic on family hiking.

ABOUT US

About K12Genie: K12genie provides families with school-aged children with education and activities that improve family relationships and encourage personal development.  We provide articles, activities, recipes, an online brag wall, local resources, and workshops that foster positive interactions and dialogue between siblings and between generations.

About Eastern Mountain Sports: Since 1967 EMS has been providing quality outdoor gear and outdoor skills training to customers along the East Coast. The EMS SoHo location is the New York City flagship store. (www.emssoho.com)

About The New York Wilderness Guide Company: NYWGC is an outdoor sports and recreation tour company that teaches beginners and seasoned experts the basics of life in the outdoors. We teach the camping, hiking, and outdoor skills needed to have fun and stay safe in mountains and parks just outside of the city.

Whether you are a student-athlete or a professional athlete, one of the most important aspects to an injury prevention and exercise training program is a proper stretching program.  Many high level athletes often lose their season to injury because they are not adequately prepared and engage in activities without a proper warm up routine.  Stretching is an aspect of a warm up routine that has many benefits.

Studies have shown positive effects include:

• increased energy levels
• improved posture
• greater circulation of blood to various parts of the body
• improved range of motion and flexibility
• enhanced muscular coordination, and
• pain relief.

Warm-up your muscles, then stretch

One of the most common misconceptions amongst active individuals is that they feel it is only necessary to stretch prior to an activity.   Scientific research, however, has shown evidence to the contrary.  When stretching is done as a warm up to an activity, the muscles have a tendency to become injured as they are cold.  A recommendation I use with my patients is to perform a short cardiovascular activity, such as a light jog (around 3-5 minutes) prior to a gentle stretch, and then participate in whatever sport or activity desired.

Do most of your stretching after exercise

The majority of stretching should come upon completion of an activity or at the end of a training session.    It is important to stretch after doing any physical activity. When muscles perform any exercise, they tighten and shorten as a result. Stretching them out helps to restore and improve their length. When doing strength training, you could stretch each muscle group directly after performing each set.  The key to gaining flexibility is to use the correct form and technique.  As a general rule, perform the stretch for a minimum of a 20 second hold, at least 1-3 times.

For more information about the benefits of stretching, please visit your local physical therapist.

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About the Author: Dr. Tony Sood received his clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Touro College in New York. He is also a Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and a Certified Manual Therapist and provides services in the greater New York City metro area.

stitches on a lip

“So, doctor, will my child have a scar?”

As a plastic surgeon, I am asked that question all the time.  Whether it’s a cut on a knee from a fall off a skateboard or an injury to the forehead from a swingset, parents are concerned about the appearance of a scar following their child receiving stitches. The truth of the matter is that, yes, there will always be a permanent scar following any injury requiring stitches. Just how noticeable that scar will be to the casual observer, however, is what’s important.

a scar on a leg showing stitch marks

What exactly is a scar?

Stedman’s Concise Medical Dictionary, one of the more popular references used by health care professionals, defines a scar as “any fibrous tissue replacing normal tissue destroyed by injury.”

When a skin wound is caused by an accident, stitches are placed to hold the tissue together until the body’s natural healing process repairs the wound.  This process usually takes place within five to seven days and the stitches can be removed.  Though the wound is said to be “healed”, the resulting scar, made of living tissue, is considered “immature” and will undergo a variety of changes over the next 12-18 months before taking its permanent appearance.  This period of time is called the scar’s “life cycle” and the process of change called “remodeling”.  This entire maturation process- from the initial placement of stitches to the final phases of scar remodeling-  is influenced by a variety of factors.  Some of these can be controlled; others cannot.

Factors We Cannot Control

1. Genetics. Genetics plays a huge role in the ultimate appearance of a scar.  Individuals with fair skin, light hair, and light eye color have a greater tendency to develop reddened and raised scars.  Individuals with dark hair, dark colored eyes, and olive to dark skin, in contrast, form scars that blend better with the person’s own skin color.

2. Location. The location of the wound influences the scar’s ultimate appearance.  A scar close to the shoulders, elbows, and knees, where there is a lot of natural motion and therefore tension, will widen during the maturation process.  This widening is in contrast to scars on the cheeks or forehead which heal in a fine line because of the relatively little motion present on these parts of the body.

So what can you do to reduce scarring?

1. Have your wound stitched by a qualified physician. The skill of the medical practitioner placing the sutures will affect the outcome.  Meticulous attention to detail, careful technique, a tension free closure, and fine sutures can all result in improved scar shape and appearance.  Among doctors, plastic surgeons pride themselves at being the best at placing sutures that minimize scarring and are often called upon in situations where scarring is a concern.

2. Protect scars from the UVB rays of the sun. Protecting scars during their maturation will help them take on the color of the individual’s natural complexion.  Scars overexposed to the sun during maturation will take on a reddened or cranberry colored appearance.  Sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF has been shown to be effective at minimizing scar reddening.

3. Firmly massage the scar with an oil-based moisturizer. Doing so has been shown to help keep the tissue soft and flat.  The physical manipulation of the scar works the magic.  A massage from 3-5 minutes, once or twice daily, can help flatten and soften the scar and improve its appearance on your skin.

TV and print ads are loaded with advertisements for gels, lotions, and creams claiming to “erase” and “eliminate” scars.  These remedies tend to be very expensive and their effectiveness is not supported by scientific studies.

