1016 cp issuu by Midwest Parenting Publications

Cincinnati

{OCTOBER 2016}

serving cincinnati and northern kentucky

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cincy's

KID PROBLEMS WHEN TO STEP IN AND WHEN TO STAY OUT

Picks and places to make the most of the season!

what's new at preschool

PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE GUIDE

SEE WHAT CINCY AREA PROGRAMS OFFER THE LITTLEST LEARNERS

IN EV E RY ISSU E

contents {OCTOBER 2016}

{ F EATURES}

17 // What's New at Preschool

{GROWING HEALTHY FAMILIES} 28

A look at what some innovative Cincy area programs offer little learners

20 // Cincy's Autumn Bucket List Picks and places to make the most of the season!

26 // Kid Problems

When to step in and when to stay out

30 // Lowering Your Daughter's Risk of Breast Cancer What to consider now for her future health

40 // Screen Time

Setting (and sticking to) a reasonable media limit

04 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

TALKI NG TO CH I LDREN ABOUT POLITICS

{COMMENTARY & PARENTING}

{RESOURCES & CALENDARS} 22

FALL FU N GU I DE

PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE GU I DE

PRESCHOOL & EDUCATION GU I DE

FOOTNOTES

DAI LY EVENTS

A DAD I N FLU ENCE

ONGOI NG EVENTS

ASK TH E TEACH ER

RESOU RCE DI RECTORY

FU N & WACKY CALEN DAR

{IN EVERY ISSUE} 06

EDITOR'S NOTE

COM M U N ITY SPOTLIGHT

ON LI N E BUZZ

E DITO R 'S N OT E

WORDS BY // SUSAN BRYANT

meet the staff Publisher Mary Wynne Cox // mary@cincinnatiparent.com

Editor Susan Bryant // susan@cincinnatiparent.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Katie Clark // katie@cincinnatiparent.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Charity Kirtley // charity@cincinnatiparent.com Katy Mark // katy@cincinnatiparent.com Melissa Wittenbaum // melissa@cincinnatiparent.com

Advertising Coordinator Karen Ring // karen@cincinnatiparent.com

31 Days Is Not Enough Don’t you wish the month of October could last just a little bit longer? Time enough to squeeze in a few more golden days before the first snow flurries arrive? Fall never seems to last quite long enough to savor everything an autumn day brings. Which is why we at Cincinnati Parent encourage you and your family to make the most of this October! This issue is scattered throughout with great activities and events to enjoy the whole month. Check out our Fall Fun Guide, Autumn Bucket List and all the events listed in our Calendar to get the scoop on all the hayrides, pumpkin patches, apple orchards and Halloween festivities in our area. There’s so much to do, you better stop reading now and get right on it! (Just kidding, there’s more we want to tell you about!) October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s likely you know someone who has been affected by the disease, with one in eight women getting a diagnosis. While this topic can be scary to think about, especially when we think of our daughters, education and awareness are key. Try reading Lowering Your Daughter’s Risk of Breast Cancer for information on how to influence your child’s chance of developing the disease.

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Have you ever been caught in the parenting conundrum of not knowing when to let your child solve a problem on their own or step in yourself? (I can think of a few!) See if our article on Kid Problems rings a bell – and if you agree with our experts’ opinions on how to handle some common dilemmas. (Keeping with our theme of conundrums, need some help wrangling your child away from their various devices? Take a look at Screen Time for tips on managing the everpresent screens in their life.)

COMMUNITY Outreach & Social Media Sarah McCosham // sarah@cincinnatiparent.com

DIGITAL PUBLISHER Wendy Hasser // wendy@cincinnatiparent.com

GRAPHICS ASSISTANT Kahlie Cannon // kahlie@cincinnatiparent.com

INTERN Meg Wynne // meg@cincinnatiparent.com

Business Manager Roxanne Burns // roxanne@cincinnatiparent.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Got a preschooler at home? If so, you’re probably on the lookout for just the right school that works for both your child and your family. The Cincinnati area is loaded with great options – we’ve found a few you might like to know more about in What’s New at Preschool? (How to keep the tears in check while seeing your baby off to school for the first time – well, that’s another article!) That’ll do it for us – the clock is ticking. Get out and enjoy your October ASAP!

P.S. It’s Private School Open House season! If you’re in the market for a new school, check out our guide on all the upcoming events in our area.

Maggie Loiselle, Andrea Limke, Melissa Glidden, Megan Bohrer, Sarah McCosham, Ashley Albertson, Pete Gilbert, Deb Krupowicz and Kelly Blewett

CALENDAR OF EVENTS calendar@cincinnatiparent.com

CoPYRIGHT Cincinnati Parent Magazine is published monthly. Copyright 2015 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.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

IN EV E RY ISSU E

community {SPOTLIGHT} //WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN OCTOBER

It’s the best book fair ever If you loved your school book fairs as a kid, you have to check out Books by the Banks. Ever y fall, the Duke Energy Convention Center becomes a book lover’s locale, complete with author and illustrator signings, stor y times, panel discussions and lots of activities for the entire family to enjoy. This year’s 10th anniversar y event features visits from local legend Loren Long (there’s a brand-new Otis book), Raybot’s Adam Watkins and Brett Harper (the son of acclaimed artist Charley Harper). Mark your calendar: Books By the Banks happens Saturday, October 15th from 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is free; which is good, since you’ll likely buy plenty of books at this festival! http://booksbythebanks.org/

Now that’s a fall festival! Neltner’s Farm knows how to celebrate autumn! In fact, the family-owned Melbourne, Kentucky farm prides itself on throwing an honest-to-goodness, authentic fall festival. The festivities start October 1st and run daily through Halloween, and feature fall favorites such as horse-drawn wagon rides, an expansive corn maze and pick-your-own pumpkin patch, along with sure-fire kid pleasers such as a model train display, petting zoo and face painting. The real magic happens on the weekends though, with live performances by local bands and singers providing the perfect backdrop for this picturesque fest. www.neltnersfarm.com/things-to-do/

Coppélia Think of Coppélia as the comedic version of Frankenstein: a stor y of a toy maker, brought-to-life doll and lots of mistaken identities and hijinks. Between the fun Léo Delibes score played by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and humorous and physical choreography of Kirk Peterson brought to life by the Cincinnati Ballet, this show promises to be fun for even the most hesitant ballet-goer! It’s been 15 years since this ballet came to the Queen City – so definitely head to the Aronoff on October 21-23 to experience Coppélia. www.cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/coppelia-1

The Mermaids are back Do you believe in mermaids? Those mythical aquatic creatures will return to Newport Aquarium on October 1st. Audiences will be dazzled by a real-life mermaid swimming among the sea life at the Aquarium’s Amazon Tunnel exhibit. For the kids dying to meet Ms. Mermaid in person, there will be daily meet and greets (on dry land, of course). But hurry! The elusive mermaids swim away on October 16th. www.newportaquarium.com/Visitor-Tips/ Aquarium-Events/Mermaids

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Encourage your little Picasso The Taft Museum of Art’s newest program caters to the littlest artists in town! Aimed at tots ages 3-5, Taft Jr. will allow kids to have fun learning about and making art with their favorite adults, all while absorbing good museum manners. This once-amonth program features a story time, close-up encounter with a piece of art and a kid friendly craft. In October’s Colors Around Us program, kids will learn how colors mix together to make new hues – then put theory into practice by making their own vibrant creations! This brand-new program kicks off on October 6th and is free for Taft members, $10 for non-member adults (includes Museum admission) and free for kids. www.taftmuseum.org/taft-jr

Take a train ride Autumn is the perfect time for a train ride – the fall colors, crisp air and endless blue skies make for a postcard-perfect experience. In Greater Cincinnati, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M) features fun, family friendly rides for ever y season. This October, take a ride on the Fall Flyer, LM&M’s festive fall event. In addition to a breathtaking, 75-minute ride from Lebanon to Hageman Junction, LM&M will be throwing its own fall festival back at the depot. Between a hay maze, fall farmer’s market (right on the platform) and free pie pumpkins for passengers, LM&M Fall Flyer is sure to become an annual autumn tradition for your family. This year’s Flyer runs October 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30. http://lebanonrr.com/pumpkin.html

It’s a very important date! The Children’s Theatre (TCT) of Cincinnati kicks off its 2016-17 season with Lewis Carroll’s brilliant, bizarre and beloved classic Alice in Wonderland. TCT will be pulling out all the stops for this musical production, which features zany characters, mad tea parties, flamingo croquet on the lawn and tap dancing cards in a topsy-tur vy land of make-believe. This season opener plays two weekends (October 15-16 and 21-23) at the Taft Theatre. Buy your tickets today… and don’t be late!

Calling all inventors If you have a little tinkerer in your house, be sure to mark your calendar for this year’s Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire. The Mini Maker Faire is a Cincinnati Museum Center-organized event that’s part of MAKE Magazine’s global Maker Faire network. The event is inspiring for makers young and old, bringing together amateur and professional inventors, artists, crafters, chemists, engineers and performers in one giant, communal and interactive space. Due to Union Terminal’s renovations, this year’s event will take place at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on October 8th and 9th. www.cincymuseum.org/events/ cincinnati-mini-maker-faire

Get your Peanut Butter and Jam on! Linton’s PB&J Sessions are back! If your kids love to move and groove, you have to check out Linton’s Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions. These music classes feature some of Cincinnati’s ver y best musicians in a fun, family friendly setting. This season kicks off on October 1st with a gust of wind – woodwind, that is! Powered By Wind puts your favorite woodwinds in the spotlight, and kids will get a kick out of hearing the oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn and piano during these performances. Tickets are just $5 each, and always include a free, post-performance Graeter’s cookie. http://lintonmusic.org/pbj-sessions-schedule/

www.thechildrenstheatre.com/mainstage/shows

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

IN EV E RY ISSU E

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10 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

COMME NTA RY & PA R E N TING

WORDS BY // KELLY BLEWETT

Footnotes //Thoughts from the margins of a mom’s life Tweak and Dashy Forever “I really want you,” says my daughter to me. “You can work on the computer with me on your lap.” She nuzzles her face in my neck, wrapping her arms tightly around me. And then she decides to turn around. “I need to see what you’re doing, Mama!” she says, shifting her weight awkwardly, “I need to see the computer!” So now, having settled herself again, she watches as the words fill the screen, as my hands move quickly over the keyboard. I’m writing, though she doesn’t know it, about her. “Keep pushing!” she says, urging me to keep moving my hands across the buttons, “Push fast, Tweak!”

