Cincinnati Parent March 2013

MARCH 2013 | FREE

cincinnatiparent.com

LIFE

UNDER THE

big top

An interview with the Lacey family

SPRING BREAK

on a

BUDGET

the

CAMP EXPERIENCE a heart for PRESCHOOL

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MARCH 2013

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contents features 16 | LIFE UNDER THE BIG TOP

An interview with the Lacey family

18 | SPRING BREAK ON A BUDGET Midwest cities offer unique activites without breaking the bank

03.13

commentary + parenting 14 | MOMMY MAGIC Picture Perfect

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20 | KIDS AND CASH Sharing financial problems with your children

31 | WHAT’S NEW AT SCHOOL Making kindergarten easier for your child

22 | THE CAMP EXPERIENCE Opportunities for summer learning gains

32 | A HEART FOR PRESCHOOL Kids love, need childhood education

38 | HOW TO HELP YOUR STRUGGLING CHILD When to consider seeking professional mental health support

40 | LUCKY DOGS Finding the right family pet

in every issue

34 | ASK THE TEACHER Verbal bullying, gifted students and reading encouragement

35 | TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A STAY-AT-HOME DAD

22

How to survive a restaurant meal with your kids

resources 24 | CAMP GUIDE 36 | education/childcare GUIDE

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48 | MARKETPLACE

08 | PUBLISHER'S NOTE 10 | COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 12 | ONLINE BUZZ

calendars 42 | MARCH EVENTS 46 | ONGOING EVENTS 51 | FUN + WACKY

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in every issue

Cincinnati

[ publisher’s note ]

PARENT PUBLISHER Mary Wynne Cox | publisher@cincinnatiparent.com SALES MANAGER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katie Pfierman | katie@cincinnatiparent.com EDITOR Susan Bryant | susan@cincinnatiparent.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Baum | jennifer@cincinnatiparent.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melissa Wittenbaum | melissa@cincinnatiparent.com BUSINESS MANAGER Roxanne Burns | roxanne@cincinnatiparent.com

Hello Cincinnati Families!

In case you haven’t heard – the circus is coming! Can you imagine what life would be like if your office was a traveling tent? And your coworkers were tigers and elephants? For a circus family, this is all in day’s work. In this issue of Cincinnati Parent, we bring you Life Under the Big Top, an interview with the Lacey family of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Get the inside scoop on this traveling family act before seeing the “greatest show on earth” later this month!

If you have a little one who will be starting preschool soon, you know this is a major milestone.

What you may not know is that letting go may be harder for you than your child! Read A Heart for Preschool to learn how children look forward (and quickly adjust) to this big step.

Also in this issue we discuss How to Help Your Struggling Child. It can be hard to know when a child’s problems go beyond normal ups and downs. In this article we hope to help parents determine if seeking extra support is the next step.

Have you felt the first rush of warm air yet? Spring is just around the corner which means spring break for many families. For a fun vacation option that won’t break the bank, check out Spring Break on a Budget to learn about great destinations close to home.

Thanks for picking up a copy of Cincinnati Parent! We hope you enjoy it!

EVENTS COORDINATOR & PUBLIC RELATIONS Wendy Cox | wendy@cincinnatiparent.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Wendy Schrepferman | s.wendy@cincinnatiparent.com INTERN Maria Tancredi | maria@cincinnatiparent.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Wynne Cox, Carrie Bishop, Sarah McCosham, Nancy Edwards, Dr. Elana Harris of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center , Susan Jacobs Jablow, Mary Susan Buhner, Pete Gilbert, Deb Krupowicz, Dr. Julia Heath of The University of Cincinnati, Peg Smith of American Camp Association CALENDAR OF EVENTS calendar@cincinnatiparent.com CONTACT US 9435 Waterstone Blvd., Suite 140 | Cincinnati, OH 45249 PHONE: 513.444.2015 | FAX: 513.444.2099 EMAIL: info@cincinnatiparent.com

COPYRIGHT

Mary Wynne Cox Publisher

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Cincinnati Parent Magazine is published monthly. Copyright 2012 by Midwest Parenting Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of products, commentary or services herein. For information on subscriptions, editorial guidelines, advertising rates and more visit www.cincinnatiparent.com.

MARCH 2013

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in every issue

[ community spotlight ]

community S POT L IGH T

presciption assistance offered to all ohio residents If you are currently uninsured, if your insurance plan does not include prescription benefits, or if certain medications are not covered by your plan, take advantage of the free Ohio Drug Card.

Participants can expect an average savings of around 30% on both brand and generic medications.

The card is available to all Ohio residents at no cost. No personal information is required and all prescriptions processed through the program are confidential.

To locate a participating pharmacy, for help with pricing, and to print your personal card, visit www.ohiodrugcard.com.

march maple madness driving tour Maple syrup is Ohio’s first harvest of the year – and the sweetest! Sugarhouses across Ohio open their doors and invite visitors to see firsthand how pure maple syrup is made.

The March Maple Madness Driving Tour is a statewide event sponsored by the Ohio Maple Producers Association and Ohio’s syrup makers. The event takes place March 9th - 10th and March 16th 17th. Call 440-834-1415 or visit www.ohiomapleproducers.com for participating locations.

every dress tells a story, and every girl deserves a dress Kenzie’s Closet, founded by Brynne Coletti, provides a unique service to girls without the resources to buy dresses for their school proms. There are several ways to become involved with Kenzie‘s Closet.

In addition to donating new or gently used prom gowns and accessories, there are opportunities to organize dress drives, assist with fundraising and provide dry cleaning, alterations and floral services.

Contact Kenzie’s Closet by phone at 513-533-7766 or on the web at www.kenziescloset.org for more information.

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return to your classical roots Legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis joins the CSO and singers from over 30 area churches to pay tribute to visionaries whose passion, courage and perseverance has left an indelible mark on classical and jazz music.

Reserve your tickets today for the Classical Roots performance on Friday, March 15th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for children, and can be purchased online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org or by calling the Music Hall box office at 513-381-3300.

Plan to arrive early to enjoy pre-concert entertainment by members of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Nouveau Chamber Players.

In addition to this public concert, Classical Roots serves the Cincinnati community by arranging master classes and world-class artists in residence programs as part of the CSO Community Engagement and Learning Program.

a book for every child Ten year old Loveland, OH twins, Hannah and Alex Laman, share a passion for the written word. After reading an article and discovering that thousands of kids in the Cincinnati area do not own books, the Adopt A Book program began to take shape. Since November of 2011, the duo has collected, quality screened, catalogued and distributed over 11,600 books. Adopt A Book works closely with Prokids, Lighthouse Youth Services, Literacy Network, YWCA and The Children’s Home of Cincinnati to distribute the books to areas with the greatest need. The siblings are currently working with two area schools to complete library makeovers and are partnering with a third school to provide every student with their own personal, ten book library.

To find out more or to make a donation email adoptabook@fuse.net or check out the Adopt a Book Facebook page.

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online buzz check OUT MARCH’S

facebook freebie fridays & weekly e-newsletter CONTESTS

+

for a chance to win:

> LIKE US ON FACEBOOK > FOLLOW US ON TWITTER > SIGN UP for our weekly e-newsletter at cincinnatiparent.com

Tickets to the CSO’s ‘Classical Roots’ Concert 12 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

2 Night Stay at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN

“Would you support armed security officers in your children’s schools?”

Security, yes. I do not support armed teachers. These people are educating our children. They’re underpaid and overworked. That should be the last thing they should have to worry about. – Beth P. Absolutely! – Linda G. Yes...but they need them at every entrance. – Sheila D. We had an armed police officer at our school every day in high school, and that was a quiet rural school. Never had a problem except the usual fist fights to break up. – Jessica H. Sure would! – Rachelle D. Yes, so long as they were properly trained and rigorously background checked. – Roger H.

“Like” us on Facebook to Join in the Conversation!

Over 3,500 Fans and Counting...

Tickets to Broadway Across America’s Peter Pan

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Dragon) Tickets

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commentary and parenting

[ mommy magic ]

Mommy Magic Picture Perfect: What does trying to be a “perfect mom” teach our kids?

Mary Susan Buhner

I struggle, like a lot of moms, on not beating myself up each day on what I did right and what I did wrong as a mom. Sometimes I lose my temper and wish I hadn’t immediately afterward. Sometimes I close my eyes and pray for strength and then the next day I wonder why it seemed such a big deal to me. Can you relate?

I remember the exact day I started to feel like I had to be “perfect” since I was now a mom. I was driving through McDonald’s. My oldest was only six years old at the time and my middle daughter was just a baby. They were both securely in their car seats when I drove up and rolled down my window to order. It was a cold February day and it was snowing. I was tired and already thinking about getting my baby home down in time for a nap and getting my oldest dressed in her snow gear so she could play outside when we got back home. The nice person on the intercom asked to take my order. I replied, “A Happy Meal with nuggets with honey mustard sauce.” I rolled up my window and starting to inch forward in line. My oldest daughter immediately said to me, “Mommy, what’s wrong?” I am sure I sighed and said something like, “Nothing, honey, why?” She replied back, “Because when you ordered you didn’t sound happy and you didn’t say please when you asked for my Happy Meal.” I was busted right there in the McDonald’s drive-thru by my six year old daughter. Truth is, I was overwhelmed by what she said. I was exhausted by the notion that I would be expected to be the best version of myself 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I now had little ears listening and little eyes watching me. I took a deep breath, paid at the window and said, “Thank you so much!” in a cheery voice with a smile on my face trying to make up for my “bad manners” just moments before.

I carried this notion around for a while – being the “perfect” mom. What I soon realized however, was that it was way too unrealistic to be the perfect mom. What was I teaching my children if I didn’t show them that I too, had struggles, challenges and obstacles? Granted, keeping my cool is important, but this idea of being perfect was phony. Would I expect them to be perfect students? Would I expect them to play a perfect game of basketball, soccer or lacrosse? No way, it’s not possible. The fact is, they can actually learn more when they don’t get a perfect test score or play the perfect game.

There is growth in messing up, figuring out how to do it better and trying again. So I realized, if I can accept that my kids will fail, start over and just do their personal best each day, then why was I beating myself up over this myth of being a “perfect mom”? The fact is, it is kind of like a diet - you do the best you can. People on diets mess up but it doesn’t mean that they have 14 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

blown their whole diet. Experts say to just start over the next day. Try to be better and not worry about it. Excellent advice I think for us moms too.

Do the best you can every day, but if you mess up, just try to do better the next day and don’t beat yourself up over it. Always remind yourself that it is okay not to be perfect!

Join the Mommy Magic’s Fan Page on Facebook and visit

www.Mommy-Magic.com to be a part of the mom community that supports and encourages moms in Cincy with helpful tips for motherhood!

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Life

Under the Big Top An interview with the Lacey family

adies and gentlemen, boys and girls, meet the one-and-only Lacey family of the Greatest Show on Earth, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Alexander Lacey, the Big Cats Trainer and Presenter, and his wife, Elaine, travel with the circus year-round with their 8-year-old daughter, Katrina. This unconventional family has been with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for the past 10 months, but has been working with animals and circuses their whole lives.

Alexander grew up with lion cubs as his playmates. His parents owned two zoos in England and got into the circus business when he was just 4-years-old.

Having grown up in the circus life, Alexander can’t imagine doing anything else.

“The circus isn’t a job, it’s a way of life, especially when you work with the animals. It’s not a job that starts at 9 in the morning and ends at 5. We’re here 24/7 all year round. I love it. We all love it,” said Alexander.

Elaine had a similar upbringing – her family owned a circus in Ireland. Since Elaine was 6-years-old, she has been performing. She started as a trapeze artist, and now works with Alexander in his act with the big cats.

Elaine and Alexander met when he came to work for her family’s circus in Ireland about 14 years ago, and the rest is history. The both accepted contracts to work for a circus in Germany before accepting a spot with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in America.

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At first, the Lacey family was nervous about their move from Europe to America. Katrina, who had never lived outside of Germany, was scared that she wouldn’t like her new home in the U.S. Since the move, however, the Lacey family couldn’t be happier.

For Katrina, the best part about her new life in America is the traveling school.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has two teachers that travel with the troupe. The teachers hold classes for all of the children who travel with the circus, following the same curriculum and grade levels as regular schools do.”When we finally came to America, [Katrina] was very nervous about it. I told her she would be going to school and she said she didn’t want to go. I told her: ‘Well you can go for an hour, and if you don’t like it, then we will come and pick you up.’ And of course, when we went to pick her up after an hour she didn’t want to leave. There are so many kids on this show that Katrina has her choice of friends, just like in regular life! She absolutely loves it,” said Elaine.