4. Get an evaluation by your doctor. For those individuals whose scar becomes persistently red or raised over time an evaluation by your doctor may determine if certain scar treatments are right for you.  Silicone sheeting (Mepiform) and gels (Scarguard) applied to the surface of scars or cortisone injections into the scar have been proven to be effective in improving the appearance of scars.

So, for all of you parents out there wondering if your child will have a visible scar, you now have some tools at your disposal to minimize the appearance of any scars.

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About the Author: Dr. Michael J. Lacqua completed his Plastic Surgery training at the University of Missouri, Kansas City before returning to his hometown of New York. He is the Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, at Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY.

Discover More:

• Learn more about plastic surgery
• Would you like to ask a question to Dr. Lacqua?  Contact Us.

See scar-related products on Amazon.com

Reconstruction is just one of the major decisions a woman with breast cancer faces. Many women confide that they also struggle with the decision of whether or not to tell their children about their cancer. Do I tell the children? When do I tell them? How do I tell them? How will the news affect them? These are all questions women with cancer have. Though not a child psychologist, I have been talking to breast reconstruction patients for over a decade. I am also the father of four children, and therefore have insight into these women’s concerns as well as how children think and what affects them.

The issue is complex and there is probably not one right or wrong way to speak to children about this very difficult and sensitive issue. This is probably true of most complicated family issues or circumstances especially those affecting the health of one or both parents. Most children can handle being told about a cancer diagnosis better than we think or give them credit for. Children are very perceptive. They will realize soon enough that something is wrong or different about Mom.

Children thrive on security and stability and feeling comfortable within the family. Sensing something is wrong and not understanding why could be more devastating to a child than the reality. The unknown would clearly lead to a greater heightening of fears instead of alleviating them. All the more reason for mothers to provide their children with first hand information in the same loving and caring way she always has. Hearing it directly from Mom also avoids any miscommunication or misinformation that may arise. And remember that no one knows your children better than you do and therefore only you truly know the best way to communicate this information to your children.

If you are a mother diagnosed with breast cancer, follow these tips when considering telling your children about you diagnosis:

1. Decide to have the conversation.

The first few words may not be perfect, but by beginning the conversation about your diagnosis, you take the very important first step in helping your children and yourself deal with your cancer. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time. There will be many more chances as days pass for you to fine tune your message.

2. Gather your thoughts.

Confer with your spouse, minister, or school counselor to plan your approach. Take some time to prepare yourself, but try not to over think things. Trust your instincts. Just be yourself and speak naturally. Show emotion, even cry, but remain positive. Also decide if you would like to have someone there with you- your spouse or perhaps a grandparent- and pick your time carefully -not during a hectic part of the day or when you or your family may feel rushed.

3. Consider your child’s age and development.

Most child experts recommend speaking to children separately based on these factors. With pre-schoolers, be brief and keep things simple, talking about symptoms they may notice. Grade-school children often have a good understanding of the human body and a discussion about cancer cells versus normal cells is often a good place to start. Provide more details about your treatment.

Teenagers usually have a very good understanding about cancer, having seen other relatives or friends with a cancer diagnosis. It’s important to explain that there are many different types of cancers all with different prognoses. This group will have the most questions, show the most emotion, and need the most reassurance. With all age groups, be sure to stress to the children that it is nothing that they did that caused you to have cancer and that the cancer is not contagious.

4. Remember that this conversation is just the first of many dialogues you will have.

Realize that some conversations will be better than others. Don’t let the fear of not knowing the perfect thing to say prevent you from talking with your children. Speak to them frequently, being sure to tell them that your treatment and prognosis is an ongoing matter, and that you will keep them up to date. Encourage them to ask questions. Be honest with them.

5. Reach out to existing resources.

You aren’t the first mother to go through this issue. There are organizations to help you and your family. Some of them are listed below.

About the Author: Dr. Michael J. Lacqua completed his Plastic Surgery training at the University of Missouri, Kansas City before returning to his hometown of New York. He is the Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, at Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY.

To help those of you dealing with this issue, here’s a list of additional resources:

Online Resources:

• American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is also reachable by phone, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-ACS-2345.
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Books:

• Another Morning: Voices of Truth and Hope from Mothers with Cancer by Linda Blachman; Seal Press CA, 2006; 334 pages
• Can I Still Kiss You?: Answering Your Children’s Questions About Cancer by Neil Russell; HCL, 2001; 100 pages
• Helping Your Children Cope with Your Cancer (Second Edition): A Guide for Parents and Families by Peter Van Dernoot and Madelyn Case; Hatherleigh Press, 2006; 176 pages
• Life and Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children by Linda Goldman; Taylor & Francis Group, Inc., 2nd Edition, 2000; 203 pages
• When a Parent Has Cancer : A Guide to Caring for Your Children by Wendy S. Harpham, Jonas Kulikauskas, Callahan; Harper Collins Publishers, 2004; 240 pages
• Lost & Found: A Kid’s Book for Living through Loss by Marc Gellman and Debbie Tilley; Harper Collins Publishers, 1999; 176 pages (Notes: for children 12 and up)
• Sammy’s Mommy Has Cancer by Sherry Kohlenberg, Lauri Crow; American Psychological Association, 1993; 32 pages (Notes: for children ages 3 to 8 years)