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Last summer our family went on a weeklong vacation to a lake. After two days, Caroline (age 3 ½) decided to give everyone in the family a nickname. My nickname, culled from one of her favorite television shows, was to be Tweak. And her name, she decided, was to be Dashy. The summer trip is long gone and the nicknames seem to be fading for others in the family. (Which is good because my husband was eager to lose “Captain Barnacles” – although I personally thought this name was especially fitting given that he’d served for years in the Army). Tweak and Dashy, though, have remained. “Where’s my Tweaky?!” Caroline, I mean Dashy, will shriek from the bottom of the stairs. “I need you, Tweak!” Sometimes at night, when I’m done singing “Old

McDonald” for the umpteenth time, she’ll pull my head down close to her and put a hand on my cheek. “Dashy loves you, Tweak,” she whispers. And Dashy, as a name, seems to suit the girl. She races, feet moving quickly, hair flying in different directions (unlike the show’s counterpart, whose hair is neatly pulled into a clip). She’s a girl in motion, a fun little sprite. Tweak and Dashy are not best friends on the show, but how glad I am that for us, the bond runs deep. I am the Tweak to my daughter’s Dashy. “I really want you,” she says to me today, a million times a day it seems. You know what, little Dashy? I really want you, too.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

COMME NTA RY & PA R E N TING

WORDS BY // PETE GILBERT

A Dad Inf luence How to Make Trick-or-Treating a Success (for Parents, That Is) Ready or not, here comes Halloween! There are hundreds of articles out there with tips guaranteeing a successful night of trick-ortreating for your kids, but nothing for the parents...until now. If your children are young, you’ll need to go trick-or-treating with them. Before leaving the house, set out an empty basket on your front porch (make it look like it’s been tipped over), with a sign that says, “take one.” Kids (and more importantly their judging parents) will think you’ve already run out of candy and not that you’re too cheap to buy enough in the first place. If you’re planning on wearing a costume while walking around with your kids, think it through. If you’re like me, Halloween is the only day of the

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year you even speak to half of your neighbors. Do you really want to have a conversation with them dressed as a clown or wearing a Trump wig? In regards your kid’s costume, conventional wisdom says children should not wear masks that obscure their vision. I say, make sure your child’s costume has a full mask! With their impaired eyesight you’ll have no problem freely reaching into their candy basket for all the Krackel you can eat. Also, while walking around your neighborhood, make sure you have a flashlight. Your neighbors will think you are being a responsible parent keeping

your child safe, but you can actually use it to look for dropped candy along the sidewalks. At the end of the night, every good parent needs to check their child’s candy before letting them eat any. I could not agree more with this tip. Don’t forget to “inspect” all the candy and remove anything that seems suspect (or contains gooey caramel and milk chocolate that you can further “investigate” after the kids are in bed). Happy Parenting and Happy Halloween!

what's new

at preschool A look at what some innovative CINCY area programs offer little learners WORDS BY // Andrea Limke

Choosing a preschool is JUST THE first decision in a long series of educational choices you will make as your child progresses through school. Fortunately, many preschools today offer programs that are as unique as the young students walking through the door. Here we highlight a few local schools that strive to make the preschool experience a great one for both kids and their parents. Lit tle Schoolhouse in the Woods – A Natural Approach

Redwood – Inclusive and Integrated

Located in Mt. Airy Forest, Little Schoolhouse in the Woods is an outdoor farm and forest preschool. Children spend most of their time on the two-acre property of the owners/teachers, Lee and Jason Harnzy. Life skills are learned through daily routines that involve practical chores and unstructured, open-ended play. The Harnzy’s have created unique natural playscapes that foster discovery and collaboration. Children also get hands-on with mud, gravel, sand and water, help feed the animals on the property and participate in a daily circle time. According to Lee, “Early childhood should be focused on developing social, emotional and physical health through child-led experiences in nature.”

As a part of the Northern Kentucky community, Redwood focuses on educating all children through their inclusive environment. Their comprehensive preschool program serves children with and without disabilities and uses this integrated approach to enhance learning for all students. Inclusive classrooms allow children to create an environment in which they accept differences among themselves. Director Katrina Proud says that at Redwood, “Children with and without special needs become role models to each other.”

The Summit Country Day School – Muscle Movement for Growth Everyone knows that little children need to move! Two-year-old preschoolers at The Summit Country Day School in Hyde Park can do just that in the new muscle room that has been added to the Toddler Program. Children can practice climbing, balancing, rolling and stair climbing which not only strengthen gross motor skills, but develops fine motor skills, independence and cognition. Kathy Scott, Director of The Summit Country Day Montessori Program adds, “Our Montessori curriculum encourages students to move freely within the environment…the toddler child is able to move in this additional environment in ways not possible within a traditional classroom.”

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

Creative Preschool – A Priority of Parental Involvement

The Goddard School – Learning about Gardening and Sustainability

Creative Preschool has been serving families on the west side of Cincinnati for over 45 years. Creative is a nonprofit, cooperative school, which means the staff and parents work together for its daily operations. Parents have a key role in their child’s learning experience. As a part of the co-op, parents (or another adult) and their child are assigned a “child helper day” when they assist in the classroom and the child is given helpful responsibilities. In addition to classroom time, families come together for activities throughout the year that build a connected community. Director Mary Beth DePaoli says, “Creative families appreciate the opportunity to call Creative their school and they are most certainly appreciated by the staff!”

At both the South Lebanon and Loveland locations of The Goddard School, parent Jenny Buschmann has introduced a new approach to teaching gardening to young children. In the main lobby, you’ll find a tower garden, an idea that has been incorporated into the school’s curriculum. This unique, space-saving garden is teaching children how to grow their own food without the use of soil. Using significantly less water than traditional gardening, the tower garden also produces more food in less time and is helping students learn the importance of healthy produce, sustainability and recycling. Buschmann points out that from this innovative garden, children “learn to succeed and to grow things on their own. Research shows that the population is increasing while farmland is decreasing. We have to teach our children to help them evolve.”

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Preschoolers are eager to learn and their curiosity has inspired many schools to educate them in unique ways. When choosing your child’s preschool, spend some time thinking about what you’re looking for, research potential schools online and set up on-site visits with programs that interest you. With a little legwork up front, you can find the preschool that you and your little student both love.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

CINCY'S

AUTUMN BUCKET LIST Picks and places to make the most of the season! WORDS BY // Sarah McCosham

Time to break out the boots and flannel, apple cider and pumpkin everything: fall is here! October is one of the most beautiful months of the year – and in Cincinnati, there’s no shortage of festive, family fun to celebrate the season. Here are nine of our “best bets” to fit in this October in Cincinnati. Visit a pumpkin patch This excursion should be on every family’s fall bucket list. There’s just nothing that compares to the experience of a pumpkin patch. Watching your kids trudge across an orange-speckled field of pumpkins is a parental rite of passage! Plus, there are tons of photo ops that would be perfect for your family’s holiday card. Our local picks? Shaw Farms in Milford boasts 500 tons of picked pumpkins per season, while the two-hour Pumpkin Tour at Sunrock Farm is an afternoon event complete with lots of hands-on farm fun.

Pick apples There’s something great about picking your own produce, and fall brings plenty of U-Pick opportunities at our local apple orchards. Iron’s Fruit Farm in Lebanon is one of our favorites, as its U-Pick season

20 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

runs into October and features Red Delicious, Gold Delicious, Gala and Jonathan varieties. Kids will love manning the large apple-picking apparatus – and sampling isn’t frowned upon, either!

Do a fall festival It just isn’t fall without festivals. And here in Cincinnati, we do autumn proud! Local favorites include Fall on the Farm at Blooms n’ Berries (featuring a seven-acre corn maze and two-story slide), Fall-o-Ween at Coney Island (trick-or-treating and amusement park rides) and the Renaissance Festival (which boasts different themed activities each weekend). Sit down with your Google Calendar and plot out your weekend fun!

Savor the flavors of the season Cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin spice. Winter squash, apples and pumpkin. Warm soup, chili and stew – these are the flavors of fall! Hit up a local farmers’ market (most are still happening through October) to experience the bounty of this harvest season. Of course, Jungle Jim’s is sure to have whatever fall flavor or seasonal ingredient you need, with aisle upon aisle of produce, spices and treats.

Enjoy the local colors Ohio foliage is at its most beautiful in the fall. Red, orange, yellow and gold – you’ll see all the colors of the autumn rainbow here. Want a new perspective on this beautiful scenery? Try viewing it from a train! All October long, Lebanon-Mason Monroe Railroad’s Fall Flyer will take you through the beautiful, picturesque countryside of Southwest Ohio. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Take a hayride Hayrides are a necessary part of fall. And big tractors and bumpy trailers are a sure-fire family pleaser! Parky’s Farm offers rides on select Fridays in October, while Browns Farm Market pulls out the wagon on weekends. Families with older kids will definitely want to check out Bonnybrook Farms’ Lantern Light Wagon Ride, offered Saturday evenings in October. Your family will travel down an abandoned country road via wagon and be treated to hair-raising historical reenactments along the way.

Go for a hike Take advantage of cooler temps by going on a family hike. Between the Great Parks of Hamilton County, Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Nature Center, there are tons of kid-friendly treks around town.

Decorate for fall Pick up some autumn mums, find the most bizarre gourds or get a little fancy by making your own scarecrow. Station Road Farm in West Chester and Montgomery’s Pipkins Market each supply lots of fresh fall produce, blooms and décor. For West Siders, Brown’s Family Farm Market in Hamilton is known for its impressive selection of fall produce and décor (corn stalk bundles, gourds, mums, pumpkins – they have it all).

Go trick-or-treating before Halloween Cincy kids have it pretty great – there are loads of opportunities to trick-or-treat before the big day. Try HallZOOween at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and “Tricks or Treat” at the Renaissance Festival. History buffs definitely need to check out Heritage Village’s Haunted Village, which features trick-or-treating in a festive, just-spooky-enough setting.

We’re entering the best time of the year. Grab your family, friends and pumpkin spice latte and really enjoy this month – the craziness of the holidays is just around the corner! October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

*A PAID ADVERTISING DIRECTORY

fall fun guide Brown's Family Farm Markets 11620 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, OH 45013, Phone: (513) 738-0404

http://brownsfarmmarket. com Hours/Dates: Open 7 days a week through Halloween, with Fall Family Fun on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-6pm At Brown's, we grow our own corn stalk bundles, Indian corn, squash, assorted gourds, beautiful mums, and of course, pumpkins in all shapes and sizes. Plus, don't miss a full assortment of home grown apples, sweet cider, chewy caramel apples, Amish Fry Pies and bakery items and more! Every Saturday in October features "Fall Family Fun" activities, which includes a pick your own pumpkin patch, hayrides, a corn maze, straw maze, farm animals, picnic area, play area, and lots of photo opportunities!

Burger Farm and Garden Center 7849 Main St., Cincinnati, OH 45244, Phone: 513-561-8634

www.burgerfarms.com Hours/Dates: Saturday's and Sunday's in October, 10am 6pm Join us for our annual fall festival! Hayrides, pick your own pumpkin, puppet show, farm animals, pony rides, entertainment, festival food and drink, face painting, carnival rides and games, fresh apple

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cider, Halloween decorations and more. A little touch of country right in the middle of the city.

