Hidden Gems: The Cincinnati Art Museum's Art Climb

The Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art Climb

The Cincinnati Art Museum is iconic. In addition to housing world-renowned works of art and hosting internationally recognized artists, the museum is also incredibly accessible and family friendly. Now, the Cincinnati Art Museum has taken its commitment to community engagement to the next level (literally) with the Art Climb.

The Art Climb is a stunning work of art that marries form and function through a nine-story staircase. It’s 164 carefully laid steps that connect the Cincinnati Art Museum to the community.

The Art Climb includes a staircase from the sidewalk at the intersection of Eden Park Drive and Gilbert Avenue and leading all the way up to the front museum entrance. This project connects the Cincinnati Art Museum to its neighbors in a dramatic and meaningful way. (A Cincinnati Metro bus stop is located at the bottom of the staircase.)

Along the way, there are lots of spots to sit and take everything in. The Cincinnati Art Museum took great care to preserve as much of the natural landscape as possible, and the result is a sprawling staircase that seems to rise out of the earth. At the top, there’s a pavilion where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Going forward, the Art Museum hopes the Art Climb can provide a space to incorporate outdoor art, opening its art to the community.

For the health concerned, there’s a guardrail at the center of the staircase, which makes it easy to keep a healthy distance as you’re climbing. And while the Cincinnati Art Museum is fully handicapaccessible, the staircase is not. (However, the top landing will be made ADA compliant with the addition of a ramp during the Art Museum’s next building phase. Additional accessible ramps are part of future phases on the museum grounds, as well.)

As southwest Ohio begins to reopen its doors and emerge from COVID-19, the Art Climb is a glorious reminder that we are all connected, and that our area is truly someplace special.

953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati cincinnatiartmuseum.org

4 Important Reasons for Well-child Visits

As a parent, you seek medical attention when your child is sick. But an appointment for a wellchild visit may not seem like an obvious need when your child seems to be healthy and growing at a normal rate. However, well-child visits, which are regularly scheduled doctor appointments based on the age of your child, are important to your child’s overall health.

Parents can work with a pediatrician to schedule their well-child visits. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), well-child appointments begin in the first week of a child’s birth and continue through adolescence at regularly scheduled intervals based on age. Each visit typically includes a physical, a growth and development assessment, an update on immunizations and time to allow parents to bring up any questions or concerns they may have. One important distinction to make is that sports physicals and well-child visits are different appointments and do not substitute for one another. “Well-child visits create an environment where parents, children and providers work together and build a relationship around a child’s health,” says Lisa Ziemnik, MD, program director at Dayton Children’s Hospital. “Seeing one another regularly helps providers to get a fuller, clearer picture of a child’s overall health background.”

According to the AAP, here are four reasons why well-child visits are important:

1) They allow parents, children and providers to be a team. Parents and children build a relationship with their pediatrician when they see one another regularly and work together to understand the child’s health.

2) They track growth and development. During these appointments, the pediatrician may cover a child’s eating, sleeping, learning, behavior patterns and more with parents. Pediatricians can track these patterns from appointment to appointment, making it easier to see if there are any issues. 3) They give parents time to address concerns. If there are any concerns parents may have with any of the growth and development topics above, this is a great time to get the provider’s perspective and input for how to proceed with future healthcare needs.

4) They prevent illness and future issues from occurring. Well-child appointments can include updated immunizations when needed to prevent illnesses. Also, parents once again have the ability to bring up their concerns and questions with the pediatrician.

If you have any questions about scheduling well-child visits or what to expect in the appointments, contact your pediatrician’s office and they can help answer your questions and get your regularly scheduled well-child visits on track.

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GETTING REAL ABOUT RACISM

One local family’s story of being black in America, plus encouragement for talking about race with your kids.