Along with school, Katrina also takes gymnastics classes and ballet lessons.

Education and enrichment are very important to Alexander and Elaine, so they are thrilled to see Katrina enjoying her classes and getting involved.

For Elaine, the best part of working with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is that she gets to spend time with her daughter every single day.

“For many circus performers in Europe, their dream is to one day work for Ringling Bros. in America, the Greatest Show on Earth. They really look out for

you here. When you have kids, they have a great school and a great nursery. It’s great because I work in the same place that my daughter goes to school. For a lot of people that aren’t in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, they have to send their kids to boarding school or leave them with relatives. That’s just not an option for Alex and I. We eat dinner as a family every night and I think that’s the way it should be. You should be with your child every single day and have input in their life,” said Elaine.

The circus isn’t a job, it’s a way of life, especially when you work with the animals.

It’s not a job that starts at 9 in the morning and ends at 5. We’re here 24/7 all year round. I love it. We all love it.

For Alexander, working with the big cats in an environment where his family is happy as well is the best part of working with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Alexander’s family has been breeding lions and tigers for the past 45 years, and currently Alexander cares for 14 lions and tigers and one leopard. The cats range in age from 2-years-old to 18-years-old and all have their own personalities.

“They are all very different – much like people. What’s important is that when people come to see the show, they have to go away realizing what a great relationship I have with the animals and how happy and content they are and what great condition they are in. It’s more important for me to present my animals than to present myself.

Alexander loves his animals and often finds himself spending more time with the big cats than his own family, as Elaine playfully reminds him. He plans to

continue his family’s long history of breeding and caring for the majestic animals and hopes to work with them for the rest of his life.

“Even if I wasn’t in the circus I would still be working with lions and tigers because I love it. I love big cats and that’s why I dedicate so much of my time to them. It’s a lot of hard work to care for animals properly, and you have to sacrifice a lot of your own time for the animals. I do what I do because of the animals,” said Alexander.

The Lacey family has traveled all around the United States performing in a new city every week. On their days off, they try and visit as many places as they can.

“With the circus, we are traveling all over the country and get to see so many different parts of it. I think we’ve seen more of the country than a lot of Americans have,” said Alexander.

This March, the Lacey family and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus are making their way to Cincinnati. From March 13 through March 17, come one, come all to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s newest show, Dragons, at the U.S. Bank Arena.

“There’s something for everyone at the circus, people really do love the show,” said Alexander.

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SPRING BREAK Nancy Edwards

on a Budget Midwest cities offer unique activities

without breaking the bank

indianacaverns.com) will celebrate its grand opening in mid-April. Take in the panoramic view of Big Bone Mountain and three waterfalls. Learn how caves are formed and look for blind cave fish and crayfish.

Indianapolis

Many households in the Cincinnati area will be flying south to enjoy a traditional vacation this spring break of beaches and amusement parks.

But for those families looking for a fun trip within just a few hours’ drive, there’s good news. Plenty of great opportunities exist close to home.

Check out these suggestions to enjoy more vacation time, with less travel time.

French Lick and Indiana Caverns In French Lick, the newly opened Shotz Miniature Golf & Laser Tag (www.frenchlickshotz.com) is attached to Big Splash Adventure Hotel and Indoor Water Park (www.bigsplashadventure.com). Shotz features an indoor nine-hole miniature cosmic golf course, Lazer Frenzy and Lazer Tag. French Lick Springs Hotel (www.frenchlick.com/ hotels/frenchlick) offers fun and relaxation for the entire family. Moms can chill at the hotel’s spa while dads can try their luck at the casino – or they can relax together at the indoor pool and hot tub while kids enjoy staff-supervised playtime and learning.

In nearby Harrison County, Indiana Caverns (www.

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Kids will be astonished at the size and number of things to do at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (www.childrensmuseum.org). The museum houses interactive science, history, art and cultural activities. Children will laugh with delight at the new gecko exhibit as the lizards scurry up walls, run across ceilings, bark, hiss, sing and, on occasion, break off their own tails!

Children often can’t get enough of exotic animals, which is why they appreciate the Indianapolis Zoo (www.indyzoo.com). The talented animals love to entertain; penguins, elephants, dolphins and seals create their own paintings for families to take home.

Kids attending a dolphin show can be a designated “trainer” while learning to cue dolphins by hand.

Chicago Have you ever wondered “How large is the universe?” Or “Are we alone?” Visit Chicago’s Adler Planetarium (www.adlerplanetarium.org) to contemplate these puzzles of the universe. While you’re there, watch a space show and “fly” through space.

After playing astronaut at the planetarium, kids can pretend to be a deep sea explorer or a penguin at

Shedd Aquarium (www.sheddaquarium.org). A new resident of the aquarium, a blind California sea lion pup named Cruz, is guided by sound and scent.

Meet Cruz and learn what audio cues he has been trained to respond to.

Don’t miss Chicago’s legendary pizza. Try Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Lincoln Park (www. loumalnatis.com). And have the perfect ending to your meal with an ice cream sundae at Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop (www.ghirardelli.com).

St. Louis Beyond the Gateway Arch, St. Louis offers an array of unique finds, including the City Museum (www. citymuseum.org). Walk through a part treehouse hideaway/ part cave, before hiking up to the second floor at the World Aquarium.

A carnival midway tribute awaits guests on the third floor. A new exhibit from the Chicago School of Architecture, “Elmslie and Sullivan”, showcases original architectural pieces from the buildings of Louis Sullivan, considered the father of modern architecture and George Grant Elmslie, who was Sullivan’s chief draftsman.

Go back in time to the landmark restaurant Blueberry Hill (www.blueberryhill.com) to listen to music from a jukebox or play pinball. There is so much more to see in St. Louis – scour the top 25 attractions at (www.explorestlouis.com).

Spring break doesn’t have to mean sun and surf – visit the great destinations the Midwest has to offer for a vacation your family will be sure to remember.

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commentary and parenting

[ kids and cash ]

Kids and Cash Sharing financial problems with your children Dr. Julia Heath, Director, Economics Center and Professor, Alpaugh Family Chair of Economics, University of Cincinnati

Many families are continuing to struggle in today’s economy, not seeing the recovery play out in their own lives. In addition to trying to keep their families’ finances afloat, parents are faced with questions from their children about why they can’t have the things they used to, or that others have. Listening to these complaints can be very difficult and emotional for parents, but they highlight an issue that exists in good times as well as bad – how much do you talk to your children about your finances?

According to a survey by T. Rowe Price, most parents find this conversation more difficult than talking to children about drugs. And among those who do broach the subject, 77 percent said they are dishonest with their children about money issues.

You want your children to understand the reality of your current situation, but you don’t want to scare them and have them take on grown-up worries.

For younger, elementary-aged children you can talk about not being able to have everything we want – even grown-ups can’t have everything they want. Because we can’t, we need to think very hard about what things are most important to us, and we have to choose. Saying no to children is not traumatic – at least not permanently.

On the other hand, you don’t want to say no every time. Set a family goal to do something – going to the movies for example. Instead of just saying no when your child wants to go to McDonalds, you can say that you’re not going to McDonalds because you are putting a dollar (or whatever amount) that you would have spent there towards your “family fun” goal. (And remember that many fun activities are free.) Focus on the lessons you can teach them – delayed gratification, making good decisions and setting goals. Tell them they can help by giving you more hugs – it’s good for you and for them.

For older children, you can involve them in helping the family save money. Tell your child that the family needs to be more careful spending money at the grocery store,

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so you need to use more coupons when you shop. Keeping on top of couponing can be time consuming, so tell your child that you will give him/her a percentage of the money you save from the coupons they find. This saves you money, makes your child feel involved and provides them a way to earn some cash.

Teenagers can get part-time jobs. You can and should have a realistic discussion about college with them. If their dream college is no longer an option, they need to know that and what their options are. Could they delay going to college and save up money? Could they live at home and go to a local college or a community college for the first two years and then transfer? Could they qualify for work-study or meritbased assistance? You should resist the temptation to allow them to take out a lot of student loans – a good rule of thumb is no more than the expected first year’s worth of salary after graduation.

You want your children to be able to be kids, without taking on money problems. But it’s okay for them to know that times are hard and that you need their help. It’s okay for them to know they can’t have everything they want, whether you’re in difficult times or not. Don’t overload them with information however. Give them just enough information to answer their questions but not enough so that they are scared. Make sure both parents are on the same page in terms of what your children are told, and only tell them what you would be comfortable being public knowledge – kids aren’t good at keeping secrets. You can use whatever circumstances in which you find yourself to educate your children about money in age appropriate ways, but also about what it means to be a family. In good times or bad.

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the

CAMP

Experience

Peg L. Smith, CEO, American Camp Association

Opportunities for summer learning gains

Much has been said about the effects of summer learning loss on the academic achievement of our children. How can we not only stem this learning loss, but actually make summer learning gains? Many of today’s experts agree that skills gained at summer camp — engagement, curiosity and stick-to-itiveness — are vital to a child’s success.

In a recent interview, Madeline Levine, PhD, author of Teach Your Children Well, revealed that “Engagement with learning is the best predictor of academic success. You want kids who care, who are interested, who have fun, and who look forward to learning. I think camp is the ideal environment for allowing that engagement to unfold” (American Camp Association, 2013b). Camp teaches children to love learning by allowing them to explore their curiosities and think critically in a hands-on environment.

Engagement with learning might predict future career success for our children as well. As Thomas Friedman, author of The World Is Flat, wrote in a recent New York Times op-ed, those with successful careers in the future will need skills that cannot be replaced by our ever-advancing technology. In other words, according to Friedman, “The winners [in the future job market] won’t just be those with more I.Q. It will also be those with more P.Q. (passion quotient) and C.Q. (curiosity quotient) to leverage all the new digital tools to not just find a job, but to invent one or reinvent one, and to not just learn but to relearn for a lifetime” (2013).

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To learn for a lifetime, to innovate in the face of changing technology as Friedman suggests, one must be willing to make mistakes. Says Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, “[Children] need to learn how to fail in a productive way — that failures are real and we don’t all win every game, but that failures are not a disaster. Instead, they are often important stepping stones on the path to success” (American Camp Association, 2013a). At camp, children take risks, make mistakes, learn about community, fail and succeed in a nurturing environment.

I find it interesting that, indirectly, each expert — Levine, Friedman and Tough — is calling for the “learning and innovation skills” proposed by Partnership for 21st Century Skills — critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity (2011). These skills are thought to be requirements for success in the 21st century. With this in mind, I see that camp is critical for our children — to boost summer learning and become tomorrow’s leaders.

With nearly three decades of experience as a change agent in youth development and transformation, Peg L. Smith is the chief executive officer of the American Camp Association® (ACA). ACA is the champion of better tomorrows — providing resources, research, and support for developmentally appropriate camp experiences. Learn more at www.CampParents.org or www.ACAcamps.org. © 2013 American Camping Association, Inc.

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summer camp resources

[ camp listings ]

RESIDENTIAL CAMPS Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center

125 Aldersgate Camp Rd., Ravenna, KY 40472, Phone: 606-723-5078, Email: aldersgatecamp@ gmail.com

aldersgatecamp.org Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Religious - Traditional Activities Included: Horses, Zip-line, Ropes Course, Sports, Pool, Music, Environmental Education Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center has been exciting and empowering campers of all ages for 50 years. Located about an hour from Lexington, Kentucky, join us this summer for a thrilling week of horses, sports, adventure, mystery, swimming, fun, friends, and memories! For information, check out our website: www.aldersgatecamp.org.

Welcome Home!

Camp Carson YMCA 2034 Outer Lake Road, Princeton, IN 47670, Contact: Mark Scoular, Phone: 812-385-3597, Email: campinfo@ymca.evansville.net

www.campcarson.org Gender of Campers: Coed Hours: 1pm Sunday - 7pm Friday Dates: Weekly through June and July Ages/Grades: 7-16 years Cost: traditional week ranges $499-$599 (range of all programs from $270 - $1000) Only 3.5 hours from Cincinnati. Join campers and staff from over 25 different states and 7 countries at southern Indiana’s premier summer resident camp.