Burwinkel Farms 4410 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton, OH 45013, Phone: (513) 738-1145

http://burwinkelfarms.com/ Hours/Dates: Open all of October: 10am-6pm. Weekend hayrides and scheduled weekday groups Come join Burwinkel Farms in October for some Fall Farm Fun! Enjoy hayrides to pumpkin patch, corn mazes, punch-card maze, corn pool, straw tunnel, scavenger hunt, sensory station, sunflower field (when in bloom). Hayride: $3 per person (includes a pumpkin), $3 for all mazes. $5 for both hayride and mazes.

Fall-O-Ween at Coney Island 6201 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230, Phone: (513) 232-6701

Coneyislandpark.com

9669 OH-48, Loveland, OH 45140, Phone: (513) 697-9173

www.bloomsandberries. com/check-out-our-fall-funfestival/ Hours/Dates: Open MondaySaturday from 10 am-7 pm and Sunday from 10 am-6 pm. Take a hayride to a pumpkin patch, see real farm animals, get lost in the 7-acre corn maze and explore the play area. Don’t miss the piles of pumpkins, beautiful mums, apple cider and other Fall favorites. This annual event at Blooms and Berries in Loveland, Ohio, runs Sept. 24-Oct. 31.

Mason: 7082 Columbia Road, Maineville, OH 45039, Phone: (513) 339-1030

Hours/Dates: Oct. 8-9,15-16, & 22-23, 1:00-7:00 pm

Erlanger: 1335 Donaldson Rd, Erlanger, KY 41018, Phone: (859) 371-5729

Join the fun at Coney Island’s Falloween, one of Cincinnati’s favorite family Halloween traditions. This fun fall celebration features plenty for kids and parents to see and do together, including a trick or treat trail, a dazzling musical light show, Coney's 26 classic rides, live musical shows, a petting zoo, pony rides, a sing along hayride, pumpkin launching and more!

www.lazerkraze.com

Halloween Nights Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm: 10073 Daly Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231, Phone: 513-521-7275

www.greatparks.org

Experience Fall on the Farm at Blooms and Berries

Halloween Fun at Lazer Kraze

Hours/Dates: Oct. 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30, 5:30-9:30 p.m. each night Join in on the spooky, hardly haunted fun at Parky’s Farm! This annual event features hay rides, glow in the dark mini golf, a fun house and slide, festive Halloween displays and family fun activities and entertainment for all ages. Pre-order tickets online: $7/ person; Tickets at gate: $8/ person; Free/children under 2.

Hours/Dates: October 30th, 6:00-8:00 pm Out of this world family fun! We are going to have a special Halloween this year... an all you can play session from 6 to 8:00pm on Sunday, October 30. Plus, we will give out prizes and award the best costume! Call for pricing on parties and private options.

Magic Forest Halloween Hikes Caldwell Nature Preserve 430 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45216

https://parks.cincyregister. com/mf hallhikes2016 Hours/Dates: October 21 & 22nd, 2016 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Enjoy 100 jack-o-lanterns & meet costumed nature characters such as an Owl, Mother Nature, Bat, and others! Children delight in the stories & engaging performances on this non-scary event. Hikes leave every 5 minutes & last for1 hour. Fee: $ 6 per person; kids under 3 FREE. Paid reservations available online.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

Neltner’s Farm Fall Festival 6922 Four Mile Rd. Camp Springs Ky 41059, 859.496.7535, neltnersfarm@gmail.com

www.neltnersfarm.com Hours/Dates: Weekends in Oct 10am - 6pm. Open throughout the week with limited activities. Neltner’s Farm invites your family to join ours for our annual fall festival. There’s something for everyone: horse-drawn wagon rides, corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, homemade food & ice cream, farm shop, pottery, facepainting, seasonal apples, folk art, live music, a barrel train, and much more!

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Pumpkin Days on the Farm at Benton Family Farm 11896 Old Lexington Pike, Walton, KY 41094, Phone: (859) 485-7000, bentonfamilyfarm@aol.com

Lots of family fun including a kids hay maze, pony rides, sheep shearing, cow milking and so much more! $7 person, 3 years under FREE

bentonfarm.com Hours/Dates: October 14-16 and Oct 21-23, Fri 3-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm & Sun 10-7pm; last hayride is at 6:30pm A family working farm open for your visit in October, to pick a pumpkin off the vine with a hayride out to the patch. Non-commercial setting just a simple family working farm having an agritourism month, and do expect hands on with the animals and lots of learning experience! A great place to bring your children if they want to see what a fourth generation working farm looks like and meet the 3rd and 4th generations helping to make this October possible!

Station Road Farm 6749 Station Road, West Chester, OH 45069, Phone: (513) 777-3650

www.stationroadfarm.com Hours/Dates: Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 12-5pm through October Come play on our huge barnyard playground, feed the chickens, & take a hayride to the patch to pick a pumpkin. We also have all your fall needs at our farm market: cider,apples, straw, corn stalks, gourds, squash and more. Also private groups, parties & field trips can be scheduled!

YMCA'S Fall Festivals Phone: 513-362-YMCA

myY.org Hours/Dates: Friday, October 21 and Saturday October 22nd, hours vary upon location Head to your local YMCA for hayrides and spooky trails, games for the family, fall crafts, a bounce house, marshmallow roasting, music and so much more! Activities and dates vary by location. Plus, on every Friday evening in October and November, you can visit the Y for free from 5-9:00pm during Fun Family Fridays!

For more fall fun options, visit www.cincinnatiparent.com!

kid problems W hen to step in and when to stay out WORDS BY // Melissa Glidden

Parents know that part of raising confident, independent kids includes encouraging them to solve their own problems. But it can be tricky sometimes to know when a child should be expected to handle a situation on their own or when mom or dad should get involved. Here we presented several common dilemmas to area professionals to get their input on managing this delicate balance. TEACHER PROBLEM Your 9-year-old son says his teacher doesn’t like him. He feels like she singles him out in class more than the other kids when he makes a mistake. You can’t be sure whether this is true, or just his perception. As time passes, your son appears to be coming home from school more and more discouraged. The first time your child says this, hear them out. After you have listened, simply say, ‘I am sure your teacher will like you very much once she gets to know you,’ and offer your interpretation of the situation. For example, a child may interpret a teacher’s correcting a poor behavior choice as dislike of him or her rather than of that behavior. If your child voices this concern a second or third time, that’s when it may be time to schedule a meeting with the teacher. Hold the meeting in person – the best communication takes place face-to-face. Ask the teacher for any advice she might have to help your son feel more positive about school. Treat her as a professional.

26 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

If the situation doesn’t improve, get the principal or school guidance counselor involved to help repair the relationship between your child and his teacher. Deb Krupowicz, Preschool, Elementary and Middle School Teacher for over 20 years; Author of Cincinnati Parent’s “Ask the Teacher” column

COACH PROBLEM Your 12-year-old daughter lives and breathes soccer. She works hard, has steadily improved and is objectively one of the better players on the team. Unfortunately, it seems as though her coach hasn’t noticed. She doesn’t get much playing time and it’s starting to get her down. I would encourage the daughter to approach the coach on her own first and ask what can she do to receive more playing time. Have her explain to the coach that she feels like she is working hard and continuing to improve, and would like more time on the pitch.

If afterwards her playing time doesn’t improve over the next few games, schedule a meeting with the coach. Including the daughter in this conversation can also help her learn the skills of communicating to a coach. Keep in mind that parents only see one star player on the field, and that star is their child, so always look at all aspects of a situation before jumping to conclusions. Jami Eversole, President and Director of Coaching, Impact GFC, Cincinnati

PEER PROBLEM Your 10-year-old daughter has become the target for some recent bullying. She struggles with her weight a bit and some girls at school are making unkind remarks to her about it. She says the teasing doesn’t really bother her, but you suspect it’s upsetting her more than she is letting on. Stay calm and ask open-ended questions when talking to your child about the situation. Don’t interrogate – just keep it conversational and empathize with her.

Remember that no one likes being told what to do, and a 10-year-old ‘tween’ is no exception, so avoid offering suggestions like, ‘Just ignore it.’ If the child is continually unsuccessful in directly addressing her hurtful peers, it may be time to step in. Consider enlisting the help of the school counselor or other school resources, and always remember to keep your child involved in the situation. This teaches her about boundaries and communication. Creating a plan of action together will help your child feel empowered and supported. Emily Raterman, MSW, LSW, Beech Acres Parenting Center, Cincinnati

NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS PROBLEM Your 7-year-old son is rather introverted and has some difficulty in social situations. He wants to play with the neighborhood boys, but feels awkward approaching them. The boys aren’t intentionally leaving him out of the fun, they simply haven’t noticed him yet. First, remember that being an introvert is not a bad thing, and there are lots of kids out there just like your son. Also remember to stay calm – sometimes we can get so worried about our child, that we unintentionally create more distress. Sometimes introverted children will simply engage with people when it is more comfortable for the child. If he wants to engage but is struggling, role-play different social skills with him at home. Encourage him to take his bike or toys outside when other children are playing to teach him that visibility is part of inclusion, and always make a conscious effort to model positive social skills. David Wells, MSW, LSW, Beech Acres Parenting Center, Cincinnati

It’s never easy to see our kids struggle, and even harder to know when (or if) we should act on their behalf. By allowing them the opportunity to see if they can resolve a problem on their own however, they have the chance to build valuable self-confidence. Just as valuable though, is knowing that their parents “have their back” and can be relied on to step in when they truly need their help.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

GROW IN G H EALT HY FAMILI ES

WORDS BY // Ashley Albertson, MSW, LISW, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Talking with Children about Politics The importance of addressing this “hot button” topic There has long been a saying that “family and politics don’t mix.” In reality however, family and politics must mix as parents have a responsibility to discuss the nature of politics and our system of government with their children so that we may have educated voters for our future. Here we discuss several reasons why talking about politics with your child is a good thing. “My mom and I talked about politics a lot when I was growing up. It was something that made me feel close to her. I’m reminded of her every time it gets close to an election.” – Darcy, 54 Talking about politics can be a way to discuss the values and beliefs that are important to your family. It can also be a way for parents to learn about the values and beliefs of their children. Even if your opinions differ, you can teach your children how to argue their point in an intelligent and respectful way. “I was really young when 9/11 happened and I remember watching President Bush’s speech following that event with my family. I was really afraid because my dad worked in a high rise building. My parents spent a lot of time reassuring me that he was going to be okay.” – Kennedy, 23

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One of the biggest reasons parents should talk about politics with their kids is that they are already exposed to it. Children encounter news and information through television, internet, radio and even their peers at school – and much of it is likely overwhelming or confusing to them. By discussing what they are hearing, parents can ensure that their kids are understanding what they’re exposed to and can address any concerns they have. Especially for younger children, providing information and reassurance can help dispel any fears they may be dealing with.

