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A friendly, old-school vibe ruled. Though we didn’t find lift lines, there was plenty of lift-line chattiness, as well as decent snow at a time when ski areas on the western side of the mountains weren’t even open. And sun! Wenatchee was blanketed in fog when we left our Best Western motel ($70 a night, thank you very much) for the ski area. During the 11-mile drive to the mountain, the fog rolled away to make room for clear skies and sunshine. With 36 runs spread out over 2,000 acres, we had plenty of terrain to explore. Don’t miss Mission Ridge’s famous relic: At the top of the Bomber Bowl run, the wing of a B-24 bomber that crashed during a training mission in 1944 is a permanent installation. Tradition dictates that you rub it for good luck (or snow luck).

One caveat: There is less beginner terrain than we would have liked (only about 10 percent of the mountain). But once we got the feel of the mountain, we were able to navigate around it.

DOWNTOWN 914 Virginia St. Seattle, WA 98101 206.621.9211 DOWNTOWN 914 Virginia St. Seattle, WA 98101 206.621.9211

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SPRING: Bike and explore Tune up those bikes, pump up those tires and head to Wenatchee for a glorious spring bike ride on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail (traillink.com), a paved biking and walking trail that loops 10 miles around the Columbia River. You’ll wind your way through riverfront parks (a good starting point is Wenatchee Confluence State Park, where the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers meet), across two bridges and right by Pybus Public Market, the perfect place for a snack stop. For an extra pedaling challenge, you can add more miles to your ride by cycling out and back on the trail north to Lincoln Rock State Park. Don’t want to bring bikes? No problem. Rent from Arlberg Sports – Riverfront (arlbergsports.com), located at Pybus.

Alpine blooms: Another lovely spring stop in Wenatchee is Ohme Gardens (ohmegardens.org), an alpine oasis located on a rocky bluff above the city. Once privately owned, the gardens are now open to the public. Wander through 9 acres of gardens, which feature towering trees, pools, stone paths and benches, adding up to a carefully curated mountain landscape with spectacular views. Though the gardens are usually open seasonally, they’re closed for 2020 because of COVID-19, so check for updates before you go. ■

Elisa Murray is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor of the guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures).

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Where to Stay in Wenatchee In temperate weather, camp at Lincoln Rock State Park (parks.state.wa.us), which boasts 2 miles of paved biking paths; located on the shores of Lake Entiat, it also offers swimming, boating and self-serve kayak rentals. Although there is no lodging next to Mission Ridge’s slopes, you’ll find plenty of affordable motels in Wenatchee, including two Best Westerns (bestwestern.com) and the slightly more upscale Coast Hotel (coasthotels.com). Or look for an Airbnb property!

Keeping Kids Safe From Child Abuse at Home

Why experts are worried about child abuse during and after the pandemic, and what’s being done to address it

By Malia Jacobson

H

ard economic times may be hardest on kids, many of whom experience more child abuse in the wake of an economic recession, according to research. Child abuse researcher Kenneth Feldman, M.D., the former medical director of Seattle Children’s Safe Child and Adolescent Network (SCAN; seattlechildrens.org), helped conduct one such study. The results, published in the journal Pediatrics, showed that rates of child abuse nearly doubled following the 2008 economic recession compared to the preceding 47 months.

Another study, by Boston University School of Medicine and presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ National Conference and Exhibition, found that every 1 percent increase in the unemployment rate was associated with a significant increase in reported incidences of child abuse one year later.

With the coronavirus pandemic sparking widespread financial hardship and rising unemployment, experts are worried about a similar spike in child abuse. Though it’s too soon to know how much of an impact the current economic strain will have on child abuse, Feldman says, “My communications with colleagues around the country indicate that we’re already seeing more cases

Keeping Kids Safe From Child Abuse at Home

continued from page 35

than before this downturn.”

After the last economic slowdown, abuse rates took years to return to prerecession levels, Feldman notes. By 2011, cases of reported child abuse were still higher than they were before the 2008 downturn.

“The longer this goes on and the more financial stress that this puts on families, and the longer parents are cooped up with their children and generally frustrated, the more the risk is likely to rise,” he says.

“Parents who need to leave their children at home in the care of another adult while they work should watch closely for any unexplained bruises, burns and injuries in unusual places, such as inside the mouth or in the whites of eyes.”

The perfect storm

While studies based on past recessions can raise red flags, they can’t provide a roadmap for prevention in the current environment. That’s because the coronavirus pandemic is creating an unprecedented situation involving public health, schooling, stay-athome orders and a slew of additional stressors not seen in a typical recession.