YMCA Camp Carson has it all! Truly “An Experience that lasts a Lifetime!” Activities include horseback, motorized dirt-bikes, archery, canoeing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, archery, marksmanship, climbing, pottery, woodworking, fishing, crafts, soccer, basketball, mountain bikes

Camp Livingston 4998 Nell Lee Road, Bennington, IN 47011, Contact: Benjamin Davis, Executive Director, Phone: 513-7935554 or 1-888-564-CAMP, Email: info@ camplivingston.com

www.camplivingston.com Gender of Campers: Coed Dates: Aleph Session: June 16 – July 11; Bet Session: July 14 – August 8; One and Two Week options also available Ages/Grades: 8-17 Cost: Jewish Overnight Camping grants of up to $1,000 are available for first- and second-time applicants; visit jewishcincinnati.org/camping for details.

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Activities Included: Basketball, Drama, Canoeing, Hiking, Campfires, Archery, Arts & Crafts, Lake Aqua Park, Swimming Pool, High Ropes Challenge Course, Baseball, Low Ropes Team Building Activities, Climbing Wall, Judaics/Israel Programs, Horseback Riding, Tennis, Soccer, Israeli Dance, Ga-Ga, Nature & Ecology, Camping Overnights, much more…

We are the ONLY resident camp owned and operated by the Cincinnati Jewish community.

Located in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana, Camp Livingston is the place to be for a summer of friends, sports, arts, nature, and positive Jewish experiences. Our caring staff supervises a progressive program that includes athletics, nature, waterfront activities, arts-andcrafts, performing arts, a challenge course, adventure travel and camping trips, and much more! New one week program for first timers!

Culver Summer Schools & Camps

1300 Academy Road #138, Culver, IN 46511, Contact: Anthony Mayfield, Phone: 800-221-2020, Email: summer@culver.org

www.culver.org/summer Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Traditional Specific Categories: Coeducational resident Dates: June 21 to August 3, 2013 Ages/Grades: Ages 9 to 16 Cost: $5,600 Requirements of Campers: Teacher recommendations Activities Included: Sailing, Aviation, Horseback riding, tennis, golf, swimming, water skiing, SCUBA, theater, band, voice, fencing, baskteball, track, badminton, review academics in Math and English

Falcon Camp 4251 Delta Rd SW, Carrollton, OH 44615, Contact: Dave Devey, Phone: 800/837-CAMP, Email: info@ FalconCamp.com

www.falconcamp.com Gender of Campers: Coed Dates: 2,4,6,8 week sessions available from June 23 – August 17 Ages/Grades: Ages 6 - 16 Cost: $2190 to varies with length of session Requirements of Campers: Willing to have fun and try new things!

Activities Included: Sailing, horseback riding, riflery, archery, tennis, crafts, drama, woodslore, canoeing, swimming, basketball, softball, sports, overnight camping, dances, creative arts, video, mountain biking and much more!

Ohio’s premier summer camp since 1959. Boys and

GUIDE girls enjoy wide variety of activities with outstanding staff. “Fun for Now, Skills for Life” is motto and environment created at Falcon. Located on beautiful 8 mile Leesville Lake in hundreds of acres of woods, great food, great fun, lifetime of memories.

Falcon Young Adventure Camp 4251 Delta Rd SW, Carrollton, OH 44615, Contact: Dave Devey Director/Owner, Phone: 800/837-CAMP, Email: info@FalconCamp.com

www.falconcamp.com Gender of Campers: Coed Dates: August 4 – 10 and August 11 – 17 Ages/Grades: ages 6 - 9 Cost: $1010/wk Requirements of Campers: Designed for first time sleep away camp experience.

Activities Included: Program same as Falcon Traditional Camp; includes horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, archery, air rifles, crafts, sports, rocketry, fishing, nature study, sailing and much more.

A unique and exciting introduction to overnight camping for boys and girls ages 6 -9. These one-week programs are designed with care to guide the campers in being successful with their first great “Young Adventure” away from home. 1:2 staff/camper ratio provides individual attention, instruction and parental oversight.

YMCA Camp Ernst of Cincinnati 7615 Camp Ernst Rd, Burlington, KY 41005, Contact: Eli Cochran Program Director, Phone: 859-586-6181, Fax: 859-586-6214, Email: ce@myYcamp.org

www.myYcamp.org Gender of Campers: Coed Dates: One week sessions June 9-Aug 4; Also offer 24 hour overnights as well as a Half-Week session Ages/Grades: Ages 6-15 Cost: $505-690 Requirements of Campers: Registration is required.

A co-ed residential summer camp, YMCA Camp Ernst is your child’s ultimate summer destination! Steeped in tradition and built on positive values, YMCA Camp Ernst hosts campers, ages 6-15, who enjoy top-notch counselors and make friends doing a wide variety of activities including a 100-foot water slide, zipline, the BLOB, archery, horseback riding, giant swing, and a banana boat. While participating in our 24 daily activities, your child will also develop in spirit, mind, and body.

Come see why people are calling us “The Best Camp On Earth”!

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DAY CAMPS Academy Kung Fu Tai Chi 4927 Glenway Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45238, Phone: 513-481-4406, Email: academyofkungfutaichi@gmail.com

whkungfu.com Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Sports Hours: 9:00 AM to 11:00 Am or 12:00 AM Dates: June 3-7 June 10-14 June 17- 21 June 24-28, July 1-5, (closed the 4th) july 8-12, July 15-19 Ages/Grades: 3-6 years 7-12 years old Cost: $142 weekly $150 weekly discounts for taking all sessions Requirements of Campers: No previous martial arts experience needed Activities Included: Bully prevention, Listening skills, building self-confidence, motor skill, building leadership skills, positive motivation martial arts skills Real Kung fu techniques. Tien Shan Pai & Northern Shaolin Kung fu taught by certified Kung Fu instructors. Building life skills, only school in Cincinnati that is member of United State Kuo Shu (Kung Fu) Federation. 2 World Certified Judges,11 members made the United States Kung Fu Team 2000-2009. It’s something you always wanted to do.

Camp•a•Palooza 7900 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249, Contact: Joanie Weghorst, Preschool Camp; Drew Ross, K-7th Grade Camp, Phone: (513) 489-7575, Email: info@ theCampusKF.com

www.kidsfirstsports.com Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Adventure/Tripping, Sports Hours: Preschool: 8:30-12:30; K-7th Grade: 9:00-4:00 Dates: June 3rd - August 16th Ages/Grades: Preschool (half day) thru 7th Grade Cost: Varies Requirements of Campers: Vaccination Records; Preschoolers must be potty trained Activities Included: Gymnastics, Swimming, Basketball, Slip-n-slide, Karate, Arts and Crafts, Putt Putt and MORE! With 108,000 square feet of children’s sports activities under one roof, Kids First is the area’s premier destination for summer camp! Camp-aPalooza offers a full day summer camp for K-7th

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graders and the brand new early learning center, The Campus at Kids First, offers a preschool camp for 3-5 year olds. There truly is NO summer camp like it!

Camp Chabad 2820 Bearcat Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221, Contact: Rabbi Majeski, Phone: 513-731-5111, Email: info@campchabad.org

www.campchabad.org Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Traditional Dates: June 24 -August 9 Ages/Grades: 2 - 14 Cost: $150 - $210 per week ACA Accredited. Cincinnati’s premier Jewish Day Camp, held at the Campus Recreation Center. Ages 2-14. Enjoy a wide variety of activities and field trips with outstanding, nurturing staff unique to Camp Chabad!

Lunch & Transportation included. Camp runs from June 24-August 9th; sign up for all 7 weeks or “mix and match” any week. Morning & after care are available.

Camp Invention Various Locations in Cincinnati and Surrounding Areas, Contact: Michele Millikan, Phone: 800-9684332, Email: campinvention@att.net

www.campinvention.org Gender of Campers: Coed Specific Categories: Science Enrichment Hours: 9:00am to 3:30pm; Times May Vary – Based on Location Dates: See web site for details.

Ages/Grades: Entering Grades 1-6 Cost: $180 to $220 Camp Invention inspires CREATIVITY and INVENTIVE thinking during a weeklong summer adventure of FUN and EXCITING real-world challenges led by qualified educators! Discounts are available to new and returning children. Locations nationwide. Visit www.campinvention.org or call 1-800-968-4332 for a location near you.

Cincinnati Art Museum ARTventures Classes 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Phone: 513-721-ARTS, Email: liz.gardner@cincyart.org

cincinnatiartmuseum.org Gender of Campers: Coed

Basic Category: Arts Dates: June 18-August 15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays Ages/Grades: Ages 5-8 and 9-12 Cost: $10/session- members $20/sessionnonmembers, series pricing also available Delve into art this summer at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Each class is packed with exciting art projects, gallery experiences, and more. Children will discover all aspects of art looking and art making through various themes, games, and more.

Cincinnati Nature Center Summer Camp

Rowe Woods: 4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford, OH 45150; Long Branch Farm & Trails, 6926 Gaynor Rd, Goshen, OH, Phone: 513-831-1711

www.CincyNature.org Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Traditional Dates: June - August Ages/Grades: 3 - 15 Activities Included: Exploring all the wonders of nature!

Explore nature at our week-long nature day camps for ages 3-15 Camps offer unique, age-appropriate activities that immerse children in the outdoors in a safe and friendly environment. A fun way for kids to actively challenge their minds and bodies while using their creativity and imaginations. Join us for an outdoor adventure that is anything but ordinary!

Cincinnati Parks Summer Nature Day Camps

Day Camps are located at Ault Park, Burnet Woods, French Park, S, Cincinnati, OH 45216, Contact: Erin Morris, Phone: 513-321-6208 ext 11, Email: erin. morris@cincinnati-oh.gov

www.cincinnatiparks.com Gender of Campers: Coed Ages/Grades: ages 3 to 14 Cost: Fees range from $35 - $75 per camp and discounts are available for multiple camp registrations.

Activities Included: Beyond our themed camps with special activities, all camps include trail hikes, arts and crafts, outdoor games, interactions with live animals, and many more fun, hands-on activities!

Our summer camps were voted “Best of the City” in 2012 by you and Cincinnati Magazine for the best value in educational, fun-filled outdoor activities… and economical too! Hikes, crafts and games are part of the daily schedule. The most popular

“NatureCamps in the Parks” Camp serves ages 5-12 every week and their preschool siblings can attend Discovery Mornings at the same park during the same week! Also Astronomy, Nature Art and Theater and Outdoor Skills camps. Camp activities are new for your child each year! Online registration is available in late February.

Cincinnati Recreation Commission Phone/CRC’s InfoLine: (513) 352-4000, Contact: Call your local CRC Recreation Center or go to www.cincyrec.org

www.cincyrec.org Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Traditional Dates: All Summer!

Ages/Grades: Please call your local CRC Recreation Center for specific details Cost: Tier A $1050; Tier B $950; Tier C $650 Clifton, College Hill, Corryville*, Dunham (serves west Price Hill), Hartwell, LeBlond (serves East End), Lincoln (serves West End), Madisonville, McKie (serves Northside), Mt.Washington, North Avondale, Oakley, Pleasant Ridge, Price Hill*, Sayler Park & Westwood Town Hall. *Corryville & Price Hill Centers’ camps also accept ODJFS Day Care vouchers.

Specialty Camps and Programs also available!

Cincinnati Reds Baseball/Softball Camps

Beechwood HS in Ft. Mitchell, KY; Summit Country Day in Cincinnati, Mason HS in Mason, Centerville HS in Centerville, Contact: Tim Rappe, Executive Director,

Phone: 855-846-7337, Email: trappe@reds.com

www.reds.com/camps Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Sports Hours: 9a-3p, M-F Dates: Beechwood HS: 6/3-6/7 Summit Country Day: 6/10-6/14 Mason HS: 7/1-7/5 Centerville HS: 7/29-8/2 Ages/Grades: Ages 6-14 Cost: $395 Activities Included: VIP trip to Great American Ballpark, full Reds uniform, 4 game tickets Official Camps of the Reds. 30 hrs. of World Class baseball/softball training and unforgettable Reds experience. Meet a top player at GABP. 30 hrs. of instruction. Bring a buddy and save $25. Maybe the best baseball camp in America. Camps sold out last year so register early.

D1 Sports Training & Therapy 510 E-Business Way, Cincinnati, Oh 45241, Contact: Natalie Ewers, Phone: 513-530-3000, Email: natalie. ewers@d1sportstraining.com

d1sportstraining.com Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Sports Hours: 12 pm-3pm Dates: April 3-5 Ages/Grades: Ages 6-12

Cost: $200 Requirements of Campers: Must have a positive attitude and determination Activities Included: Training, Youth Fitness Skills Challenge, Awards presented This camp will include hands on instruction on fitness and strength training from D1 coaches and competitive events. Awards presented to Challenge winners.