“One of my best memories about politics growing up was when my father took me with him to the voting polls. I was fascinated by the process and felt really invested in the results of that election.” – Jerry, 28 Many children “learn by doing,” so when parents take them to polls, or watch debates together, it can be a powerful educational tool. Take time to discuss your kids’ thoughts and impressions afterwards. These experiences can help them become more civicminded adults and be able to critically evaluate information from various sources.

“My parents were always knowledgeable about politics when I was a kid and my parents loved to debate their beliefs, especially during long car rides. I’m pretty sure that was when I first started thinking about becoming a lawyer.” – Stacey, 34 Talking with kids about politics can be meaningful and fun. So take advantage of our current political atmosphere as an opportunity to engage your family in conversations you may not always think to have. The experience is sure to have an impact on them – and you.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

LOWERING

YOUR DAUGHTER'S RISK OF

breast cancer

What to consider now for her future health WORDS BY // Megan S. Bohrer

Being a parent is the most beautiful and simultaneously terrifying adventure possible. The terrible twos, learning to drive, heading off to college – the endeavor of raising human beings can be overwhelming. Yet parents in all stages of the journey have one thing in common, the drive to protect their children from life’s preventable maladies. Cancer awareness and prevention, although scary to think about, is crucial. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Fortunately, we can influence our chances of developing this disease and teach our daughters what to do now to help decrease their future risk.

30 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

heredity vs. habits “Cancer in general is a natural occurrence with aging,” says Dr. Kelly McLean, a surgical oncologist at The Christ Hospital Health Network. As cells divide, a part of the aging process, there is always the possibility for something to go awry. It is a common misconception that only women with a family history of breast cancer need to worry about the disease. The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s website states, “While women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a higher risk group, most women who have breast cancer have no family history. Statistically only about 10% of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of this disease.” So what does that mean? Pay attention to your family history, but be aware of the many other factors that contribute to breast cancer. While family history can be a predictor, some women may get lulled into a false sense of security of not getting the disease if

they have no relatives who have it. Likewise, those with a family history can become unnecessarily panicked for their likelihood of getting breast cancer. Do pay attention to your habits. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation women are able to reduce their risk by:

* Maintaining a healthy weight * Staying physically active * Eating a diet rich with fruits and vegetables * Limiting alcohol consumption to moderate amounts * Refraining from smoking entirely

start healthy habits early

Establishing healthy habits in young people can play a critical role in cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society recommends “at least one hour of moderate or vigorous intensity activity each day, with vigorous activity on at least three days each week.” Research has shown that children who do not meet these activity goals are more likely to become sedentary adults and are consequently more at risk for diseases such as breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Healthy habits started at a young age can lead to enormous health benefits later in life. “Staying in shape is the best preventative measure you can take,” says Dr. McLean. Not only does maintaining a healthy weight, BMI and lifestyle reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, but it also helps reduce the recurrence rate if you were to contract the disease.

“If you are in good shape you can tolerate treatment better,” Dr. McLean says.

a mother’s role Being proactive about your health and your daughter’s health seems to be a universally encouraged way to combat the risk of breast cancer. Modeling healthy behavior and encouraging your daughter to follow in your footsteps can have a major positive health impact. When the time comes, teach your daughter the proper technique for conducting a self-breast exam. If you are not sure how to do this yourself, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society and your gynecologist or primary care doctor can provide tips on how to perform an exam. Teaching your daughter to familiarize herself with her own body makes it more likely that she will recognize a problem if it should ever develop.

Most oncologists and health professionals recommend that women begin getting regular mammograms at the age of 40 unless other risk factors exist that would require an earlier visit. According to the American Cancer Society, “Regular mammograms can often help find breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful. A mammogram can find breast changes that could be cancer years before physical symptoms develop.” When it’s time for your mammogram, take the opportunity to discuss this procedure with your daughter and why the appointment is so important. For women who are at a higher risk for breast cancer due to significant family history, Dr. McLean recommends getting genetic testing. “It puts the power in your hands,” she says. Knowing your risk and being able to make informed decisions can mean the difference between life and death.

A diagnosis of breast cancer means something entirely different today than it did even ten years ago. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, “Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part due to better screening and early detection, increased awareness and continually improving treatment options.” Indeed, many women are not just living after a diagnosis, but thriving.

The bottom line? Become educated about breast cancer, be a good role model for healthy behaviors for your daughter and then show her how to live her life not with fear, but awareness.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

private school open house guide Considering a private school for your student? Our area has plenty to choose from! Find the right match by visiting an upcoming open house to get all your questions answered. *

Archbishop McNicholas High School

Covington Latin School

Montessori Center Room

6536 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230

21 E. 11th St. Covington, KY 41011

2505 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202

(513) 231-3500 www.mcnhs.org

(859) 291-7044 http://covingtonlatin.org

(513) 321-3282 http://montessoricenterroom.com

Open House: Sunday, November 6, 1:00 – 3:00pm

Open House: Sunday, February 12, 2017, 1:00pm and 3:00pm

Open House: Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 12:00 – 2:00pm

Cardinal Pacelli School

927 Ellison Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45226

Creative Tots

Madeira: 7803 Laurel Avenue, Madeira, OH 45243

(513) 321-1048 cardinalpacelli.org

(513) 272-2223

Open House: Friday, November 11, 2016, 9:30 – 11:30am

(513) 770-6776 www.creativetots.com

Central Montessori Academy

1904 Springdale Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231

(513) 742-5800 www.centralmontessoriacademy.com Open House: Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 12:00 – 2:00pm

Mason: 6408 Thornberry Court, Ste. 210, Mason, OH 45040

Open Houses: Wednesday, October 26th from 6 – 7:30pm and Wednesday, December 14 from 9:30am – 12:00pm Please email us to schedule an appointment. *

Guardian Angels School

Mother of Mercy High School

3036 Werk Road, Cincinnati, OH 45211

(513) 661-2740 www.motherofmercy.org Open House: Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 1:00 – 4:00pm

The New School Montessori

3 Burton Woods Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45229

(513) 281-7999 www.newschoolmontessori.com Open Houses: Sunday, October 16, January 22 and April 23 from 2:00 – 4:00pm

6539 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School *

927 O’Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140

(513) 683-4757 http://cmhschool.com Open House: Sunday, November 6

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

11525 Snider Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249

(513) 247-0900 chca-oh.org

(513) 624-3141 gaschool.org Open House: Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 1 – 3:00pm *

Immaculate Heart of Mary School

(513) 388-4086 www.ihomschool.org Open House: Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 12:30 – 3pm

Campus Visit Days: Oct 5, Feb 9, March 9, April 20

(513) 475-6700 www.mercymontessori.org

Country Hills Montessori

Multiple Locations in Eastgate, Oakley, Harrison & West Chester, OH and Ft. Thomas, KY

www.chmschools.com Call for a personal tour.

Mercy Montessori Center

2335 Grandview Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Preschool Open House: Sunday, November 13, 1:00 – 3:00pm

(513) 984-3770 RockwernAcademy.org We encourage prospective families to call us to schedule a personal tour.

Saint Ursula Academy

1339 E. McMillian Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206

(513) 961-3410 www.saintursula.org Open House: Sunday, October 30, 1:00 – 3:30pm Showcase Nights: Wednesday, November 9 and Tuesday, December 6, 6:30 – 8:30pm

St. Gabriel Consolidated School

18 West Sharon Avenue, Glendale OH, 45246

Montessori Academy of Cincinnati

8293 Duke Blvd., Mason, OH 45040

(513) 398-7773 www.montacademy.org Open Houses: 1-3:00pm on Sunday, November 13, 2016 and Sunday, January 29, 2017

32 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

Rockwern Academy

8401 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

7800 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45255

Open Houses: Saturday, November 12 and Saturday, January 28

(513) 771-5220 www.stgabeschool.org Open House: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 6:30 – 8:30pm

St. Gertrude School

6543 Miami Ave, Madeira, Ohio 45243

(513) 561-8020 www.stgertrudesch.org Open House: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 from 11:00am – 1:00pm and 7:00 – 8:00pm; Sunday, Janaury 29, 2017 from 1:00 – 3:00pm

St. Ursula Villa

3660 Vineyard Place, Cincinnati, OH 45226

(513) 871-7218 www.stursulavilla.org Informational Coffees: from 8:30 – 10:00am Tuesday, November 1: Showcasing Traditional Preschool for 2, 3, & 4-year-olds and Montessori for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds Thursday, November 10: Highlighting Traditional Kindergarten through Junior High All School Open House: from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2017 Preschool through Junior High; (snow cancellation date: Sunday, January 29)

Seven Hills School

Hillsdale Campus - 5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227 Doherty Campus - 2726 Johnstone Place, Cincinnati, OH 45206

(513) 728-2400 7hills.org/welcome Open House: (grades 6 – 12) October 16 12:30 – 2:00 pm Informational Meetings: (grades PreK – 5) November 8 & 9

Skidaddles of Mason

5939 Deerfield Blvd, Suite 104, Mason, OH 45040

(513) 204-3482 www.skidaddles.com/mason-oh/ Open House: Saturday, October 22, 10am – 4:00pm

The Summit Country Day School

2161 Grandin Road (Hyde Park), Cincinnati, OH 45208

(513) 871-4700, ext. 261 www.summitcds.org Parent Preview Days: (Age 2 – Grade 8) Thursdays, October 27 & November 10, 8:30am Upper School Open House: (Grades 9-12): Thursday, November 17, 6:30pm RSVP required for all events: 871-4700 ext. 261; Online registration available: http://www. summitcds.org/admission/key-dates.cfm

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

COMME NTARY & PA R E N TING

WORDS BY // DEB KRUPOWICZ

Ask the Teacher Time management skills, effective study methods and literature comprehension

My fourth grade daughter insists that I sit with her while she does her homework. I have so much going on getting dinner ready and meeting the other demands of my family that I find this time to be very frustrating. That leads to me feeling guilty. How can I better handle this situation?

Your daughter may be craving time with you after a long school day. Perhaps she thinks that asking you to sit with her while she does her homework is a legitimate way to get your one-on-one attention. Try sitting down with your daughter for five to ten minutes when you both first get home to go over the highlights of her day. Then look over that evening’s homework and estimate together how much time each assignment will take to complete. Write down a quick plan for the evening on a sheet of paper with rough time frames, including her commitments on the left and yours on the right. Factor in checkpoints where you can quickly look over her work. When she sees that you will be prepping dinner while she is doing her assignments, she will begin to understand that you have work that must be completed just as she does. Together identify ways that she can help with dinner prep as well as times when you can quiz her on her spelling, for example, while simultaneously completing another task. By developing a plan together, she will get the attention she wants, and you will be able to accomplish what needs to be done for the evening.