WORDS BY TESSA JUDGE // ILLUSTRATION BY LYDIA BIRD

L

et’s start with a story, in the words of Kelly Ouattara, wife of Ibrahim Ouattara, mother of 9-year-old Souleyman and 7-year-old Djeneba:

“My kids were about 3 and 4 years old and we were at a park. A little boy came up to Souleyman and said, ‘Why is your skin that color? You need to change that color. You need to be white.’ I didn’t want to panic my kids, so I quickly picked up all our belongings and headed to the car, but I knew I would be so full of regret if I didn’t say something to the mother. I quickly walked back with my kids. I was shaking, but I told her what her son said to my son before saying, ‘I do not blame your kid. It is not his fault. I blame you. You have taught him this. You need to do better.’ And then we quickly left the park. I remember never wanting my child to feel that again and vowing to teach my kids to be proud of who they are so they can face people like that.”

When Kelly and Ibrahim met one day out and about in Broad Ripple, they were engaged just three weeks later. “We didn’t get married for another year, but yes,” Kelly says, sheepishly. “We were engaged after three weeks.”

Fourteen years later, the couple is still happily married, now with a son and daughter in the mix. While their lives are full of love, laughs and lake days, the Ouattara’s also face the unique challenges that come along with being in a biracial marriage and family. Kelly is a white woman, born and raised in Indiana. Ibrahim is a black man, born and raised in the West African country of Mali.

“In many places when you’re an interracial couple, you get more attention,” Ibrahim says. “People’s eyes stay with you, and sometimes you can see them talking about you. It makes you feel like you don’t belong, like you’re not accepted. Also as an interracial couple, you never feel like you fully belong to either side, and you have to teach your kids that they will stand out.”

As a black man in America, Ibrahim experiences bias and racism. He recalls walking into a Chick-Fil-A with the family and feeling all eyes bore into him, while a girl fawned over their young daughter, gushing about how much she “loved mixed babies.” He tells story after story of being pulled over for no reason, only to be asked by the police officers where he’s going and why. He remembers going to a wedding and being stuck in a conversation with a white man who insisted on telling him about every black person he’d ever met. This seems to be the Black Man in America Starter Pack, and the Ouattara’s do their best to stay positive about it.

“We get angry about these things sometimes, but we also try to see the positive. Brownsburg is pretty diverse now, but we do have neighbors that we know are not used to it yet, based on what they post on Facebook. But they have been nothing but nice to us face-to-face, so we try to ignore what we see online and go by how they treat us,” Kelly explained. “We hope that we can be the people — especially my husband — who expose them to black and multiracial people in a positive way.”

If this seems like a large burden for a family to bear, it is. Luckily, every family has the opportunity to help lighten their load. Explaining what’s going on in the world to kids can feel really difficult for many parents, especially white parents. But what families are now understanding is that it’s never too early to start honest conversations about race in your home. Speaking from experience, Kelly and Ibrahim have some thoughts on how and when parents should teach their kids about race and racism in the United States:

KELLY: It’s a conversation that parents need to have with kids no matter what, sooner rather than later. I hear white parents say, “But I don’t want them to see color.” You can and you should see color. I don’t like when white parents think that they shouldn’t talk about racism with their kids because “that might teach them to think like that,” because you should also be living by example. If they’re seeing you treat people right every day, they’re going to do the same thing. But they need to know about race and racism because it’s there. It’s our world, so we have to start talking about it early. You can explain all sides! Kids understand good guys and bad guys. There are bad guys who treat people differently because of their skin color. But there are good guys who do the right thing, treat people fairly and try to help. Those are the people you should teach them to be.

IBRAHIM: Lead by example. Abide by the code of respect. Respect every creature and person you encounter, and respect yourself. The kids learn more from the way you live than by what you tell them. Every decision you make is going to affect someone somewhere, whether you like it or not. If you’re always talking badly about a specific group, your kids are going to naturally assume they are bad. So, be kind. As parents, it’s your responsibility to teach your kids, so you need to self-educate. If you’re not teaching yourself, what are you going to teach your kids? Learn more about the globe. Get out of where you’re from. See different worlds and cultures. Sign your kids up for student exchange programs so they can see other parts of the world. Show them that there is beauty, wealth, love everywhere. For example, Americans usually associate Africa with poverty, disease, war, illiteracy, nothing good. But that’s not what Africa is. I know that.