Little Songbird Music Studio

240 Main Street, Florence, KY 41042, Contact: Elizabeth Hickerson, Phone: 859-547-8765, Email: elizabeth@littlesongbirdmusic.com

www.LittleSongbirdMusic.com Gender of Campers: Coed Basic Category: Arts Dates: Check website for details.

Ages/Grades: Ages 0-9 Cost: $100-$150 Get your music on! Explore the outdoor world through music in “Nature’s Trail”, awaken your crafty side by making your own instruments in “Craft, Sing and Play” or try out our group piano lessons in “Intro to keyboard”. We also have weekly classes for children 0-5 with a grown up.

Painting with a Twist 6196 Tylersville Road, Mason, OH 45040,, Phone: 513-229-7700, Email: mason@paintingwithatwist.com

www.paintingwithatwist.com

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Basic Category: Arts Ages/Grades: 8-14 years old Cost: $25-$35 per student; All supplies to paint and instruction included in fee We have a special selection of art for our younger artists at Painting with a Twist! Our young Picasso’s will work on a full sized 16x20 canvas and create a masterpiece they can be proud of! Our camp is taught by a professional artist that will lead them step by step through a 1.5 or 2 hour painting (difference is the degree of detail and difficulty)!

Please check our website for more details about our camp, and the calendar for Spring Break and Summertime Camp classes.

Positively Beautiful Chiquita Center: 250 East 5th Street, 4th floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Contact: Nora Fink, Phone: 513.708.6796, Email: norafinkstylist@aol.com

norafink.com Gender of Campers: All-Girl Basic Category: Arts Hours: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Dates: June 17-21 & June 24- 28, 2013 Ages/Grades: 13-18 Cost: $195.00 Activities Included: Makeup Artistry, Fashion Styling, Style Board Creaton, Public Speaking, Artistic Expression Through Design, Professional Photoshoot Hosted by Nora Fink Personal Styling, Positively Beautiful is the only camp of it’s kind in CIncinnati.

Positively Beautiful gives girls ages 13-18 the

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opportunity to discover themselves from the inside out in a fun, supportive, glamorous environment.

Activities include vision boards, make-up artistry and fashion styling. For more information visit www. norafink.com or call 513.708.6796.

Recreation Unlimited

7700 Piper Road, Ashley, OH 43003, Phone: 740-5487006, Email: info@recreationunlimited.org

www.recreationunlimited.org Gender of Campers: Coed Type of Camp: Day AND Residential Basic Category: Special Needs, Traditional Hours: Monday - Friday Dates: June 3 - August 2 Ages/Grades: 8 & Up Cost: $820 Per Week Plus $35 Registration Fee Requirements of Campers: Approval of Completed Application and Physical Activities Included: Sports, Recreation & Education Recreation Unlimited’s Summer Residential Camps provide a full schedule of activities, lodging, meals and snacks, counselors, program leaders, on-site nursing and a great environment for indoor and outdoor fun! Camper check-in is Monday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Camper departure time is Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Springer School and Center 2121 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45208, Phone: 871-6080 ext. 402

www.springer-ld.org

Gender of Campers: Coed Dates: June 17-July 12, 2013 Ages/Grades: Ages: 1st – 8th grade “Adventures in Summer Learning” is designed for students of at least average potential who are not making expected progress. The morning program helps children become confident in the basic skills through small group instruction. The afternoon program consists of specialized courses in math, writing, social skills, and creative expression.

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Summer Day Camps 2013 12 locations throughout the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Phone: 513-362-YMCA Gender of Campers: Coed Specific Categories: Themed Day Camps, Pre-school Camps, Teen Camps, Counselor-in-Training programs, Specialty Camps, Sports Camps Ages/Grades: Ages 3-15 Date/ Cost: Dates vary depending on each camp.

Pricing Information is available on our website.

www.MyY.org At the YMCA, we make learning fun while giving youth the opportunity to engage in creative problem solving and team building. This summer, in addition to all the fun traditional and creative camp activities, all sites will also include time for summer programs integrating the arts with math and language standards.

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[ what’s new at school ]

commentary and parenting

What’s New at School Making kindergarten easier for your child From the Cincinnati Public Schools Early Childhood Department March is Kindergarten Roundup Month in Cincinnati Public Schools. It’s a time for parents of students who will be at least five years old by September 30, 2013, to choose a school for the 2013-14 school year. It’s also a time to think about some things that they can do to help get their children ready.

When children come to kindergarten for their first day, they come with backpacks and a first-day-of-school smile. But, they also should come with knowledge of books and letters.

Research shows that children who know the alphabet by kindergarten will be better readers. Parents can help get their children up to speed by pointing out letters in alphabet books, food circulars, signs throughout the neighborhood and in their own writing. Letters are everywhere, and parents should emphasize their importance as often as possible.

Children also should have an appreciation for books. By reading to them regularly, not only will children learn to love books, but they also will know how to take care of

them. Including lots of rhyming books is a great strategy, because they help children hear how letters work. For instance, they see that “cat” and “bat” have different start sounds and the same end sound. This helps them understand the difference between ‘c’ and ‘b’.

In addition to skills that get students ready to be star readers, there are a few other self-help skills they should learn before coming to kindergarten. Before that first day, students should be able to put on their own shoes, zip up and button coats and pants, wash hands and eat without help.

Students also should know how to open a milk carton, hold a pencil, cut with scissors and use glue.

Making kindergarten easy starts at home. And, we’re here to help. For more information about our kindergarten programs, call our Enrollment Hotline at 513-3630513 or visit us online at www.cps-k12.org.

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Carrie Bishop

A HEART PRESCHOOL for

Kids love, need early childhood education Kids love preschool. They just do. Ask them. Wyatt says he likes preschool because he gets to spray the mist bottle. Abby likes school too because she gets to play with puppets. And Hunter, well he likes preschool because he gets to see Abby.

“Children have a lot of fun while at school. They don’t realize when they are playing games or playing with friends they are learning new skills. They are learning math skills or socialization skills. It’s a fun time to learn,” said Jean Walker, director of The Willow Tree House preschool.

It may be hard for parents to believe, especially first-time parents, but many 32 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

two-, three- and four-year-old tots are school ready. It can be surprising, in a good way.

Preschool may surprise you Preschool teachers will often say parents are most surprised at the independence their children display at school. Parents are struck at the eagerness their children show as they enter school each day and at the sadness they can feel when they have to leave.

Pat Elder, head of school at Montessori Academy of Cincinnati, says parents who observe their children through the school’s one-way mirrors tend to

notice their children doing things they don’t see at home, like picking up after themselves. And the kids are excited to have this independence and delighted to be learning.

“I think parents are awed by the independence of their children. They are awed by the independent workings of our classroom,” she said.

Parents should foster this bubbling affection toward learning at a time when their children are growing and building their brains every day, and preschool is an obvious avenue for doing just that.

Deborah Bradshaw, director of early childhood education for Cincinnati Public Schools, looks at the preschool experience from another angle. “I think the biggest surprise comes to parents who don’t put their children in early childhood programs,” she said.

She says data the school district has collected over the past ten years shows clear correlations between preschool attendance and proficiencies as far down the road as third grade, a time of high stakes testing.

Preschool preps kids for the new kindergarten Kindergarten is of course the first immediate step beyond preschool and it ain’t like it used to be. It isn’t even what it used to be for some older siblings thanks to higher standards kids must meet. Perhaps preschool is the new old kindergarten.

With that in mind, the preschool age is an important time to lay the foundation for academic concepts and build social skills. Having some classroom experience can be a tremendous boost to a child’s early academic career.

They will enter kindergarten with a basic knowledge of numbers, letters and shapes, and likely have better pre-reading and basic math skills than children who have not been in a preschool program. They will also have learned how to get along with other children and know how to behave in a classroom setting.

“If you look at the difference between children who are not in groups and children who are, you see they learn a lot from one another. They learn how to share, how to compromise,” Walker said.

A quality choice Regardless of where children attend preschool, if placed in a nurturing, purposeful environment, they will be setting forth on the right academic foot.

Bradshaw offers words of advice: “It’s important for parents to choose a good quality program for their child. The more prepared a child is to enter a school, the more success the child will experience as he or she goes through school...

The more confident we can make children, the more willing they are to make mistakes and get back up and going.”

That is something even preschoolers know is important.

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[ cincinnati parent] 33

commentary and parenting

[ ask the teacher ]

Ask the Teacher Verbal bullying, gifted students and reading encouragement Deb Krupowicz

Q:

Is there such a thing as verbal bullying? My daughter has not been physically bullied at school, but many of the comments that are directed at her from other girls are very hurtful. What can I do to help her?

A:

Teasing – an unacceptable but inevitable part of childhood – becomes bullying when it intimidates someone and invokes fear.

Begin by reassuring your daughter that no one under any circumstances has the right to use words to intimidate anyone at any time. Model strength and confidence by keeping your own anxiety and anger in check. Talk through exactly when and where this bullying is occurring. Help your daughter develop some strategies to avoid it such as taking different routes to school or to class and always being with someone else. Adjusting the time of coming and going by just a few minutes may be enough to allow your daughter to avoid these bullies all together.

Encourage your daughter to meet with the school counselor for additional ways to become stronger and more assertive when she is faced with this type of verbal abuse. The counselor should be able to help your daughter feel empowered when confronted by others trying to intimidate her. You are also obligated to report this bullying to school authorities. They must be aware of what is happening if they are to protect your daughter (and others who are probably being treated similarly) from this verbal bullying before it escalates to physical bullying. Your daughter will likely say that she doesn’t want you to talk to anyone about this, for fear she will be targeted for more bullying. Do not be dissuaded. The authorities are in the position to keep a watchful eye on your daughter and to take steps to protect her.

Should you notice changes in your daughter’s sleeping or eating patterns that you believe may be related to her concerns about how she is being treated, consider consulting a child psychologist.

Q:

Our son has been identified as gifted. As parents, we’re not sure exactly the best way to support him academically and socially. Is it always necessary for gifted kids to skip a grade to be mentally challenged? We would like him to socialize with kids his own age.

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A:

Meeting the needs of gifted children occurs in a variety of ways.

Grade skipping is something that is used only in very rare circumstances. Some schools offer self-contained gifted classes where all the students in the class have been identified as gifted. The curriculum is generally enriched, accelerated and compacted. Another option a school may offer is a cluster group program. Students are placed in small groups with others of similar ability and provided with a curriculum that meets their academic need.

Schools may offer pull-out programs that meet advanced academic need with a teacher outside of the classroom, usually in weekly or bi-weekly meetings. In some schools students can attend a particular part of the day with a class of older students, but still spend much of the day with age-peers. Regardless, encourage socialization with academic peers as well as with his age peers from the neighborhood, church or social groups, or sports teams.

Q:

Everything that I see stresses how important reading is to school success. I am not a teacher! How do I help my daughter become a good reader?

A:

Reading well is, indeed, the key to academic success. You can impact that by having great reading materials available and by demonstrating that reading is a personal priority. Options for reading materials for kids extend well beyond textbooks and classic literature to include high- interest magazines, plays on every topic imaginable, interactive websites, atlases and maps, tables and charts, even graphic novels. The more tools and strategies that children develop through exposure to a wide variety of textual formats, the more effective they will become as readers. There are many ways you can show your child how much you value reading. Establish a daily family reading time: create a special atmosphere that makes this time something everyone looks forward to. Help your children find books about topics of special interest to them. Couple trips to the library with a stop for hot chocolate to preview your selections. Buddy read books with your children, alternating who reads aloud. Reluctant readers can often be enticed by audiobooks. Stick with unabridged books and provide your child a hard copy of the book with which to follow along.

Ask the Teacher is written by Deb Krupowicz, a mother of four and current teacher. Deb holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and has over twenty years of experience teaching preschool, elementary and middle school students. Please send your questions to her at asktheteacher@cincinnatiparent.com.

[ pete gilbert...stay-at-home dad ]

commentary and parenting

How to Survive a Restaurant Meal With Your Kids True confessions of stay-at-home dad Pete Gilbert Attempting a sit-down restaurant meal with small children in tow is a decision parents should not enter into lightly. For your best chances at a successful outcome, try these “from the trenches” tips.

4pm? Parents. Parents with their kids beating the regular dinner rush by a couple of hours.

1. Appetizers. Apps are cheap and shareable. An appetizer should get everyone off of the hangry (hungry/angry) cliff.

6. Go somewhere kid-friendly. Choose a restaurant that’s loud and the servers are used to dealing with kids. If you see white table cloths and hear classical music, slowly back away from the host stand and find a different restaurant.