34 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

Can you tell me how to help my son stay motivated through a mid-fall slump? He starts out the school year so excited and ready to work but by mid-October, he has lost his drive.

The excitement of a new school year, a new teacher and new classmates brings a special kind of enthusiasm that is hard to maintain. Once students are comfortable in their situation and the work-load shifts from review to new material, it is tough to keep from feeling a little tired and even a bit overwhelmed. Make sure that you are maintaining interest and enthusiasm in his studies! Take a deeper look at what your son is learning and let him see that your interest is piqued. Ask questions about

what he is studying. Help him see how what he is focusing on now will help him later, making specific connections. For example, you could say that you didn’t really understand how important the three branches of government were until you started voting and could see how necessary a balance of power in government is. You might also talk about how learning to write well is important across all types of communication – even when using email. Do not be tempted to “bond” with him over a shared hatred of a subject. It is perfectly reasonable to tell him that algebra was tough for you, but follow up with a comment saying you were glad you had mastered it by the time college entrance tests came around. If you focus on how much you dislike a subject or how worthless you thought something was, he will see that as your endorsement for little effort on his part.

We moved to a new school, and my second grade daughter is very shy. She is having a tough time making friends. I am not sure how to help her find other girls she would enjoy getting to know.

Ask your daughter’s teacher to recommend a child or two who she thinks might be compatible with your daughter. Arrange an afterschool or Saturday morning play date. Because your daughter is shy, it might be a good idea for you to plan a few activities for their time together. Having something specific to do will help the girls have something to talk about as they are getting acquainted. Pick up a craft kit, or make some cookies for them to decorate. Teach them to play a new game. Save a movie or a trip to the park until they have gotten to know each other better. Because these activities are focused on something or someone else where other people are in close proximity, the girls won’t have a chance to truly get acquainted. If your daughter’s teacher is reluctant to suggest anyone, have a Saturday morning tea party for the girls in your daughter’s class and their mothers. Observe how the girls interact. Someone who is similarly shy might make a good friend for your daughter, but someone who is outgoing might also be a great complement to her quiet nature. Don’t overwhelm your daughter with trying to cultivate a large number of friends for her. She may be more comfortable getting to know one or two people rather than having many acquaintances.

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

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

E DU CATI ON R ES O U R C ES

Preschool & Education Guide //CHILDCaRE & PRESCHOOL Chai Tots Early Childhood Center Academic excellence via a unique blend of Jewish and Montessori education offering strong academics, stressing life skills, interpersonal relationship skills and nurturing a love for life-long learning. Individualized curriculum customized for each student, expansive naturally lit rooms, low student ratio. Specials include yoga, music, Hebrew, Spanish, dance, drama, art and Tae Kwon Do. Flexible schedules, before and aftercare, web cams and after-school enrichment available. Transportation available to/from Mason schools. Limited space - now enrolling! 7587 Central Parke Blvd., Mason, OH 45040, Phone: (513)234-0600, www.ChaiTots.com, Ages/Grades: Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten (6 weeks-6 years), Enrollment: 60

CHILDREN INC. Early Education and Care (including Montessori and traditional curriculum) offered at multiple sites throughout Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Nationally accredited and multi-STAR quality rated. Generous tuition assistance is available for qualifying families based on income and family size. Phone: (859) 431-2075, www.childreninc.org, Grades: Infant through 12 years

Creative Tots, Mason Creative Tots has specialized in the private education of Toddler, Preschool and Pre-K children for 20+ years. Our holistic approach allows children the opportunity to learn, explore, play and grow while engaging in the fine arts and Montessori activities. 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. Enrichment Programs: Spanish, Music, Art, Yoga and Science. 6408 Thornberry Ct.,, Mason, oh 45040, Contact: Emilie Parry, Phone: 513-770-6776, Email: creativetotsmason@gmail.com, www.creativetotsmason.com, Grades: Toddler: 18 months-3 years, Preschool: 3-4 years; Pre-K: 4-5 years

The Compass School Ages 6 weeks-6 years plus after school & summer camp up to age 12. Offering outstanding ReggioInspired 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

36 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

environment. Setting the standard in early care and education. Call today for your personal tour.

Little Sprouts Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten

9370 Waterstone Blvd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, Contact: Laura Carr, Phone: 513-683-8833, Fax: 513-683-8456, Email: CompassLC2004@gmail. com, www.TheCompassSchool.com

Little Sprouts Montessori nurtures the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of children, helping them develop a lifetime love of learning. Our goal is to empower children to discover and hone their strengths as they explore the world. We recognize the importance of individualized education, and maintain a 1:6 ratio.

SKIDADDLES Skidaddles offers convenient, flexible, reliable care without reservations. Drop by days, evenings and weekends for a few hours or all day. Feel confident knowing your children will have fun while learning from a qualified staff in a safe and clean environment. Florence: 8660 Bankers Street, Florence, KY 41042, Phone: 859-647-7529, MasonL 5939 Deerfield Blvd Suite 104, Mason, OHIO 45040, Phone: 513-204-3482, www.skidaddles.com

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati offers state licensed before and after school care at over 85 locations throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

7131 Plainfield Road, Deer Park, OH 45236, Contact: Christie Sawyer, Phone: 513-697-9021, Email: csawyer@leavesoflearning.org, www.little-sprouts.org, Grades: Preschool & Kindergarten, Enrollment: Families choose mornings two to four days per week (T/TH and/ or W/F), and/or afternoon sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.

Mercy Montessori Center Mercy Montessori is Cincinnati's first Catholic Montessori elementary school and provides students with a personalized education. Mercy offers a sliding scale tuition model, in-school swimming instruction starting at age three, and attracts students from over 50 zip codes. Mercy educates the whole child and develops a strong foundation for learning.

1105 Elm Street, Cincinnnati, OH 45202, Contact: Trish Kitchell, VP Youth Development, Phone: 513-362-YMCA, Fax: 513-651-3540, Email: tkitchell@MyY.org, www.MyY.org, Grades: Ages 3-12, Enrollment: Stop by any YMCA of Greater Cincinnati location or check with your local school district.

2335 Grandview Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206, Contact: Amanda Grimm, Admissions Director, Phone: (513) 475-6700 ext. 210, Email: agrimm@ mercymontessori.org, www.mercymontessori. org, Grades: Preschool - 8th Grade, Enrollment: 292

//MONTESSORI

The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School An authentic Montessori school program resting on 8 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: Casey Reed, Director, Phone: 513-683-4757, Email: reed@cmhschool.com, www.cmhschool.com, Grades: Preschool through Sixth grade, Enrollment: 160

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. Contact: Susan Schreiber, Owner, Email: susan@chmschools.com, www.chmschools. com/, Grades: 3 - K

GSCM is a unique Catholic Montessori school set on a 12-acre campus. GSCM features nurturing Montessori teachers and individualized learning. 3, 4 or 5 day preschool options, full-day Kindergarten, and aftercare available. Spanish, unparalleled faith formation with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, art, music, dance and drama enrichment offered. Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12. 4460 Berwick Street, Cincinnati, 513-271-4171, www.gscmontessori.org, Grades: 3-year olds through grade 8, including full-day Kindergarten, Enrollment: 200; Contact: Dan Teller, Principal, dteller@gscmontessori.org

The New School Montessori Centrally located and surrounded by wooded play yards and gardens, students benefit from a nurturing environment where Montessoricredentialed staff support high academic and personal achievement. Full-day, half-day and part-time AMS and ISACS accredited programs with healthy lunches included in tuition. 3 Burton Woods Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45229, Contact: Ceara Comstock, Phone: (513)2817999, Email: ceara.c@newschoolmontessori. com, www.newschoolmontessori.com, Grades: 3-year-olds through Grade 6, Enrollment: 125

// NON–PUBLIC Archbishop McNicholas High School A Christ-centered, Catholic co-ed community that embraces each student – spiritually, intellectually, morally, and physically. We provide a safe, nurturing, creative, and challenging campus where individuals will grow in knowledge and faith. We equip our students with opportunities and experiences that will enable them to achieve excellence, live out gospel values, and attain full stature in Christ. 6536 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230, Contact: Christina Mullis, Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Phone: 513-231-3500, http://www.mcnhs. org, Grades: 9-12, Enrollment: 630

CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS CCS has been creating lifelong learners, creative thinkers, passionate disciples, and visionary leaders for over 40 years. Our graduates are welcomed at universities because they’ve become the natural learners and inquisitive students that God created them to be. CCS knows that faith and learning go hand-in-hand. Outstanding. Proven. Elementary Campus: 7350 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield, OH, 45014, Junior/Senior High Campus: 7474 Morris Rd., Fairfield, OH, 45011, (513) 892-8500, Contact: Lisa Coombs, Admissions Director, lisa.coombs@ cincinnatichristian.org, www.cincinnatichristian.org, Grades: PS - 12

GUARDIAN ANGELS SCHOOL Guardian Angels School was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2007 and continues to lead the way in education by providing programs and employing teaching strategies that are engaging and challenging for all students. Every day we foster the development of the whole child in a value-enriched environment. Visit our Open House is January 31 from 1-3pm at the school! 6539 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230, Phone: 513.624.3141, www.gaschool.org/, Grades: K through 8

ST. GERTRUDE SCHOOL Saint Gertrude School offers academic excellence in the Dominican tradition: preaching Truth, practicing virtue, and loving one another in Christ. Students from 21 school districts. IOWA testing ranked 4th among 90 Cincinnati Catholic grade schools. Aftercare, outdoor classroom, STEM, Rosary Procession, household intergrade leadership, Latin, professionally coached musical theater, extracurriculars. 6543 Miami Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243, Contact: Elaine Nolte, Assistant Principal, Phone: 513-561-8020, stgertrudesch.org, Enrollment: 338

St. Ursula Villa An extraordinary family atmosphere and Christ-centered spirit of St. Angela Merici cultivates independent learners who achieve their potential through small classes, individualized instruction, and nurturing of the whole child. Program offerings begin with Toddler/2-year-old and Traditional or Montessori preschool continuing through Junior High, recognized for outstanding high school preparation. 3660 Vineyard Place, Cincinnati, OH 45226, Contact: Marta Runnels, Phone: 513-533-7373, Fax: 513-8710315, Email: m.runnels@stursulavilla.org, www. stursulavilla.org, Grades: 2 years old through 8th grade, Enrollment: 465