This is a ground-shifting moment in our country’s history. We have an obligation - especially those of us who have benefitted from the systemic racism that has for so long held black and brown communities back - to shift with it. It probably won’t be perfect and you definitely won’t have all the answers, but you can and should start the conversation about race with your kids today. In doing so, you’re helping to build a brighter and more just world for every race. A world in which a child isn’t confused by another child’s skin color on the playground. A world in which black mothers don’t worry about seeing their child’s death on the national news.

Because yes, all lives matter. But all lives don’t matter until Black Lives Matter.

Books to Help You Talk to Your Kids About Racism

To help encourage honest and productive conversations about race and racism in your own home, we’ve compiled a list of books that are worth diving into and learning from. From picture books to graphic novels to memoirs and personal essays, there’s a book on this list for every reading and maturity level.

BONUS: Support your community by seeing what's available for curbside pickup at your favorite library branch or local bookstore! And if your bookstore doesn't have it in stock, they can likely have it shipped directly to your house from their warehouse.

Picture Books/Early Readers

1. The Undefeated Written by Kwame Alexander; Illustrated Kadir Nelson

2. Black Is a Rainbow Color Written by Angela Joy; Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

3. Saturday Written and illustrated by Oge Mora

4. Hair Love Written by Matthew A. Cherry; Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

5. Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice Written by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, Ann Hazzard; Illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

6. My Hair is a Garden Written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

7. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation Written by Duncan Tonatiuh 8. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Written by Traci Sorell; Illustrated by Frané Lessac

9. Sulwe Written by Lupita Nyong'o; Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

10. Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up To Become Malcolm X Written by Ilyasah Shabazz; Illustrated by A.G. Ford

Chapter Books/Middle Grade

1. My Family Divided: One Girl's Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope Written by Diane Guerrero

2. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Written by Phillip Hoose

3. To Kill a Mockingbird Written by Harper Lee

4. Esperanza Rising Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan

5. What is Race? Who are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions Written by Claire L. Heuchan and Nikesh Shukla

6. Maniac Magee Written by Jerry Spinelli

7. Bud, Not Buddy Written by Christopher Paul Curtis

8. The Skin I'm In Written by Sharon G. Flake

9. Ghost Boys Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes

10. Miles Morales: Spider-Man Written by Jason Reynolds

For the complete list, including options for teens and adults, visit cincinnatiparent.com/booksabout-racism.

WORDS BY SARAH MCCOSHAM

Preventing Summer SLIDE How parents can keep the learning going all summer long.

As parents, we wear many hats. This spring, parents were asked to wear yet another hat: teacher. For many parents, distance learning was a struggle; we felt like our teaching efforts just weren’t enough. And now, we’re in the thick of summer, with the eponymous “summer slide” serving as a big, ominous elephant in the (class) room. We made it through spring homeschooling, and now summer is here, so… now what?

Wetalked with local educators to better understand the summer “slide” and get tips on how to continue learning over the summer… and it’s a lot easier than you might think!

Summer learning 101

Simply put, the ‘summer slide’ is a decline in academic abilities and skills that occurs over the summer when school isn't in session. The summer slide happens even in the most ‘typical’ of years -- but this year, this phenomenon is even more of a concern, since kids have effectively been out of school since mid-March. “Given this year’s predicament, it's important for parents to be proactive in continuing to keep their child’s skills fresh,” says Alyssa Hoffman, a third-grade math and science teacher at Maple Dale Elementary. However, Hoffman adds that summer learning doesn’t have to be super regimented. “Anything that is keeping students’ brains engaged and using critical thinking skills is great!” she says.

Chelsie Hoskins, a high school English teacher at Cincinnati Public Schools and adjunct faculty member at Miami University, adds that, in addition to academics, parents should also focus on their kids’ socialemotional well-being. “It is important to remember that children are dynamic entities that can absorb and retain skills and information with ease,” Hoskins says. “Promoting a caring, open environment in which students feel equipped to ask questions while staying safe is, in my opinion, the most important thing parents can focus on this summer.”