2. More apps. The other kind of apps. Put your phone on airplane mode and hand it over. Be that parent. Who cares if other people in the restaurant judge you? Your kids are now occupied—you are doing everyone in the restaurant a favor.

7. Give in a little. If your kids drink water or milk at home for lunch, let them have Sprite or lemonade. Splurge for the $1.00 cup of ice cream for dessert. That should keep them occupied for a while so you can finish off your meal.

3. Be a unified food front. Don't let the server trick you into ordering your kids’ food before the grown-ups. All that happens is they finish before you start and you don't get to enjoy any of your meal.

8. Don't lollygag. Be decisive when it is time to order your food. Kids can only behave for so long at a restaurant before they totally lose it. Don't spend 15 minutes deciding whether you want the chicken sandwich or a burger. Just pick one. I guarantee either one will taste better than the meal you have to box up and reheat because you took too long making up your mind.

4. Go to the restaurant when your kids are well-rested. Don't try to squeeze in a restaurant lunch right before nap time. You are just setting yourself up for failure.

5. Visit during off-peak hours. You know what type of people are in a restaurant at

Happy Parenting!

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[ cincinnati parent] 35

resources

[ school listings ]

education + childcare GUIDE Child Care & Preschool Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church Preschool Language and Literacy, Math and Science, Art and Dramatic Play, Bible Time, Outdoor or Gross Motor Play, Lunch Bunch option available from noon-1:00. Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church is opening a Christian based preschool that combines a strong academic curriculum with Christian values. Visit our website or call for a tour! One, two and three day classes available 9:00 am to noon. 5125 Drake Road, Cincinnati, OH 45243, Contact: Jennifer Hock, Director, Phone: 513-561-4220, Email: jhock@armstrongchapel.org, www. armstrongpreschool.org, Ages: 2 1/2 - 4 year olds

The Campus at Kids First Brand new and beautiful, The Campus (at the worldfamous Kids First Sports Center) gives your child an academic edge AND daily physical education. Our carefully selected and loving degreed teachers utilize a relevance-based curriculum combined with childdirected play and rigorous physical activity to make learning FUN and start each child on their journey to becoming a life-long learner. Call today to schedule your enrollment tour and ask about our grand opening specials! 7900 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249, Contact: Joanie Metzger Weghorst, Phone: (513) 629-KIDS, Email: info@theCampusKF.com, www.theCampusKF.com, Grades: 6 weeks thru Pre-K

Creative Tots Preschool Creative Tots has specialized in the private education of Toddler, Preschool and Pre-K children for 20 years. Our research-based curriculum provides age-appropriate, high-quality academics designed to exceed Ohio Academic Content Standards; which assures accountability for educational objectives in Ohio. Our modernized curriculum is rich in opportunities to use creativity, solve problems, use language, develop new vocabulary and reading skills, while engaging in intellectual activities. For more information please contact the director and owner, Emilie Parry. Phone: 513-770-6776. www.creativetotsmason.com. Programs: Toddler 18 months - 3 years; Early 3’s 2 1/2 -3 years; Preschool 3 - 4 years; Pre-K 4-5 years. Enrichment Programs: Spanish, Music, Art, Yoga and Science. M-F 9-11:30 or 12-2:30.

First Step Co-Operative Preschool Through cooperative curriculum planning and direct participation in classroom activities, parents help to customize and tailor the program to the needs and interests of their children. By playing an active role in your child’s early development and preschool education, we prepare our children for kindergarten and beyond. 4309 Cooper Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242, Contact: Jill Staggs Co-Director, Phone: (513) 400-3727, Email: fscops71@gmail. com, www.firststeppreschool.org, Grades: We have 2 different classes. The Early Childhood Development Cless (ECD) is for children ages 1-3. The Pre-Kindergarten class is for children ages 3-5. Enrollment: You can enroll at any time during the school year (September-May) Tuition is $60/year for each child, or $30/semester. Classes meet Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9-11:30 a.m.

Kinder Garden School Chai Tots Early Childhood Center Academic excellence via unique blend of Montessori method and traditional Jewish education. Chai Tots teaches children the culture and traditions of Judaism, while developing their creativity skills and promoting independence. Flexible schedule. Before and Aftercare.

7587 Central Parke Blvd., Mason, OH 45040, (513)234-0600, www.chaitots.com, Grades: 6 weeks - 6 years, Enrollment: 40

Together with interaction of child, staff & family, we develop the complete child. We provide formative encouragement and knowledge with hands-on staff taking a personal interest in family and holistic education decisions for the child.

Devoted to growing a child’s wish to flourish and learn by cultivating curiosity and problem-solving proficiency.

Enlightenment Is Our Mission. Blue Ash& West Chester locations. BA: 513-791-4300, WC: 513-874-3100, www.kindergardenschool.com, Grades: 6 weeks – K

Little Bud Preschool The Compass School Ages 6 weeks-6 years plus after school & summer camp up to age 12. Offering outstanding Reggio-Inspired full and part-time Infant, Toddler, Two’s, and Preschool programs, as well as Kindergarten, After School, and Summer Camp for school-age children. Degreed teachers, extensive parent communication, and welcoming family environment. Setting the standard in early care and education. Call today for your personal tour. 9370 Waterstone Blvd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, Contact: Laura Carr, Phone: 513-683-8833, Email: CompassLC@yahoo.com, www.TheCompassSchool.com 36 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

Little Bud is a star rated program with highly qualified teachers and aides. Watch your child bloom in our spacious classrooms and wonderful facility. We believe that children need to explore, investigate, manipulate to learn their world. Choose from 2, 3, or 4 day AM sessions with affordable rates. Located in the Northgate area. 3301 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45251, Contact: Teresa Sedam, Phone: 513-385-8404, Email: tsedam@christ-lcms. org, www.christ-lcms.org, Grades: Ages 3 - PreK, Enrollment: Enroll your child today for Fall. Our 3’s class is Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Our 4’s class is Mon/Wed/Friday or Tues./Thurs. Our PreK class is Mon.Thursday or Mon/Wed./ Thurs.

Pleasant Preparatory Preschool PPP offers a learning environment rich in educational activities that balance academic readiness with imagination, play and free exploration. We encourage our parents to be actively involved in their child’s early childhood education. We offer half day programs for ages 2.5 through PreK, and will work with you and your child through the potty training process if necessary. Classes have low student teacher ratios which allow our highly experienced and degreed teachers to work with each student both individually and as part of a group. Contact us today for your personal tour. 3401 Hamilton Mason Rd, Hamilton, OH 45011. Contact: Brenda Roberts, Administrator.

Phone: 513-893-3222. Email: pleasantpreppreschool@gmail. com. www.pleasantpreppreschool.org

Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Nursery School Professionally qualified teachers provide active, expressive, child-centered learning experiences at this 3-star award-winning program. Choose 2, 3, 4, or 5 day AM or PM sessions. Excellent ratios, degreed teachers and spacious, sunny, classrooms await your preschooler.

Parent and child classes also available for babies and toddlers. 5950 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45213, (513)631-0170, www.prpc.org, Grades: 2 1/2 - 5 years, Parent/Child classes birth to 32 months, Enrollment: 65

The Willow Tree House Daycare & Preschool The Willow Tree House is centrally located just 5 minutes from downtown and Good Sam Hospital. We are also within walking distance of U.C, and University Hospital.

Our teachers goal is to have happy children and instill a life long love of learning. 2651 Highland Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219. Contact: Jean Walker. Phone: 513-281-8733. Email: willowtreehouse@aol.com. thewillowtreehouse.com. Grades: Serving ages 6 wks–5 years in our Preschool Program

Youthland Academy Youthland Academy provides award winning daycare services to the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area.

9352 Main St. Ste.2, Cincinnati, OH 45242, Contact: Megan Schmitt, Phone: (513) 772-5888, Email: megan@ylacorp.com youthlandacademy.com, Grades: Six weeks through twelve years

Montessori

Central Montessori Academy We invite you to call and schedule a tour to come see our new Natural Playground and Outdoor Learning Environment, as well as our redesigned Elementary classrooms! For parents of Toddlers and Preschoolers, be sure to ask about our new “Montessori My Way” flexible early childhood programs designed for today’s familyfriendly work schedules. 1904 Springdale Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231, Contact: Laura Saylor, Phone: 513-742-5800, Email: info@centralmontessoriacademy.com, www. centralmontessoriacademy.com, Grades: Infancy-6th Grade, Enrollment: 110

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School An authentic Montessori school program resting on 6.5 acres. Extraordinary and rigorous hands-on learning inside and outside of the classrooms creating life long learners, critical thinkers and passionate leaders.

927 O’Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140, Contact: Meg Thomas, Head of School, Phone: 513-683-4757, Email: thomas@cmhschool, www.cmhschool.com, Grades: Preschool through Sixth grade, Enrollment: 150

Country Hills Montessori Providing programs for 3 to K. Small, individualized classes with low student-teacher ratios, under the guidance of Montessori certified teachers, in an inter-generational environment. Multiple Locations in Eastgate, Oakley, Harrison and West Chester Ohio and in Ft. Thomas KY. Visit chmschools.com for all location addresses & phones. 4400 Glen Este Withamsville, Cincinnati, OH 45236, Contact: Susan Schreiber, Owner, Phone: 513-752-1066, Email: sschreiberchm@yahoo.com, www.chmschools.com/, Grades: 3 - K

Montessori Academy of Cincinnati Celebrating 25 years of offering Montessori education in the Greater Cincinnati area. Providing a supportive learning environment, the school focuses on individualized education, through which students are offered opportunities for self-paced acceleration.

Experienced, degreed teachers are committed to the success of each student. Self-motivation and an excitement about learning are encouraged. 7.5 acre campus! State Chartered. AMS affiliated. Extended care available. 8293 Duke Boulevard, Mason, OH, 45040, Contact: Pat Elder, Head of School, Phone Number:

513-398-7773, Fax Number: 513-398-1031, www. montacademy.org, Ages/Grades: 18 months through grade 8, Enrollment: 250

The New School Montessori Founded on Montessori principles in 1970, our wooded playgrounds, home-cooked meals and family-like setting in North Avondale’s Mitchell Mansion provide a stimulating and nurturing environment for learning. We value diversity and create a caring and supportive community. Our graduates excel academically, but more importantly are empowered as citizens of our global community. 3 Burton Woods Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45229, (513)281-7999, www.thenewschool.cc, 3 years through 6th Grade, Enrollment: 150

Non-Public

size, individual attention, outstanding high school preparation. 3660 Vineyard Place, Cincinnati, OH 45226, (513)871-7218, www.stursulavilla.org, Preschool – 8th grade, Enrollment: 496

SPECIAL NEEDS Springer School and Center For more than 40 years, Springer School and Center has empowered students with learning disabilities to lead successful lives. Springer offers a day school for students ages 6 - 14 and outreach programs and learning disability resources for students, parents and teachers in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Springer Experience.

Success Changes Everything. 2121 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45208, Phone: (513)871-6080, www. springer-ld.org, Grades: 1st - 8th grade, Enrollment: 200

Cincinnati Country Day School CCDS is an independent, co-educational school dedicated to educational excellence serving students 18 months through Grade 12. The School is nationally recognized for its innovative, integrated laptop computer program. Extended day and tuition assistance is available. 6905 Given Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45243, Phone: (513)979-0220, www.countryday.net, Grades: 18 months–12th grade, Enrollment: 800

St. Ursula Villa Academic excellence in the Ursuline tradition for boys and girls in preschool through 8th grade. Whole-child development, family atmosphere, dedicated faculty, Montessori or Traditional preschool options, small class

TUTORING

Langsford Learning Acceleration Centers Langsford is a private educational organization dedicated to developing life-long, independent learners. Since 2001, we have been teaching reading, spelling, comprehension, and writing in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and encouragement.Our successful model identifies where the breakdown in the reading and writing process is occurring and then we apply targeted instruction using research validated approaches. 9402 Towne Square Ave. Ste B, Cincinnati, OH 45242, Contact: Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Phone: 513-531-7400, www.WeTeachReading.com, Grades: All ages

MARCH 2013

[ cincinnati parent] 37

how to help your struggling child When to consider seeking professional mental health support Dr. Elana Harris and Susan Jacobs Jablow

All kids have good days and bad days, but when negative emotions or behaviors interfere with everyday life, there may be a more serious issue. When parents have concerns about their child’s emotions and behaviors, they should first talk to the child to see what is wrong.

“Ask them how they are,” said Dr. William Hansen, a psychologist with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). “Say, ‘I’ve noticed this, is something going on? Are there things you are worried about?’ Talk about it, get their reactions.”