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

THE SUMMIT COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Founded in 1890, The Summit serves students from age 2 to Grade 12. A Montessori Program for ages 2-6 begins the academic journey followed by a college-preparatory program (Grades 1-12). The Summit educates students spiritually, academically, physically, socially and artistically while offering the academic excellence and one-on-one guidance of a top-tier Catholic independent school. 2161 Grandin Road (Hyde Park), Cincinnati, OH 45208, Phone: 513-871-4700, ext. 261, Email: pearl_e@summitcds.org,

Great Oaks Career Campuses Great Oaks offers career development training for high school students and adults. With four campuses--Scarlet Oaks in Sharonville, Diamond Oaks in Dent, Live Oaks in MIlford, and Laurel Oaks in Wilmington, high school students prepare for careers and college, and adults get training and certification to begin a new career or advance in a current career. 3254 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45040, Contact: Jon Weidlich, Phone: 513-771-8840, Email: weidlicj@greatoaks. com, www.greatoaks.com, Grades: High school (grades 11-12) and Adult

www.summitcds.org

//PUBLIC Cincinnati Public SChools Our goal is to provide a rigorous curiculum that cultivates critical thinking and technology skills while encouraging collaboration, real-world connections and endless creativity. It’s not just about getting your children ready for graduation. It’s about getting them into college and preparing them for a thriving career! Phone: 513-363-0123, cps-k12.org

38 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

//SPECIaL NEEDS Springer School and Center For more than 45 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 Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208, Contact: Carmen Mendoza, Admissions Director, Phone: 513 871-6080 ext. 211, Fax: 513 871-6428, Email: cmendoza@springer-LD.org, www. springer-LD.org, Grades: 1 through 8, Enrollment: 200

//TUTORING Langsford Learning Acceleration Centers Is your child on track to be a successful reader? For over 16 years, Langsford has been applying an evidence-based approach to reading difficulties, including Dyslexia, to turn struggling readers into confident and successful students. Langsford’s approach is to identify the root cause of the reading difficulty and then to implement research-validated reading programs. Langsford offers support for reading, comprehension, and writing. Langsford is also an approved Jon Peterson provider; contact us to see if your child qualifies for a scholarship from the Ohio Department of Education. Blue Ash: 9402 Towne Square Ave. Ste B, Cincinnati, OH 45242 & West Chester: 7616 Cox Lane, West Chester, Oh 45069, Contact: Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Phone: 513-531-7400, www.WeTeach Reading.com, Grades: All ages

BE PART OF OUR MONTHLY EDUCATION GUIDE // CO NTACT ka tie@ci nci n na ti pa ren t.com

WORDS BY // Maggie Loiselle

SCREEN TIME Setting (and sticking to) a reasonable media LIMIT

Maybe it’s because we didn’t grow up with smartphones and social media, or possibly it’s just hard to set limits on something we often overindulge in ourselves, but if you’re a parent struggling to keep your child’s screen time in check, you’re not alone.

40 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

Kids today spend an average of seven hours a day engaged with media – including TV, computers, phones and tablets, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP’s recommendation however, is that screen time be avoided for children under the age of 2 and limited to two hours a day of high-quality content for children and teens.

“Technology is not a bad thing. But even if you’re reading a book six to eight hours a day, it can still be harmful because you’re not moving your body, experiencing relationships or getting fresh air,” says Mandy Schweinfest, a licensed professional clinical counselor who practices at Compass Point Counseling’s Fairfield office. “As with anything, technology should be used in moderation.”

While there are plenty of positive educational and social aspects of digital media, excessive screen time has been linked to attention problems, trouble sleeping, vision issues, unhealthy eating habits and decreased physical activity, and may even balloon into a full-blown addiction.

The key, experts say, is for parents to set and stick with realistic limits that take into account the when, what and where of a child engaging with media: When: How much time are you comfortable with your child spending in front of a screen each day? Is one long

stretch of screen time okay, or should it be broken up into small chunks of time? What: With what kind of media is your child engaging? Can you strike a balance between educational and entertainment-based media? Where: Are there areas of your home where you don’t want your child to use media, such as at the dinner table, in the bathroom or in their bedroom?

“The answer is not to say, ‘Turn it all off. I didn’t do that as a kid, so you can’t do it either,’” says Nancy Jennings, an associate communications professor at the University of Cincinnati who studies the impact of media on the lives of children. “Instead, you want to focus on what content they’re being exposed to and how their media use is affecting other areas of their life.”

Be consistent at an early age Ideally, as soon as a child is old enough to engage with media, consistent limits should be put in place.

Schweinfest, who often counsels children addicted to videogames, stresses that parents should talk about media usage early on and make a written plan to keep themselves accountable. “For some reason when it comes to technology, it can be difficult to say ‘no,’” she says. “Consistency and not wavering are the most

important things in the beginning; otherwise you’ll lose the battle.”

Research has found that having a routine around screen time and disengaging at a natural stopping point – such as the end of an episode or once dinner is ready – makes the transition away from media easier for kids. Similarly, if a device’s battery runs out or WiFi is cut off at a certain time each night, experts say kids tend to accept this technologybased finality more readily than a parent’s mandate.

Set screen-free times and locations

Model responsible media use Even with clear screen time limits in place, don’t underestimate the effect that your personal media habits have on your children.

“A lot of parents don’t realize that they’re setting the standard,” Schweinfest says. “You have to model appropriate technology use. If they see you checking your phone all the time, then why can’t they?”

Interacting with media alongside your children can present opportunities to talk more with them about the importance of unplugging periodically, what kind of

TV shows and games are appropriate and the dangers of sharing too much online.

Of course, there will be days when screen time limits aren’t strictly followed, and that’s to be expected, experts say. As long as you typically follow clear, realistic limits on how your child engages with their various devices and screens, you are on the right track to maintaining a healthy media diet.

When thinking about when and where your children use media, you may consider making certain times and areas of the house screenfree.

“Research supports keeping devices away from the table during meals,” Jennings says. “People tend to eat more if they’re distracted by screens, and it’s a good time to connect with your family away from media.”

Bedtime is another important transition to keep in mind, since the blue light given off by many tablets and phones can hinder sleep, and late night text messages and alerts can disturb healthy sleeping patterns. Experts recommend turning off screens at least a half an hour before bed and charging devices overnight in a different room.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

42 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

DAILY EV EN TS

daily calendar {OcTOBER 2016} SAT 01 Luminary Night Hike Take a magical night hike through lantern-lit woods. You’ll meet different characters along the way who will introduce you to legends and lore. Guided hikes will depart every eight minutes between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with sign-ups beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the gatehouse. Bring your own stick to toast marshmallows over the fire while you wait for your group to depart. Free. Time: 6:30 p.m., Location: Glenwood Gardens/ Gatehouse, http://www.greatparks.org/ calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

Trees of CNC Join botanist Marjie Becus to learn how to identify some common and less common trees of the region during this one-hour walk on the trails of Rowe Woods. Practice looking for distinguishing features of leaves, twigs and bark and using an identification key. Adults and teens welcome. Free; nonmembers also pay daily admission. No registration required. Time: 2 p.m., Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, http://www.cincynature.org/events-

and-programs/programs-3/fun-for-all%21-10/,

Phone: 513-831-1711

MON 03 Powered By Wind This windy program features the oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, and piano. The music they make will blow you away! Time(s): Sessions at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, http://lintonmusic.org/pbj-sessionsschedule/, Phone: 513-381-6868

SAT 01 – SUN 02 Sunflower Festival at Gorman Heritage Farm Stroll through fields of golden sunflowers while collecting some to take home, pick your favorite pumpkin, explore our sunflower maze, take a hay ride and visit with the animals at Gorman Heritage Farm’s Sunflower Festival. Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Location: Gorman Heritage Farm, http://gormanfarm.org/ product/sunflower-festival/, Phone: 513-563-6663

Make a Mess at Blue Manatee Join Ms. Anne 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. Cost is $10/child ages 2-4. Please register by Fri., Sept. 30. Time: 10-11 a.m., Location: Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore, http://www.

bluemanateebooks.com/home/activatees. html, Phone: 513-731-2665

Autumn Animals! Meet a real-life snake, owl, and amphibian with a Naturalist from Hamilton County Parks! Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Location: Covedale Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4460

TUES 04 Teen Tech Club: Yo-Yo Demo with Jody Jones Watch a fun demo by yo-yo competitor Jody Jones! Learn the physics of yo-yo techniques and practice some new tricks. Time: 6 p.m., Location: Clifton Branch Library,

http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/ lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4447

WEDS 05 Little Tykes Bring your 3–6 year-old to dabble into the art world. We will try forms of creative play with art supplies. Focusing on the natural world, our creations will come to life as we celebrate all things in nature. Things may get messy, so please dress appropriately. Free. Time: 11 a.m., Location: Winton Woods/Winton Centre, http://www.greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

THURS 06 Make Your Own “Monster Book of Monsters” If you're a teen who would totally take the "Care of Magical Creatures Course" at Hogwarts, then join us to craft your own "Monster Book of Monsters" straight from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. All supplies provided. Time: 6-8 p.m., Location: Deer Park Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-3694450

SUN 02 Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Don’t miss the last Reds game of the season! It’s Family Day at Great American Ballpark: in addition to free giveaways, stay after the game to run the bases! Time: 3:10 p.m., Location: Great American Ballpark, http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/ schedule/, Phone: 513-381-7337

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

FRI 07 It’s World Smile Day! Join us with your beautiful smiles for a delightfully smiley story time in honor of World Smile Day! Show us your pearly whites as we read and create a yummy craft filled with toothy charm. (Please note that peanut butter will be used in our snack.) Cost is $5/child; best for ages 3-5. Please RSVP as space is limited. Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Location: Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore, http://www.

bluemanateebooks.com/home/activatees. html, Phone: 513-731-2665

Singing with Baby Caregivers and babies (6 months-3 years) have fun and improve communication through sign language. Led by Jen Ortiz, a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Signing Safari Instructor. Registration required. Time: 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Location: Mariemont Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4467

SAT 08 Halloween Face Painting with Cecilia Padilla Stop in with your family for cool face painting ideas for Halloween. Time: 2-3 p.m., Location: North Central Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6068

FutureVet Cincinnati Museum Center and Banfield Pet Hospital, the nation's largest general veterinary practice, have joined together to create an exhibit celebrating the health and wellness of our four-legged friends. During our FutureVet program, bring your young animal lovers to the Duke Energy Children's Museum to meet local therapy dogs and receive a stethoscope to try on your pets at home! Time: 11 a.m., Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, http://www.cincymuseum.org/ programs/future-vet, Phone: 513-281-7000

Harvest Moon Festival Enjoy s'mores, crafts, hayrides, food, entertainment, pony rides, crafts and face painting at this annual Montgomery festival. Free! Time: 5-8 p.m., Location: Swaim Park, http:// www.montgomeryohio.org/event/harvestmoon/, Phone: 513-891-2424