Here are a few ways parents can encourage summer learning:

Read every day

Reading is one of the easiest ways to keep kids engaged and learning through the summer. Most educators recommend at least 20 minutes a day of reading, and this can be anything from e-books and games to even recipes or instructions.

This year, local libraries are making summer reading easier than ever. From online resources to virtual reading challenges, local libraries are stepping up to keep kids reading all summer long. And be sure to make reading a family activity — the library’s programs are open to everyone from babies to adults!

“As much as is able, I would encourage parents to take part in activities with their students,” Hoskins says. “Learning isn't just for [kids], and the more [parents] take part with their students, the more fun [everyone] will have.”

Make math matter

Math is one of the skills that suffers most during summer break, so make sure to carve out time for this important subject every day. This spring, your kids’ teachers likely emailed lessons or sent home course packets, so take advantage of those resources! Your kids also have access to online resources from school, Hoffman says, adding that many of these websites stay active through the summer.

Simple things like counting money, measuring ingredients for cooking, and even LEGO building, all encourage math skills. “Learning over the summer doesn’t have to be complicated,” Hoffman says.

Explore the world from home

Technology gets a bad rap, but this spring, it literally provided kids a gateway to the world. From Cincinnati Museum Center’s STEM-spired Wonder Zone videos (think Bill Nye the Science Guy, but with CMC) to The Cincinnati Zoo’s “Home Safari” sessions on Facebook Live (videos of fan-favorites like the flamingos,

Embrace the Great Outdoors

There’s no better classroom than the Great Outdoors. “There are many opportunities for students to learn about the world around them,” Hoskins says, and lots of fun ways to turn the outdoors into easy lessons! Hoskins suggests taking kids on backyard scavenger hunts and then having them write a descriptive paragraph or draw a picture about the experience.

For parents looking for a more structured experience, the Great Parks of Hamilton County’s Parks@Home series brings nature and conservation education straight to local homes, 24/7. And in lieu of traditional summer camps, Great Parks is offering virtual day camps, which include online meetings, at-home activities and live video interaction.

Virtual camp FTW

Speaking of summer camp, many places have moved their camps online (thanks, Zoom!). From dance and theatre to STEM and the arts, your kiddo can enjoy a top-notch camp experience this summer — from home. For example, the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati has moved all its camps online, offering half-day camps in the morning or afternoon. These online offerings are convenient for parents — and let someone else do the “teaching.”

Don’t forget PE!

Physical education is just as important as mental, so get moving! If you’re looking for some at-home options, check out Cincinnati Ballet Company’s fitness classes offered through CB at Home, or the YMCA’s “Y Virtual” videos, which offer options from Barre and yoga to bootcamp.

However, you don’t have to sign up for classes to make physical fitness part of your summer — take the kids to a bike trail or go hiking at a local park. Parents: You’re amazing! “You didn’t sign up for homeschooling and it's a tremendous responsibility added to your plate,” Hoffman says. But with a little effort, your kids will start the upcoming school year right where they need to be.

PREGNANT DURING PANDEMIC t h e

Pregnancy during the time of COVID-19 looks pretty different. Here’s what you can do to make your experience go as smoothly as possible.

WORDS BY RACHAEL DUPREE

Masks. Telehealth appointments. Cancelled birth classes. Forced isolation. For mothers preparing to give birth in the year 2020, things have looked a lot different than they did not all that long ago. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has turned the birthing experience upside down, filling what would normally be an exciting, joyous time with anxiety and uncertainty.