When parents should be concerned If talking it through isn’t enough, and the child’s symptoms are disrupting family life or interfering with the child’s functioning, it may be time to seek help from a professional. Indications of a problem include: the inability to have fun, low mood, excessive worries, changes in energy level, isolation from peers, failing grades and difficulty eating or sleeping. Urgent problems, such as behavior that is dangerous to self or others, should be addressed by a visit to the emergency room.

At the front lines of where to seek help for non-urgent matters, is the pediatrician who can recognize when behavior is out of the norm and can also determine when physical complaints, such as headaches, stomachaches or sleep disturbances, are a medical concern or related to anxiety or depression. CCHMC has a Psychiatric Intake Response Center that can be reached at 513-636-4124 to which pediatricians may call or fax in a referral, or families may call to set up an appointment with a psychiatrist, an advance practice nurse or a psychiatric social worker.

38 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

There are many different types of professionals in the mental health field.

Psychiatrists hold a medical license and have advanced training in formulating a diagnosis, developing a comprehensive treatment plan, prescribing medication and providing psychotherapy. Psychologists hold doctorate level degrees and are trained to provide various forms of individual therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Social workers may provide individual or family therapy.

Michelle Balestra, Associate Director of the Brain Balance Center of Cincinnati, says “Typically parents come to us with academic, social and/or behavioral concerns.” The Brain Balance Center offers academic support, sensory-motor activities and nutritional guidance for a variety of disorders.

As with the trial and error approach to finding the right medication at the right dosage, it is okay if families meet with more than one therapist before deciding on the best match. “There has to be a good fit between provider and parents and child,” said Hansen. “It’s most helpful if everyone feels comfortable.”

What to expect from therapy The first meeting with the clinician is termed a diagnostic evaluation, and allows the clinician to gather information from a variety of sources, including the child’s parents, teachers and pediatrician, to determine what the problems are and outline a treatment plan.

Different clinicians may come up with different diagnostic labels. What matters most is that the child receives treatment that has been shown through research to be effective. For example, a child with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has

prescribing psychiatric medications to children. Risks and benefits need to be weighed and the decision to go forward is a collaborative decision between psychiatrist, patient and family.”

worried thoughts or pictures that get stuck in his mind and develops rituals to feel right or to neutralize obsessions. Ben (not his real name), a 15-year-old boy from southwestern Ohio, has been diagnosed with OCD by his psychiatrist at CCHMC. In the past, it took him three hours to complete his evening bathroom routine, and his hands were chapped from frequent washing. Ben is now making progress with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention that teaches him to face his fears and manage his symptoms through gradual exposure.

How treatment can help

Pros and cons of medication

Even if parents are unsure of the severity of a problem, Karacostas notes, it does not hurt to consult with a specialist. “No one will fault them for looking into this,” he said. “If anything, they will get reassurance.”

Pediatricians may feel comfortable treating some conditions, such as ADHD, with stimulant medications while monitoring for side effects related to weight, growth, heart rate and blood pressure. One may need patience to wait for an appointment with a child psychiatrist as there is a national shortage in this specialty and the average waiting time for an appointment is one to three months. Dr. Velissarios Karacostas is a psychiatrist in private practice in Cincinnati. He often works in tandem with pediatricians and psychologists to provide treatment to children. In some cases, he is consulted solely about medication management, but other times he also provides therapy.

Karacostas stressed that every situation is different. Although two children have the same diagnosis, they may need different medications and therapy, and for different lengths of time. Even when a psychiatrist is involved in a child’s treatment, medications are not always prescribed.

Dr. Harris adds: “Every professional has a personal style. I tend to be cautious in

Most importantly, parents should take their child’s concerns seriously, and not dismiss them as unimportant.

While some conditions require long-term treatment, therapy and/or medication are often quite effective in helping children to manage their disorders and to gradually resume normal activities. Some conditions improve as children mature, and the frequency of therapy may change as children learn skills to cope. Untreated mental health issues can be very distressing to children and families, but help is available to treat children’s conditions and support their families.

Dr. Elana Harris is a Child Psychiatrist who has been an Assistant Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for the past five years. Susan Jacobs Jablow is a free-lance writer whose articles have appeared in more than a dozen publications.

MARCH 2013

[ cincinnati parent] 39

LUCKY Sarah McCosham

DOGS

Finding the right family pet Humane Society estimates that families will spend an average of $249 annually on vet bills.

Furthermore, food, grooming and boarding are all expenses that can add to the monthly budget. “Realistically evaluate how much time, money and energy you’re able to give the dog,” says Dominique Oppenheimer, a personal dog trainer and owner of Dominique’s All Breed Dog Training in Cincinnati. Between grooming, vet bills and obedience classes, the cost of owning a dog can get expensive she says.

Approximately 40% of American households have at least one dog, according to the Humane Society – and as your kids get older, this is a topic that will most likely come up in your family. In fact, this subject recently made national news, as one Boston dad told his daughters they could get a puppy if they received one million “Likes” on Facebook.

(After just 24 hours, the father had started his search for the newest family member.)

This is a humorous story, but the truth is, adopting a furry friend is a major decision.

Below are some of the basics of dog ownership – plus special points to consider when mixing canines and kids.

The basics Before adding a new canine family member to the mix, parents should do their research and understand what it means to become a pet parent, says Kelly Burke, Development Coordinator at the SPCA Cincinnati. In addition to adoption fees, which can range from $100 at a shelter to upward of $300 at a breeder, the 40 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

If you’re thinking of adopting a shelter dog, you’ll probably see a lot of “mixed” breeds, which can be confusing. Burke explains that mixed breeds often exhibit all the best attributes of the different breeds they are mixed with, and tend to have less health issues than purebreds.

Lastly, when adopting your dog, make sure it will have a place in your household now and in the future. Jacob Wasserman, a veterinary student at The Ohio State University, adds that “knowing that a dog can be a part of your family for 12 to 15 years, and not just in the present picture, is a good way of looking at it.”

Dogs and kids together If you have children, you should plan on doing some sort of training with your new dog, regardless of if it’s a puppy or adult, says Dr. Jennifer Jaax, owner of Pleasant Ridge Pet Hospital. “Puppies require a lot of maintenance initially and can be difficult to train when there are small children because they require a high level of attention,” she says. For this reason, Dr. Jaax believes that adult dogs can be a great choice for families. “You’ll already know their maximum size, energy level and overall personality from the start – plus, a lot of adult dogs at shelters are already house trained.”

Whichever route you take, be sure to let the dog interact with your family before taking it home.

“It’s important to spend a little time with the dog prior to committing as an adoptive family,” says Dr. Jaax, who recommends families visit the potential dog at least twice before adopting.

Fostering a dog is also a great way of getting acclimated to living with a four-legged friend, says Carolyn Evans, animal activist and owner of Cincinnati’s PhoDographer studio. After experiencing the loss of her dogs when her sons were little, Evans decided to foster a stray as a “test run” to see if it was a good match. Her family fell in love with the dog during that time, and ended up adopting Abby into the family. Not long after, the Evans’s adopted Captain Jack, a puppy, as the kids were already used to the responsibilities of dog ownership.

Man (and child’s) best friend No matter how old your kids are, you’ll probably end up being responsible for the animal’s care, too. However, depending on your kids’ ages, responsibilities such as feeding and walks can, and should, be doled out.

In addition to teaching kids about responsibility, Dr. Jaax believes that dogs can help children understand compassion: “Dogs are great friends and provide a level of unconditional love that I think is important in everybody’s life!”

This has proved true for Evans, who says she’s enjoyed watching her boys grow up with their dogs. “There are lots of benefits to having a family dog, but nothing compares to the unconditional love and companionship a dog gives. For kids, having a pet is a great way to teach them about responsibility, love and compassion.”

*Photo by Carolyn Evans, PhoDographer.com

MARCH 2013

[ cincinnati parent] 41

calendar fri | 01

Family Cooking - RARRR Dinosaurs on the Prowl Times: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Price: $40/adult + child, $25/additional child Phone: (513) 563-6663 Location: Gorman Heritage Farm, Cincinnati gormanfarm.org Put the fun back into food with your kids.

Bring your child for an evening of making Dinosaur Eggs! We’ll be meeting some of our chickens, collecting some eggs, and picking some greens from our gardens to use as the “nest.” So come on out to the Farm for a fun hands-on class that will satisfy your hunger pangs. Ages: This class is best suited for children 5-12 years old.

FOTOKids & FOTOTeens Youth Astronomy Club Times: 7:00 PM Phone: 513-321-5186 Location: Cincinnati Observatory Center, Cincinnati www.cincinnatiobservatory.org A benefit of Family Memberships and above. For kids 6-9 and 10-15+ years of age (and their parents!) who have a deeper interest in astronomy and are available to attend regular monthly evening meetings.

sat | 02

All About Deaf Kids Fair Times: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM Price: FREE Phone: 513-307-8100 text.t & voice Location: Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati www.deafinstitute.org For families with Deaf/Hard of Hearing members: Deaf Storytellers, games and info on services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing. All presented in American Sign Language and English. Light lunch provided. Please bring non-perishable food items for Manna Food Pantry.

Zak Morgan: live at blue manatee!

Times: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Price: FREE Phone: 513-731-2665 42 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

Location: Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, Cincinnati www.bluemanateebooks.com Grammy-nominee Zak Morgan will appear at blue manatee to sing of beasts, treats, bullfrogs, and blooms!

Bring your voice and dancing shoes for this free, family-friendly concert!

Bari Koral Phone: (513) 421-3888 Location: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati www.cincyplay.com Children are encouraged to pop like popcorn, surf the waves and jam with the music at Bari Koral’s interactive family concerts. With catchy, pop-friendly tunes, she’s gained thousands of young (and not so young) fans. Her album Rock and Roll Garden won the National Parenting Publications Gold Award and Parents’ Choice Award and was selected as a top 10 kids’ album of the year by Time Out Kids.

sun | 03 Bunny Bliss

Times: 1:00 PM Price: $25.00 Phone: 513.271.2793 Location: Cheers to Art, Madeira www.cheerstoart.com Can you say EASTER BUNNY!! Open to ALL AGES ... great one to hang in your house for the holidays!!

Bright Ideas: Pour Painting Times: 3:30 PM Price: $5 per child, per session for Members; $7 per child, per session for non-Members. Museum admission is not included in the workshop fee Phone: (513) 287-7021 Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati www.cincymuseum.org/ Experiment with a new style of painting pioneered by contemporary artist Holton Rower called “Pour Painting.”

Create a “three-dimensional” painting by pouring paint and discover a new way to paint without a paintbrush!

mon | 04

Make a Mess at the Manatee Occurring Each Monday Times: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Price: $5/child Phone: 513-731-2665 Location: Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, Cincinnati www.bluemanateebooks.com Join Ms. Kelli every Monday to enjoy this wonderful outlet for your child’s creative side. Have fun listening to a good book and participating in an artmaking activity with your child. PreRegistration Required. Ages 2-4.

tues | 05 Adoption STAR - Open House/Ribbon Cutting Times: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Price: Free Phone: 513-631-3900 Location: Adoption Star, Loveland www.adoptionstar.com Come see our new office space and meet the staff of Adoption STAR as well as other professionals that practice in the field of adoption. We will have food and drink as well as raffle prizes!

NATURE STORIES: SQUIRRELS Times: 11:00 AM Price: FREE Phone: (513) 521-7275 Location: Sharon Woods, Sharonville greatparks.org Come share a story with the naturalist and learn all about these bushy-tailed rodents.

03.13

weds | 06

CIncinnati Cyclones VS Florida Everblades Times: 7:30 PM Phone: (513) 421-4111 Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati www.cycloneshockey.com/ Come cheer on the Cyclones as they take on the Florida Everblades!

thurs | 07

Sunsets at the Center: Celebrating Cincinnati’s Jazz and Spring Traditions Times: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Price: $15/event or $60/full season ticket Phone: 513-497-2860 Location: Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Cincinnati www.cliftonculturalarts.org/sunsets.htm Spring is a time for rebirth and groovy growth.

Help us celebrate though the nuanced musical evolutions of one of Cincinnati’s favorite jazz bands, The Chris Comer Trio. Transition into the wild abandon of Dick Waller’s abstract expressionist work in a retrospective exhibit celebrating his life’s creative journey.

Sophisticated bites provided by Fresh Table; smart conversation provided by you.

Maple Sugaring Days for Scouts Times: 4:30 PM Price: Call 513-831-1711 for pricing.