SAT 08 – SUN 09 Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire Calling all inventors, tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts! Cincinnati Museum Center's Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire is back, and with a new location and Makers, this year promises to be more explosive than ever! This family friendly event will bring together amateur and professional inventors, artists, crafters,

44 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

chemists, engineers and performers. This year's Mini Maker Faire will also feature a film festival on Saturday evening. Free for members; $7/ non-members. Parking is $3/car (cash only). Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, Location: Hamilton County Fairgrounds, http://www.

cincymuseum.org/events/cincinnati-minimaker-faire, Phone: 513-287-7000

Black Walnut Weekend Bring the family to celebrate nature’s nuttiest harvest in the Midwest: a rain of walnuts! This event has something for the whole family, including games, crafts, tastes and more. Cincinnati’s own fun and entertaining band, Jake Speed & the Freddies, will perform on Sunday from 12:30–3:30 p.m. Time: 12-4 p.m. each day, Location: Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve/Ellenwood Nature Barn, http://www.greatparks.org/ calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

SUN 09 Customer Appreciation Days Stricker's Grove will be open from 12-8 p.m. for one last hurrah. Admission is $12.50 per person (kids 2 and under are free) and includes all rides, roller coasters and parking, plus free soft drinks, cotton candy, popcorn and sno kones! Time: 12-8 p.m., Location: Stricker’s Grove, http://www.strickersgrove.com/, Phone: 513-738-3366

PJ Harvest Day at Krohn Conservatory Come celebrate Sukkot with PJ Library at Krohn Conservatory. We will enjoy a self-guided tour and create decorations to take home to our own sukkahs. Ages 2-12 with a parent or caregiver. $5/person with RSVP. Time: 3-5 p.m., Location: Krohn Conservatory, https://www.mayersonjcc.org/, Phone: 513-761-7500

MON 10 Pumpkin Blow Looking for something fun to do for Halloween? Come make pumpkins in our Pumpkin Blow! With the help of our professional glassblowers, you can blow your own glass pumpkin! Ages 5+. Time: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Location: Neusole Glassworks, http://neusoleglassworks.com, Phone: 513-751-3292

A Not-Too-Spooky Story Time! Join us for not-too-spooky Halloween fun for families. Trick-or-Treat! Time: 6:30-7:15 p.m., Location: Covedale Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-

4460

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

TUES 11

THURS 13

SAT 15

Meet the Fire Department at Your Library The Green Township Fire Department is visiting the library! Come see a fire engine, talk to fire fighters, and learn about fire safety.

Cool Science: The Life of the Mighty Monarch They're small but mighty! Monarch butterflies are amazing creatures that scientists still don't understand completely. Learn about the Monarch's amazing migration and unique metamorphosis then create your own Monarch life cycle made from pasta and paint.

Books By The Banks Celebrate the 10th annual Books by the Banks Cincinnati Regional Book Festival on Saturday, October 15 at the Duke Energy Center. Admission is free and includes author meet-and-greets, family friendly activities, story times and more!

Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Location: Green Township Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6095

TUES 11 – WEDS 12 Growing Up a Farm Kid: Fall Festival Celebrate fall by harvesting apples and making a scarecrow. For kids ages 2–5 accompanied by an adult. Cost is $10/child with one adult; $5/ additional adult; register by 10/9. Time: 9:30-11 a.m., Location: Winton Woods/ Parky’s Farm, http://www.greatparks.org/ calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

TUES 11 – SUN 16 Spiders What could be better than eight legs, two body parts and many eyes? Join us this week to find out how great it is to be a spider. Program included in Highfield admission: $5/person. Time: Check website, Location: Glenwood Gardens/Highfield Discovery Garden, http:// www.greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

WEDS 12 Special Edition Family Story Time: Fire Prevention Week Join firefighters from the Harrison Fire Department as we learn what to do in case of a fire, how to protect ourselves and our homes, and see a real fire truck up close! 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. story times will be combined into this special 11 a.m. time so all groups can meet our guests. For children and their caregivers. Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Location: Harrison Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/event calendar.asp,

Phone: 513-369- 4442

Time: 4-5 p.m., Location: Pleasant Ridge Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4488

Pirate School! Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with Pirate Billy Bones as he teaches zany lessons on how to stand, talk, laugh, and eat like a boisterous buccaneer. Using slapstick antics, skillful magic, and eye-popping puppetry, kids will learn how to become “good pirates” while getting the chance to live out their dreams in the Golden Age of exploration! Performed by physical comedian and actor David Engel. Recommended for grades K-5. Time: 7:00 pm, Price: $7/ticket, Location: Calico Children's Theatre, http://www.

ucclermont.edu/community/arts/calico_ theatre.html, Phone: 513-558-ARTS

Fall Jamboree Bring your 3–5 year-old to this month’s jamboree. Through crafts and activities, we will learn all about the season of fall. $6/child; register by 10/12. Time: 10 a.m., Location: Woodland Mound/ Seasongood Nature Center, http://www. greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

FRI 14, 21 & 28 Pumpkin Patch Hop on a hayride to pick out the perfect pumpkin from our patch! Visit some animals, check out the fall crops and play in the Playbarn. Activities are geared for children ages 2–8. Adult admission does not include a pumpkin (pumpkins may be purchased separately). Pre-register online by 2 days prior: $6/child, $2.50/adult; Day of event registration: $7/child, $3/adult.

Powered By Wind This windy program features the oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, and piano. The music they make will blow you away! Time(s): 10 and 11:30 a.m., Location: Pilgrim United Church of Christ. http://lintonmusic. org/pbj-sessions-schedule/, Phone: 513-3816868

Found Photos Families Create! is a popular series of workshops designed to introduce art techniques and concepts to children ages 5–12 years and their families.All workshops are $5 per child. Pre-registration is recommended. Found Photos focuses on photography by reimagining what images can do. Manipulate found photos to create something new and special to you. Location: Weston Art Gallery, Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/

FRI 14

Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, http://booksbythebanks.org/

Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Location: Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm,

http://www.greatparks.org/ calendar#, Phone: 513-521- 7275

weston-art-gallery/learn/families-createworkshops, Phone: (513) 977-4165

SUN 16 Americana: A Cultural Tapestry In the first concert of its Americana series, join Cincinnati Song Initiative in a program exploring the various cultural influences on the emerging genre of American art song. From the writings of sixteenth-century English queens to our country’s rich African American heritage to modern commodities like Craigslist, this diverse program sheds light on some of the most influential sources of inspiration for American composers of song. Time: 2 p.m., Location: Weston Art Gallery,

http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/ americana, Phone: 513-621-2787 Fabulous Fall Funday Halloween is on its way—start the fun at Fabulous Fall Funday! Make an autumn decoration to take home, meet some live “spooky” animals from Great Parks of Hamilton County, become an art detective at the Art Cart, and, at 2 p.m. and enjoy a performance of Madcap’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Madcap Puppets. Time: 1-4 p.m., Location: Taft Museum of Art, http://www.taftmuseum.org/events/fundays, Phone: 513-241-0343

46 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

MON 17 Wump Mucket Puppet Show "The Ghost Who Couldn't Say BOO!" tells the original tale of a ghost who isn't able to scare people. Time: 6-6:55 p.m., Location: Northside Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4449

TUES 18 Mutant Monster Mash-Up! Channel your inner Sid from "Toy Story": Take apart regular toys and mash them together to create mutant ones! All materials provided. Recommended for grades 6-12. Registration required. Time: 3:30-5 p.m., Location: Mt. Washington Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6033

WEDS 19 Powered By Wind This windy program features the oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, and piano. The music they make will blow you away! Don’t miss this special, free presentation! Time: 6:30 p.m., Location: Child Focus (Training Center), http://lintonmusic.org/pbj-sessionsschedule/, Phone: 513-381-6868

THURS 20 Kooky Spooky Halloween Show Wump Mucket Puppets presents a Halloween themed puppet show. Time: 4-5 p.m., Location: Elmwood Place Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4452

Storytelling & Campfire Fun Bring your roasting sticks and s’more supplies to the fire, which will be ready at 6 p.m. A program with live animals, songs, stories told by the Greater Cincinnati Storytelling Guild and other campfire fun begins at 7 p.m. Free. Time: 7 p.m., Location: Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve/Amphitheater, http://www.greatparks.org/ calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

FRI 21 Glow Run 5K Stars aren’t the only things that shine at night - glow runners do too! Come on out for an evening of family fun October 21, where you can take part in a 5K fun run dressed to the hilt with glow sticks and all things bright and shiny. Flash and sparkle your way around the course and then head over to Halloween Haunt, featuring more than 600 gruesome creatures, haunted attractions, and hair-raising rides! Time: 7:15 p.m., Location: Kings Island, http://www. runandriderace.com/#!kingsislandglow/c4v2

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

FRI 21 – SUN 23

TUES 25 – SUN 30

Coppélia Dr. Coppélius’ dream comes true when his latest creation, a doll named Coppélia, comes to life – or so he thinks! Little does he know, the doll has caused quite a stir among villagers. The entire family will be captivated by the charming doll, the quirky toy maker and the hilarity that ensues over love, infatuation and mistaken identities!

Owl-o’-ween Join us this week to learn about a nocturnal favorite: owls! Are your eyes as big as an owl’s? How can they fly so quiet? We will answer these and other owl questions. Program included in Highfield admission: $5/person.

Time: Check website for show times, Location: Aronoff Center, http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/ events/detail/coppelia-1, Phone: 513-621-5219

Time: Check website, Location: Glenwood Gardens/Highfield Discovery Garden, http:// www.greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

SAT 22

TUES 25

Haunted Halloween Houses! We're celebrating Halloween by making haunted houses with graham crackers and other spooky supplies! Time: 2 p.m., Location: Greenhills Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4441

SUN 23 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Come see the Ohio rivalry at Paul Brown Stadium! Time: 1 p.m., Location: Paul Brown Stadium,

http://www.bengals.com/schedule/seasonschedule.html, Phone: 513-621-8383

Pumpkin Blow Looking for something fun to do for Halloween? Come make pumpkins in our Pumpkin Blow! With the help of our professional glassblowers, you can blow your own glass pumpkin! Ages 5+. Time: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Location: Neusole Glassworks, http://neusoleglassworks.com, Phone: 513-751-3292

Spooky Sunday This event is for ghosts and goblins 12 and under, and features a costume parade, costume contest and Haunted Forest. Time: 3:30-6:30 p.m., Location: President’s Park, http://edgewoodky.gov/calendar/, Phone: 859-331-5910

MON 24 The Kooky Spooky Halloween Show Join us for "The Ghost Who Couldn't Say Boo!" This fun filled variety show features gentle Halloween themed humor, performed by handcrafted puppets. Perfect for children ages 4-11 and their families. Time: 6-7:15 p.m., Location: Hyde Park Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4456

48 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

Come Make Booo-tiful Halloween Crafts What horrible things will you make? Come and see! This event is open to students in grades K-3. Registration is required. Time: 4-5 p.m., Location: Monfort Heights Branch Library, http://programs.

cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4472

WEDS 26 Pumpkin Painting Paint your own pumpkin to take home and enjoy! Time: 3-4 p.m., Location: Oakley Branch Library, http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/ evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6038

THURS 27 Bricks 4 Kids Building Workshop Think it, create it, take it apart -- but just don’t step on it! This class will start with a LEGO-lesson in building. Children will then work in pairs to construct a LEGO model that illustrates the concept of the lesson. Participants will get to take home handouts and overviews of what they learned, so parents can join in the fun at home!