“Those who work in child abuse prevention can see the perfect storm brewing in terms of financial insecurity, job loss, worries about food and suddenly having kids home from school,” says Christine Baker, who coordinates Seattle Children’s Period of PURPLE Crying child abuse prevention program. “We also don’t have teachers, coaches or others who can report signs of abuse seeing kids every day. They just don’t have eyes on kids right now.”

What’s being done to help

Thanks to the work of researchers like Feldman, those who work in child abuse prevention can anticipate the effect this pandemic may have on child abuse. In recent weeks, they’ve been working hard to assemble resources to help frustrated parents.

“Knowing what happened after the economic decline in 2008, we have child abuse experts coming together to look at prevention and outreach,” says Baker. Parents participating in the Period of PURPLE Crying, an educational program for parents of newborns aimed at preventing shaken baby syndrome, are already informed about support and resources.

“The Period of PURPLE Crying reaches about 80 percent of families in Washington, and there is an app, so we’re using that program as a platform to get out another layer of information,” says Baker.

Seattle Children’s, UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center are partnering to get the word out with a “Take 5” information campaign. (See Child Abuse Prevention Resources sidebar.) “We created a simple one-page Take 5 handout with five tips. We don’t want to flood parents’ email inboxes or social media feeds right now because there is so much information being directed at them,” says Baker.

To cope with feelings of being overwhelmed, remember that it’s okay to take a break, and it’s okay to ask for help, says Baker. Caregivers can communicate with kids’ teachers if they feel overwhelmed with schooling responsibilities or need ideas for activities to help kids let off steam. “Don’t be afraid to get the help you need,” says Baker. “Also, check in on a neighbor or friend who is home with children. Simply reaching out can be a lifeline for parents who are struggling.”

Parents who need to leave their children at home in the care of another adult while they work should watch closely for any unexplained bruises, burns and injuries in unusual places, such as inside the mouth or in the whites of eyes, says Feldman.

“We know abuse is most likely to occur when kids are left at home in the care of someone who is not a

Child Abuse Prevention Resources

When you’re frustrated, take five. • Stop. Step away. Give yourself space. • Take a short break to breathe. Allow your heart rate to return to normal.

• Remind yourself, “I can do this” or “It’s important to stay calm.” • Ask yourself, “How can I handle this in a way that I will feel good about?” • If possible, ask for support from a partner or family member, or call the numbers below.

Additional resources

• Parent Trust for Washington Children, The Family Help Line: 1-800-932-4673 • Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center, Support and Tips to Manage Behavior: 206-744-1600

• Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for crisis counseling any day and time. • Find resources and tips for parents, children and others on the Prevent Child Abuse website (preventchildabuse.org). • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides advice on stress and coping on its website (cdc.gov/coronavirus). • Access mental health information and support from Seattle Children’s (seattlechildrens.org).

biological parent, particularly someone who is newer to the household,” he says. “If bruises are showing up on babies, particularly those under 5 or 6 months of age, parents should ask questions of caretakers and not accept weak answers or explanations.”

Most parents are doing the best they can, and abuse prevention efforts are intended to offer additional support during an extraordinarily stressful time, says Baker. “We need to acknowledge the incredible amount of stress families are under right now. We’re looking at it like parents are in a boat, and they don’t need a manual on how to use the boat. We’re just giving them an oar.” ■

Malia Jacobson is a health and family journalist.

Editor’s note: This article was sponsored by Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Splash Safely This Summer

Packed public pools and chaotic pool parties may be paused due to health restrictions but drowning still poses a major safety risk for children this summer. Make swimming safer with these tips: • Caregivers should learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). (Find online classes at redcross.org.) • Never leave children unsupervised around pools, hot tubs or open water.

• Don’t drink alcohol while children are swimming. • Install a pool fence that completely encloses a home swimming pool and separates it from the home. • All children (even strong swimmers) should wear a life jacket while boating, paddling or any time they’re on or around natural bodies of water like lakes or the ocean.

Find CDC water safety guidelines at cdc.gov/safechild/drowning. And it never hurts to make safety fun: Download the Adventures of Splish and Splash water safety app along with water safety activity sheets at poolsafely.gov.

— Malia Jacobson

BLAKE ISLAND EXCURSIONS Evergreen Excursion & Blake Island Fast Ferry

Book Wed–Thu for More Island to Yourself

Argosy Cruises acknowledges that we are on the land and waters of the Coast Salish people, past and present.

First People’s History | Kayaking | Fire-Roasted Lunch | Tillicum Longhouse | State Park Camping