Phone: 513-831-1711 Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford cincynature.org Scouts will take a guided hike, discover the Native American origins of sugaring, visit the Sugar House, tap a tree with a hand drill, help with sugaring and sample warm maple syrup right off the evaporator.

Takes place outdoors, regardless of weather. Hour long hikes begin at the Sugar House. Registration is required and 10 scouts minimum are needed to register.

fri | 08

Gymboree story and play time Times: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Price: $3 per child Phone: 513-731-2665

Location: Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, Cincinnati www.bluemanateebooks.com Our friends from Gymboree will make stories come alive with songs, movement activities, and parachute play! Preregistration Required. Activity for ages 1-3.

Culture Kids: Get Wired Times: 10:00 AM Price: $10 per pair Art Museum Members, $20 per pair non-members; ($3/$6 for each additional person). Reservations required.

Phone: 513-721-2787 Location: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati cincinnatiartmuseum.org Especially for ages 2–5. Feeling crazy, curly, and out of control? Come learn about out-of-this-world art made with found objects—including wire! Enjoy a tour with one of our specially trained docents, a snack, and hands-on art.

2013 Cincinnati Wine Festival Occurring Through Sat., March 9 Phone: 513-797-7900 Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati www.winefestival.com/ More than 700 wines from over 100 wineries are available to sample, while guests enjoy live music, delicious food and a silent auction.

The Grand Tastings are truly the centerpiece of the Cincinnati International Wine Festival.

New, rare, and exciting wines from around the world are available for tasting. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or an intrigued beginner, winemakers and winery representatives welcome you as they mix useful knowledge with exquisite samples of their art.

sat | 09

Celtic Lands Culture Fest Occurring Through Sun., March 10 Price: FREE with Museum Admission Phone: (513) 287-7021 Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati www.cincymuseum.org/ The 14th annual Celtic Lands Culture Fest offers an array of folklore and art from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Marvel at the fast and fancy footwork of traditional Celtic dancers, listen to Celtic folk tales told by skilled storytellers, enjoy music by local Celtic musicians and shop the vendors’ booths for authentic wares and baked goods.

Hansel and Gretel featuring the Tanglewood Marionettes Phone: (513) 421-3888 Location: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati www.cincyplay.com

Based on the timeless Brothers Grimm fairy tale and featuring melodies from the Humperdinck opera, this adaptation of the Hansel and Gretel story comes to vivid life with the colorful sets and beautifully hand-crafted puppets of the Tanglewood Marionettes. A giant book reveals each new scene as brother and sister use their wits to outsmart the threats of a wicked witch and find their way home.

Fire-n-Food at CNC’s Nature PlayScape Times: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Price: Members free; nonmembers pay daily admission Phone: 513-831-1711 Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford cincynature.org Families bring your lunch to cook over a fire in the Nature Playscape. Volunteers and staff will tend the fires and assist with cooking.

sun | 10

Sensory Sunday: Stories, Songs and Fun for You and Your Little One Times: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Price: FREE, RSVP online!

Phone: 513-703-3343 Location: Gymboree, Mason www.myshalomfamily.org Now Shalom Family has a great new way for parents and babies to get connected to one another and the Jewish community. Presenting private interactive playgroups that are FREE and feature the popular Miss Meliss, who keeps babies and their parents engaged and entertained with her unique brand of fun.

Play dates always include a snack. Dates and times are subject to change, please check the website for updates. Sensory Sunday is a program of Shalom Family, an initiative of The Mayerson Foundation. Open to families in the Jewish community with children two years and younger in which at least one parent is Jewish. Plus, two families will each win a $50 Target Gift Card at every event!

It’s a Maztah pizza-making Party just in time for Passover! The Mayerson JCC and Fusion Family invite interfaith families to Top Chef Tots, a hands on afternoon of culinary fun for the whole family. Move over plain old matzah… butter’s so boring; cream cheese is such a schnooze! It’s time to break with tradition and try something new. Make your own pizza, plus learn how to turn this dry crumbly cracker into a decadent dessert that’s sure to get raves. Also, enjoy an array of other fun Passover games and activities. Fusion Family is an initiative of The Mayerson Foundation for families in the Jewish Community with children 12 and under, and in which one parent is Jewish and the other is not, or in which one or both parents have converted to Judaism. Siblings and grandparents welcome!

mon | 11

Make a Mess at the Manatee Occurring Each Monday Times: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Price: $5/child Phone: 513-731-2665 Location: Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, Cincinnati www.bluemanateebooks.com Join Ms. Kelli every Monday to enjoy this wonderful outlet for your child’s creative side. Have fun listening to a good book and participating in an art-making activity with your child. Pre-Registration Required. Ages 2-4.

tues | 12

Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan Occurring Daily Through Sun., March 17 Price: Ticket Prices Vary Phone: (513) 621-2787 Location: Aronoff Center, Cincinnati cincinnati.broadway.com/

Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of Peter Pan! Discover the magic all over again of this two time Emmy award winning and two time Tony award nominated production. The New York Times says ‘Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make Peter Pan audiences mesmerized’. Peter Pan is filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed possible...Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan!

weds | 13

Half Pints Kids Club Occurring Each Wednesday Times: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Price: free Phone: 513-398-9358 Location: Whole Foods, Mason www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mason Each class engages young children to make healthy eating fun with crafts and other activities. For kids age 3-9.

thurs | 14

Thursday Art Play: The Royal Treatment Times: 10:30 AM Phone: (513) 345-8400 Location: Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati contemporaryartscenter.org/ Bring your imagination and some majestic manners. We’re turning everyone into knights and princesses! Learn about family crests and make a sturdy shield.

Create an imperial crown and regal cape.

It’s time to be Royalty for the day!

Pancakes in the Woods

Times: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Price: Suggested Donation: $6 adults; $4 children Phone: 513-321-8678 Location: California Woods Nature Preserve, Cincinnati www.cincinnatiparks.com Celebrate maple season! Enjoy pancakes and sausage grilled by celebrity chefs. Learn about the process and story of maple sugaring.

TOP CHEF TOTS

Times: 4:00 PM Price: RSVP to www.fusionnati. org by March 8th Location: Mayerson JCC, Cincinnati www.fusionnati.org MARCH 2013

[ cincinnati parent] 43

www. bluemanateebooks. com We never know what animals he’ll bring or what will happen when Thane Maynard, Director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, visits blue manatee, but we do guarantee that it will be fun!

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS PRESENTS DRAGONS Occurring Daily Through Sun., March 17 Phone: (513) 421-4111 Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati www.ringling.com Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents DRAGONS is a once in a millennium event that honors The Year of the Dragon. Circus performers from the farthest reaches of the earth have assembled for Ringling Bros.® Presents DRAGONS to showcase their astounding acts of bravery and astonishing athleticism. Ringling Bros.® Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson presides over this fantastical celebratory tournament of circus champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with authentic circus feats. DRAGONS is a never-before-seen blend of renowned spiritual and real life legends that can be found only at The Greatest Show On Earth®!

fri | 15

Classical Roots Times: 7:30 AM Price: $20 adult/$8 children Phone: 513.621.1919 Location: Music Hall, Cincinnati cincinnatisymphony.org A spectacular celebration of uplifting classical, jazz and choral works featuring the CSO Classical Roots Community Mass Choir!

Cincinnati Pops Conductor, John Morris Russell leads the 2013 Classical Roots concert celebrating African-American contributions to music with a look at America’s unsung heroes and their musical influences.

sat | 16

A visit from the Zoo’s Thane Maynard Times: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Price: FREE Phone: 513-731-2665 Location: Blue Manatee Chldren’s Bookstore, Cincinnati 44 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

E Sin Mi d’Afrika (Come Follow Me to Africa) Phone: 513-745-5600 Location: UC Blue Ash College, Cincinnati www.ucblueash.edu/performingarts/ artrageous.html The Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute takes you on a journey to experience Africa with their program, “E Sin Mi d’Afrika.”

The program presents African culture, language, geography, and history through authentic songs and folk stories, and features drumming and dances from the countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and South Africa.

Community Bake Day Times: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Phone: (513) 563-6663 Location: Gorman Heritage Farm, Cincinnati gormanfarm.org Come out to the farm with your bread dough and/or pizza crust/toppings, and use our Earthen Oven to bake up your own masterpiece. We’ll have it all fired up ready for you to use it. If you plan on bringing pizza crust/toppings please arrive as close to 11 as possible as those will need to bake first.

Bread bakers we’ll put your dough in after the pizzas are done since you don’t need as high of heat. After tasting the flaky crust you’ll know why they use to bake in earthen ovens.

sun | 17

Madcap Puppets presents Aladdin and Friends Times: 3:00 PM Price: $8; free for Family Memberships Phone: 513-721-ARTS Location: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/ Enchanting stories from around the world are bursting out of a giant-sized coat in this Madcap classic. Popping out from the pockets come hilarious puppets and actors who use the coat as a magical setting for their marvelous tales. With giant puppets and audience participation the stories presented are: Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (Middle-Eastern folk tale) and The Girl and the North Wind (Norwegian).

Mercy Health Heart Mini Marathon & Walk Price: Registration fees Location: Downtown, Cincinnati www.heart.org Celebrating its 36th running this year! The Heart Mini offers events for participants of all fitness levels. Events include: signature 15K Heart Mini Marathon, Heart ½ Marathon, 5K HeartRun, 5K & 10K Heart Walks, 2K Kids’ Mini MaraFun and 1K Steps for Stroke for heart and stroke survivors.

mon | 18

School Program Volunteer Orientation Session Times: 9:30 AM Price: FREE Phone: (513)831-1711 Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford www.cincynature.org Those interested in volunteering to lead school groups learn basics of school program.

tues | 19

World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown Price: $18-$98; plus fees.

Phone: 800-745-3000 Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati www.usbankarena.com Live filming and broadcast. Top professional wrestlers.Scheduled to appear: Big Show, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, 3MB, the Divas and Kane and Daniel Bryan.

weds | 20

KIDS JUNIOR PASTRY CHEF Occurring Each Wednesday Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Phone: (513) 398-9358 Location: Whole Foods, Mason wholefoodsmarket.com/mason Kids can be a Junior Pastry Chef with our Bakery Team!!! Decorate desserts and other treats that will sure put a smile on their faces.

Parents, feel free drop your kids off at our cafe and shop in leisure...This will coincide with our kids eat free day!

thurs | 21 SOG Story Time: The Easter Egg Times: 1:30 PM Phone: 513-321-0206 Location: Brazee Street Studios, Cincinnati www.brazeestreetstudios.com/

Bring your little one to create art in our glass art story time! This month, we’ll read “The Easter Egg” by Jan Brett, then your young artist will create a an Easter Egg sun catcher of their own design. Story followed by a fused glass art activity for your budding artist. Students will use our safe glass components to create a fused glass Easter Egg inspired by the story.

Thursday Art Play: Artful Architects Times: 10:30 AM Phone: (513) 345-8400 Location: Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati contemporaryartscenter.org/ Bring your building skills to experiment and play with space and structure. Use sponges to create a city print, build your own castle with foam blocks and create a house you can wear!

fri | 22

Prodigal Son Occurring Through Sat., March 23 Phone: 513.621.5282 Location: Aronoff Center, Cincinnati cballet.org Every once in awhile a story comes along that serves as a thankful reminder of unconditional love. Prodigal Son stands as an enduring testament to the redemptive grace of a father’s love and the power of forgiveness as a wayward son finds his way back home.

SMALL WONDERS Times: 10:00 AM Price: $5 Phone: (513) 521-7275 Location: Woodland Mound, Cincinnati greatparks.org Join us for a program that allows youngsters, ages 18 months to two years and their parents, to learn about the world around them. Interact with nature through hands-on activities, crafts and outdoor adventures to spark an early interest.

sat | 23

Cave Overnight Program Times: 7:00 PM Price: $28 per person Phone: (513) 287-7021 Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati www.cincymuseum.org/ CAVES!This popular overnight program is designed to provide visitors with an indepth study of the longest man made caves.

Enjoy the Museum of Natural History & Science after hours, explore our limestone and ice caves, meet some of our animals, play games and create art. You will get to enjoy the OMNIMAX® film Journey into Amazing Caves the next morning.

Chickens in your Backyard Class Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Price: $15 Phone: (513) 563-6663 Location: Gorman Heritage Farm, Cincinnati gormanfarm.org Becky Johnson, local backyard chicken advocate, and Mike Roman, Gorman Heritage Farm Program Manager, will speak about keeping chickens at urban or suburban homes.