Ages 6-12. J Member: $8; Public: $10. RSVP at MayersonJCC.org. Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m., Location: Mayerson JCC, https://www.mayersonjcc.org/, Phone: 513-761-7500

Read for the Record! Join us for the 11th anniversary of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record®, a global campaign generating public support for high-quality early learning and focuses on the importance of building children’s vocabulary and love for reading. This year’s book, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, written by Julia Sarcone-Roach, is a light-hearted tale bound to fill the reader with joy. Come help us support Jumpstart in breaking the world reading record for the most people reading the same book on the same day. This is a free story time event for all ages. Time: 10-11 a.m., Location: Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore, http://www.

bluemanateebooks.com/home/activatees.html,

Phone: 513-731-2665

Mobile Health Mammography Unit The Mercy Health – Mobile Health Mammography Unit will be on site for mammograms* and education on breast self examination. *This screening is usually covered by most insurance carriers, but you should verify that Mercy Health and The Jewish Hospital are in-network providers with your insurance carrier. FREE with RSVP by October 20. Time: 3:00 pm-5:30 pm, Location: Mayerson JCC, MayersonJCC.org, Participants are encouraged to register ahead of time by calling 513.686.3300 or 1-855-PINK123 (1-855-7465123). Walk-in are also accepted.

THURS 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SUN 30 Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream Nothing can stop a princess from a courageous adventure when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream skates into Cincinnati. Join your hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they share the heroic stories of four of your favorite Disney Princesses! Tickets start at just $17. Time: Check website, Location: U.S. Bank Arena,

http://www.disneyonice.com/dare-to-dream?h=1,

Phone: 1-800-745-3000

FRI 28 Zombify Yourself Want to look like a scary Zombie this Halloween? Sign up today and prepare to look gruesome with Cecilia Padilla's airbrush makeup! Time: 4-5 p.m., Location: Westwood Branch Library,

http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-4474

SAT 29 All Hallowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Travel back in time with this family friendly event which features trick-or-treating, fortune telling, tours, fun food and a bonfire. Time: 5-8 p.m., Location: Dinsmore Homestead,

http://www.dinsmorefarm.org/event/all-hallowseve/, Phone: 859-586-6117 Costume Party Walk Enjoy a walk through a forest in your Halloween best! Get creative with your costume, then show it off on our not-so-creepy, one-mile adventure. Free. Time: 10-11 a.m., Location: Woodland Mound, http:// www.greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-521-7275

MON 31 Trick or Treat Bag Get ready for trick or treating by decorating your own bag to stash all your loot! Time: 3-4 p.m., Location: Oakley Branch Library,

http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6038 Get Zombifed! Get your scars and scabs airbrushed on by artist Cecilia Padilla before you Trick-or-Treat. Ever wanted to look like a zombie? This is your chance! Ages 12+. Time: 3:30-5 p.m., Location: Blue Ash Branch Library,

http://programs.cincinnatilibrary.org/evanced/lib/ eventcalendar.asp, Phone: 513-369-6051

{PLEASE 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.

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

O NG OING EV E N TS

ongoing calendar {OCTOBER 2016} Newport Aquarium Mermaids

Fall Fest at Neltner’s Farm

Halloween Nights

Sat., Oct. 1 - Sun., Oct. 16

October 1-31

Oct. 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30

Back by popular demand, experience the magical world of Mermaids for a limited-time engagement at Newport Aquarium. Prepare to be mesmerized as you witness a real-life Mermaid swimming among the sea life in our Amazon Tunnel exhibit. Plus you'll be able to visit with a Mermaid on dry land during our daily meet and greets.

Features horse-drawn wagon rides, expansive corn maze, U-pick pumpkins, petting zoo, pony rides, homemade food (and ice cream!), farm shop, crafters, face-painting and live music!

Join in on the spooky, hardly haunted fun at Parky’s Farm! This annual event features hay rides, glow in the dark mini golf, a fun house and slide, festive Halloween displays and family fun activities and entertainment for all ages. Pre-order tickets online: $7/person; Tickets at gate: $8/person; Free/children under 2.

Time: Daily; check website for schedule, Location: Newport Aquarium, http://www.

newportaquarium.com/Visitor-Tips/AquariumEvents/Mermaids, Phone: 1-800-406-3474

Fall on the Farm at Blooms and Berries Daily through Oct. 31

Join us this season with your whole family for an adventure on the farm including many family-friendly games, mazes and a fun hayride to the pumpkin patch! Time: Open Mon.-Sat. from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Location: Blooms & Berries, http://www.bloomsandberries.com/ check-out-our-fall-fun-festival/, Phone: 513-697-9173

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sept. 27 – Oct. 9

The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning Best Score, including 'My Favorite Things', 'Do-ReMi', 'Climb Ev’ry Mountain', 'Edelweiss' and the title song. The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. Time: Check website for schedule, Location: Aronoff Center, http://www.cincinnatiarts. org/events/detail/sound-of-music, Phone: 513-621-2787

Time: Open weekends from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Weekdays from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Location: Neltner’s Farm, http://www.neltnersfarm.com/ things-to-do/, Phone: 859-496-7535

Fall Back in Time Daily Through Oct. 23

Krohn’s Fall Show features Victorian design elements in a tranquil garden setting of fall flowers. Admission is $4/adults, $2/kids and free for children 4 and under. Time: Open Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m-5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Location: Krohn Conservatory,

http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohnconservatory/, Phone: 513-352-4080

Shaw’s Fall Festival Weekends from Sept. 17 – Oct. 30 (Open during the week with limited activities)

Weekends at Shaw Farms provide an exciting opportunity for terrific family memories, photo ops, and some awesome, farm-grade adventures! Take the family on a ride around Shaw’s scenic farm property in a traditional tractor hayrides or climb into a horse-drawn wagons (available weekends only). Festival also features pumpkin patch, corn maze and two playgrounds. Time: Check website for hours, which change daily, Location: Shaw Farms, http://www.

shawfarms.com/shaw-farms-produce-fallfestival.htm, Phone: 513-575-2022

Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m. each night, Location: Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm, http://www. greatparks.org/calendar#, Phone: 513-5217275

Ohio Renaissance Festival Saturdays and Sundays throuh Oct. 23

Thrill... Feast... Watch... Shop... Explore... Enjoy! Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! Time: 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Location: Renaissance Park in Harveysburg, http://www. renfestival.com/ Fall-O-Ween Festival at Coney Island Oct. 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23

Fall-O-Ween at Coney features trick-or-treating, musical light shows and a petting zoo – all within its acclaimed amusement park setting. Families with kids under 12 will want to check out the 'Creep County Fair', a not-so-scary town filled with kid-sized buildings and crazy characters who pass out treats along the way! Time: 1-7 p.m., Location: Coney Island, http:// coneyislandpark.com/fall-o-ween-festival , Phone: 513-232-8230

The Fall Flyer

HallZOOween

Oct. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30

Autumn is the best time for a train ride! Take a relaxing ride with your family aboard the LM&M Railroad’s Fall Flyer. Enjoy a pleasant 1 hour and 15 minute journey between Lebanon and Hageman Junction.

Little ghouls and boys can enjoy FOUR spooktacular weekends of fun at the Zoo! You and your family can enjoy Trick-or-Treat stations, special animal encounters, the "Beauty Shop of Horrors," Hogwarts Express Train Ride (additional charges apply) and Scare-ousel (additional charges apply). HallZOOween is free with admission. Costumes encouraged but not required.

Time(s): Rides at 10 a.m., 12, 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 and 2 p.m. on Sundays, Location: LM&M Railroad, http://lebanonrr. com/pumpkin.html , Phone: 513-933-8022

Time: 12-5 p.m., Location: Cincinnati Zoo,

http://cincinnatizoo.org/events/hallzooween/, Phone: 513-281-4700

50 CINCINNATIPARENT.COM // October 2016

Haunted Village at Heritage Village October 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29

Heritage Village’s Haunted Village is just the right amount of spooky! All the buildings are decked to the nines with lights and haunted touches, and kids are encouraged to come in costume for trick or treating. Time: 6-10 p.m., Location: Heritage Village Museum,

http://www.heritagevillage cincinnati.org/ haunted_village.aspx , Phone: 513-563-9484

Bobbleheads: The Exhibit Daily through Dec. 31

In 2016, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the bobblehead collecting phenomenon with a new exhibit that highlights the many and varied designs and styles of one of the most unique and popular promotional items ever created. The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum's bobblehead exhibit highlights the bobblehead craze through the display of a wide array of bobbleheads dating to the introduction of the collectible as a novelty item in the early 1960s. Time: Open Tues.-Sun. Closed

Mondays. Check website for hours, Location: Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/hof/, Phone: 513-765-7923

MathAlive! Daily through Oct.2

Features forty immersive activities create fun experiences that bring to life the real math behind the things kids love most – video games, sports, design, music, entertainment, space and robotics. Highlights include a virtual downhill race in which visitors ride snowboards and a photo stage where they can capture a 360-degree freeze action “selfie.” Free admission and parking! Time: Daily, Location: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Upcoming/PressRoom/News/ArticleDisplay/ tabid/466/Article/815722/interactive-mathaliveexhibit-coming-to-museum.aspx , Phone: 937-2553286

Jack O’Lantern Junction Sept. 24-Oct. 31

You won’t’ want to miss Jack O’Lantern Junction at EnterTRAINment Junction! First walk-thru our trick or treat maze and see kid friendly ghosts, skeletons and more. Stop and color, or see Halloweenville our miniature animated display. Plus come and enjoy the area’s only indoor Pumpkin Patch, where kids get a free mini pumpkin. Also open this year are our two outdoor kid’s train rides themed for the Halloween season. And as always you can experience the world’s largest indoor train display or enjoy hours of fun in our kid’s play area. Time: Open daily, Location: Entertrainment Junction, http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com/

cincinnati_entertainment_and_attractions_ calendar, Phone: 513-898-8000

October 2016 // CINCINNATIPARENT.COM

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CINCINNaTI PaRENT // OCTOBER 2016

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{SOURCES} familycrafts.about.com, brownielocks.com, holidayinsights.com, zanyholidays.com & thenibble.com

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