“Some days I’m scared to death, and other days I’m like, let’s just do this and get it over with,” says Kandice Pauley of Dayton, who was 31 weeks pregnant with her first child when we talked in May, just as coronavirus restrictions were beginning to lift across the country. Pauley’s feelings are not unique to pregnant mothers during this pandemic. On one hand, quarantine restrictions have provided the opportunity for extra rest and time to prepare for baby, while at the same time throwing in new hurdles to pioneer. Perhaps one of the hardest things about pregnancy during the time of COVID-19 has been not knowing what to expect day to day. With government guidelines and hospital policies changing seemingly every day in response to the mysterious and unpredictable disease, pregnant mothers have had difficulty making solid plans for their prenatal care and birth.

Planning for the Unexpected Now more than ever, communication between you and your care provider and support team — along with a healthy dose of f lexibility — is critical. With the conversation changing every day, here are some things you should consider discussing with your partner and birth team as you prepare for birthing day.

PRENATAL CARE Many care providers are adjusting their office spaces and schedules to minimize the risk of disease spread. Like Pauley, you may be asked to space out your in-person appointments or do appointments that don’t require lab work via telehealth. During the most restricted times, partners haven’t been able to attend ultrasounds, which was the case for Pauley’s husband when she went in for her second screening. If any of these things don’t feel right, ask your provider about options. Maybe you can continue visits in-person on a normal schedule, or allow family members to participate in other ways, such as calling in to appointments or viewing the ultrasound via video chat.

THE HOSPITAL Planning for labor has perhaps been one of the most nerve-wracking parts of being pregnant during the pandemic. Pregnant moms have had many concerns: Will I be alone at birth? Where do I enter the hospital? Will I get tested for COVID before I can enter?

“A big part of addressing those types of anxieties with women is continuously communicating what is true,” says Bethany Dykman, a Dayton-area doula and founder of Strength Love Birth. "Yes, things are uncertain right now. But you are strong. You have the ability to be f lexible.”

Communication is also key. As Dykman noted, policies on entrance procedures, visitors, movement through the hospital, and the duration of your stay differ among hospitals and at different stages of the pandemic, so check in regularly with your provider about these ongoing changes.

As testing capabilities increase, many hospitals are scheduling COVID tests for Cesarean sections and inductions, and are performing tests on laboring women when they show up at the hospital. Hospitals typically have a separate birthing space and restrictions for COVID-positive mothers, so discuss with your provider ahead of time if you have concerns.

BRINGING HOME BABY Talk to your pediatrician prior to birthing day about when and how to introduce baby to family and friends. Some families are choosing to do drive-by visits with the baby on the front-lawn, while others may be more comfortable allowing visitors in the house if they’ve quarantined or follow certain hygiene practices. “The family should know warning signs of ill health in their little one and know when to call the doctor, and likewise for the health of postpartum mom,” Dykman says. “It's really important at any time, but especially now, to know what is normal in the early weeks and what is not with both mom and baby.”

YOUR SUPPORT Don’t overlook your own prenatal and postnatal mental health as you navigate pregnancy and birth. As Pauley found, in-person supports, such as birthing classes, new-parent groups and family visits, are limited during the pandemic, and this can take a mental toll. Talking to your provider about virtual birth classes and support groups, and doing things like having a friend set up a meal train, can help to make you feel less alone. Also, by learning the signs of postpartum depression and setting up lines of support ahead of time, you can easily get help if you need it.

Remember the Big Picture

Preparing to give birth is a profound and intimate time for your family. As you go head-to-head with changing hospital policies and other obstacles to your ideal birth, remember that many of these things are put in place to help keep hospital workers and you safe. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. Continue to ask questions and advocate for yourself and your baby. If that means switching to a provider that better aligns with your concerns or birthing at home because it makes you feel safer, that is OK and things many mothersto-be are doing during this time, Dykman says. This is your family and your birth — and no virus, not even COVID-19, can take that from you.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Check out these resources to keep abreast of the covid-19 and how it will affect your pregnancy and birth:

Periodically check your hospital’s website for updates on their COVID-19 policies.

Get the latest coronavirus guidance via the CDC (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra- precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (acog.org/en/Topics/COVID-19).

For a resource page listing the latest in COVID-19 research as it relates to pregnancy and birth, check out Evidence Based Birth (evidencebasedbirth.com/ covid19).