They will cover: where to get chickens, how to shelter your chickens, how to feed and water your chickens, as well as giving us tips for success in raising chickens in your backyard.

Build a Bee House Times: 1:00 PM Price: Members $15; nonmembers $15 plus daily admission.

Phone: 513-831-1711 Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford www.cincynature.org Learn about the life cycles of native mason bees and leafcutter bees as you build your own bee house. This class will cover everything you’ll need to know including nest box placement, overwintering and seasonal care. All materials will be provided.

Suitable for adults or parent with child.

sun | 24

The Ballet Toybox Phone: 513.621.5282 Location: Aronoff Center, Cincinnati cballet.org Cincinnati Ballet digs into our own treasure chest of ballet and storybook classics to bring you delightful favorites that are sure to make you laugh, smile and get you moving.

At under an hour and just $20 a ticket, Ballet Toybox is a great way to introduce children to the joy of dance and experience the arts with the whole family. But hurry there’s only one opportunity to see it.

Sensory Sunday: Stories, Songs and Fun for You and Your Little One Times: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Price: FREE, RSVP online!

Phone: 513-703-3343 Location: Gymboree, Mason www.myshalomfamily.org Now Shalom Family has a great new way for parents and babies to get connected to one another and the Jewish community. Presenting private interactive playgroups that are FREE and feature the popular Miss Meliss, who keeps babies and their parents engaged and entertained with her unique brand of fun.

Play dates always include a snack. Dates and times are subject to change, please check

the website for updates. Sensory Sunday is a program of Shalom Family, an initiative of The Mayerson Foundation. Open to families in the Jewish community with children two years and younger in which at least one parent is Jewish. Plus, two families will each win a $50 Target Gift Card at every event!

mon | 25

SENSORY NIGHT Times: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Price: $8.00 per child. Parents are free!

Phone: Call 513.829.7867 Location: Pump It Up, West Chester www.pumpitupparty.com/oh/west-chester For Special Needs kids, and their siblings and families! Kids with autism and those on the autism spectrum love the active movement of jumping and climbing on our safe, giant inflatables. It also helps build large muscle groups and coordination. And it’s really FUN!

tues | 26

Thursday Art Play: Smash It Up!

Starry Night - Happy Birthday to Van Gogh

Times: 10:30 AM Phone: (513) 345-8400 Location: Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati contemporaryartscenter.org/ Art can get a little messy, but that’s usually half the fun! Your fingers will get a work out as we smash collages out of clay, newsprint and foam putty. Then we’ll do some smash painting with sponges and spatulas.

Times: 7:00 PM Price: $30.00 Phone: 513.271.2793 Location: Cheers to Art, Madeira www.cheerstoart.com Come help celebrate Van Gogh’s birthday by painting Starry Night!!

sun | 31 fri | 29

Cincinnati Cyclones VS Evansville Icemen Times: 7:30 PM Phone: (513) 421-4111 Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati www.cycloneshockey.com/ Come cheer on the Cyclones as they take on the Evansville Icemen! Plus, it’s Cincinnati’s Largest Fish Fry Night!

African Folktales Times: 11:00 AM Phone: 513-241-6550 Location: Covedale Center for Performing Arts, Cincinnati www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com Stories bring to life vastness of African landscape and variety of clever animals.

weds | 27

Wee Wednesday: Shape Up Times: 10:00 AM Price: FREE Phone: 513-721-2787 Location: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati cincinnatiartmuseum.org Perfect for ages 2–5. Circle around for four interactive story-times in our galleries.

Visit each stop with our docents and learn about what shapes make up our collection.

Wander at your own pace and stop in our Terrace Café for a special lunch discount.

sat | 30

Easter Celebration Times: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Phone: 513.281.4700 Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Cincinnati cincinnatizoo.org An egg-citing event for children that includes treat stations throughout the park, children’s activities, popular animal egg hunts and visits with the Easter Bunny. Back by popular demand, Search for the Golden Eggs! There will be four “Golden Eggs” hidden around the Zoo. If you find one turn it in at the Welcome Center for one of four great prizes!

Easter Extravaganza Times: 10:00 AM Phone: 513-248-3727 Location: Miami Township Civic Center, Milford www.miamitwpoh.gov Easter Bunny making special visit. Children invited to make crafts, decorate cookies, have faces painted and play games. There will be no egg hunt. Parents may bring cameras.

EASTER BRUNCH IN THE PARK Price: 16.25/adults, $8.00/children 2-12, plus tax, free/children under 24 months Phone: (513) 521-7275 Location: Winton Woods, Cincinnati greatparks.org Hop on over for Easter Brunch! Families can celebrate the holiday with the Easter bunny and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet with over 25 items. Reservations are required. 10 am, 12 pm & 2 pm

NOTE: At Cincinnati Parent, we work hard to ensure our calendar and guide information is accurate. Occasionally event specifics change after we go to press. Therefore, we encourage our readers to call locations or visit them on the web to verify information.

thurs | 28 LADIES NIGHT

Times: 7:00 PM Price: $30.00 Phone: 513.271.2793 Location: Cheers to Art, Madeira www.cheerstoart.com Come be the first to paint our NEW “Water Lily” for Ladies Night! Enjoy our Ladies Night specials - $3.00 house wines, 20% OFF all boutique items, light snacks and a drawing for a FREE session - Cheers!

MARCH 2013

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ongoing events Cincinnati Home & Garden Show and The Garden Market Occurring Daily (except Mon & Tue) Beginning Sat., March 2 Through Sun., March 10 Price: Tickets are $12 for adults, children 13 and under FREE. Phone: 513-797-7900 Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati cincinnatihomeandgardenshow.com/ Cincinnati’s largest and longest running spring showcase with an amazing array of the area’s newest and innovative home products and services. Large showcase of beautiful landscape & interior designs, specialty companies, remodeling specialists, manufacturers, retail stores and contractors.

Join us for any of these family programs within Highfield Discovery Garden. Learn all about nature’s unique packaging system from tiny insect eggs, to reptile and amphibian eggs, to eggs of birds. 10:45 am, 1 pm, 4 pm; Sun. 1 pm & 4 pm

Flight of the Butterflies Occurring Daily Through Sun., June 30 Price: $7.50, $6.50 ages 60 and up, $5.50 ages 3-12; members: $5.50, $4.50 ages 3-12 Phone: (513) 287-7021 Location: Omnimax Theater at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati www.cincymuseum.org/ Join hundreds of millions of real butterflies on a journey to a remote and secret hideaway.

March Family Open House: Mini-Sun Catchers Occurring Each Saturday Through March 30 Times: 10:00 AM Phone: 513-321-0206 Location: Brazee Street Studios, Cincinnati www.brazeestreetstudios.com Celebrate St. Patty’s Day, Easter, and Spring by creating glass art! Create a shamrock or an Easter egg or anything you can imagine on your one-of-a-kind fused glass sun catcher. Bring the whole family to create hanging 4x4” mini- sun catchers in this family-friendly Open House!

March Madness Occurring Daily (except Wed) Beginning Mon., March 4 Through Sun., March 31 Price: Admission starts at $9.95. FREE parking Phone: (513) 898-8000 Location: EnterTRAINment Junction, West Chester www.entertrainmentjunction.com We’ve gone Mad! Don’t miss all the crazy deals starting with over 50% off admission to the A-Maze-N FunHouse: The Greatest Funhouse on Earth! Hot Dogs are only 25 cents each all month long! Select items in Junction Hobbies & Toys marked down as much as 50%! The Celebration runs March 4th thru March 31st NOTE: Junction is closed Wednesdays thru March 20th.

“EGGSELLENT” Occurring Daily Beginning Weds., March 27 Through Sun., March 31 Price: $2/person Phone: (513) 521-7275 Location: Glenwood Gardens, Cincinnati greatparks.org 46 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

FAMILY JUMP NIGHT Occurring Each Thurs.

Times: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Price: $7.00 per child.

Phone: Call 513.829.7867 Location: Pump It Up, West Chester www.pumpitupparty.com/oh/west-chester Come play on our giant, soft, fun-filled interactive inflatables during our evening Pop-In Playtime! Share quality time and promote physical fitness while bouncing, sliding, climbing and jumping at Pump It Up. Enjoy spending time with your family, meeting other families and making new friends in a safe, clean, climate controlled environment. Call Us For Details!

FREE PLAY at Recreations Outlet Occurring Every Tue, Wed & Thu Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Phone: 513-831-7383 Location: Recreations Outlet, Milford www.recreationsoutlet.com Maybe it’s raining and they need to burn off some steam...

Or you want to beat the weather... Or they have just been “extra good” lately? Bring them into our temperature controlled showrooms for the best indoor play available. You will have fun watching them and they will sleep well tonight!

War Horse Occurring Daily (except Mon) Beginning Tues., March 26 Through Sun., April 7 Phone: (513) 721-3344 Location: Aronoff Center, Cincinnati cincinnati.broadway.com

03.13

> find more

ON THE WEB

at www.cincinnatiparent.com

As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times Occurring Daily Through Sun., April 14 Price: $15 member adults, $10 member children (ages 3-12), $23 non-member adults, $15 nonmember children, $20 ages 60 and up Phone: (513) 287-7021 Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati www.cincymuseum.org/ Features the most comprehensive collection of ancient artifacts from Israel ever organizedincluding one of the largest collections of the priceless 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls.

Enchanted Forest Spring Show Occurring Daily (except Mon) Through Sun., April 7 Times: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Price: Adults: $3.00, Seniors: $2.00, Children: $1.00 Phone: (513) 421-4086 Location: Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn Immerse your imagination in the colors and aromas of spring! The show room will be transformed into a rolling spring woodland, featuring early blooming hyacinths, tulips, violas and daffodils. Many blooming trees and shrubs will complement the colorful landscape and provide shelter for enchanting elf and fairy houses.

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marketplace PRESCRIPTION SERVICES

PAINTING

ENRICHMENT

SUMMER CAMP

MUSIC LESSONS

ENRICHMENT

MusicTime Studio

(Mt. Washington/Anderson) FREE Introductory Session Break through Australian PIANO Method Children, Teens, Adults, Seniors Play Pop, Blues & Classical (From Your Very First Lessons)

(513) 652-6267 / www.musictimestudio.net

CAR WASH MAID SERVICES

PARTY PLANNING

48 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

PUZZLE KEY

ONLINE EDUCATION

PRESCHOOL

REALTOR

CONTACT US

birthday party GUIDE birthday parties

birthday parties

birthday parties

birthday parties

MARCH 2013

[ cincinnati parent] 49

50 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

fun+wacky CINCINNATI PARENT

sun

mon

tues

weds

thurs

sat

1

2

on this day

how to celebrate: Wear your favorite blue shirt today!

CAK UND E D

4

national anthem day 10

11

napping day

how to celebrate: Move all of your clocks forward one hour

AY

PO

3

how to celebrate: Take a short nap after school today

5

6

on this day

oreo cookie day

the parachute was invented by Leonardo da Vinci

how to celebrate: Have some milk and oreos for a snack today

12

13

on this day

on this day

Girl Scouts founded the planet Uranus was in 1912 discovered by William Herschel in 1781

johnny appleseed day

chocolate 19 first day of caramel spring day

happy st. patrick’s day

how to celebrate: Use apple halves to stamp paint some apple prints

how to celebrate: Stop by your local bakery to pick up some sweets

chocolate covered raisin day happy easter 31

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fri

dress in blue day

SPONSORED BY:

daylight savings time

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on this day make up

pancakes were first made in New York City in 1882

your own holiday day!

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7

EAL DAY CE R

how to celebrate: Everyone who dislikes their name can call themselves “Joe” for a day!

Sources: familycrafts.about.com, brownielocks.com, holidayinsights.com, zanyholidays.com & thenibble.com

middle name pride day

9

on this day

absolutely 15 potato incredible kid day chip day how to celebrate:

the Barbie Doll was introduced in 1959

14

how to celebrate: Share a bag of your favorite chips with a friend during lunch

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children’s poetry day

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8

how to celebrate: Write your full name out on all of your homework today

how to celebrate: Try your hand at writing some poetry

national “joe” day

Dr. Seuss was born in 1904

something 28

on a

stick day

Parents: let your child know just how very AWESOME they are today and everyday

national

goof off day

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how to celebrate: Do anything and everything... except what you’re supposed to do today (but don’t get into trouble!)

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corn dog day toast day

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how to celebrate: Have some eggs and toast for breakfast

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on this day

IL PENC DAY

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Coca-Cola was invented in 1886

MARCH 2013

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