Northeast Ohio Parent | September 2024

SEPTEMBER insiDE

Pickings Tips and tricks for picking the best apples. Plus, fun pumpkin facts and ways to recycle your jack-olantern. Plus, check out the fall fun events and places to visit, starting on pg. 25.

for lonely parents.

Whatever Season

As I am writing this, we are in the first weeks of school in 90-degree weather. For most of you, by the time you are reading this, who knows, we might be in early winter. We all know Northeast Ohio weather has its quirks, as sometimes we even have all seasons in one day or move back and forth from one season to another. In fact, just a week ago, we were in “false fall” where the crisp air smelled of woods.

But, it’s actually a blessing to have all seasons. My favorite has always been fall. I feel like it starts the beginning of the seasons cycle, but also back-to-school time, where my family is on a busier daily schedule.

Have you thought about helping your kids understand why we have seasons?

According to Jennie Ito, child expert and consultant for Leapfrog. com, “Learning about the seasons helps children understand the passage of time and teaches them about change. While some seasonal changes are more obvious (like changes in the weather), there are many important subtle differences related to each season, like changes in the type of food that is available.”

That’s why in this issue, and every issue of Northeast Ohio Parent, we prioritize our calendar and seasonal events. We try to help families explore whatever season and provide learning opportunities through these happenings.

For fall, check out apple and pumpkin picking and more. And, there will be plenty more adventures in the next months. Look for everything, not just in the print edition, but also online at NortheastOhioParent.com or our social media platforms @NEOhioParent.

When we look at our calendars, we also know the school year has only just begun. If your child is in elementary school, look for the Elementary School Guide to find ways to store the artwork that comes home, to early preparations for middle school.

I don’t know about you, but I worry about keeping my kids healthy and in school. We talk about how the schools are dealing with chronic absenteeism post-Covid years.

We do want to say thank you to all the parents who sent in the first day of school photos - we love to see all the faces from toddler to college.

Finally, I know some of you are starting your first school season, but for me, I am in my last fall season with my senior in high school. Everything hits differently and I am trying to keep it together. So no matter what season you are in, make sure to embrace whatever the day will bring.

september

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Why Do Kids Pick Their Noses?

By Lori Orlinsky

ow many times have you caught your child digging for gold in their nose? If you have a toddler, you probably know these instances all too well. You may want to yell at your child in the moment, but we’ve consulted with the experts, who say nose picking is quite common.

We talked to Dr. Shelly Senders, founder and CEO of Senders Pediatrics in South Euclid, all about

Dr. Senders says it’s important to understand what purpose boogers — or dried mucus collected in our nostrils — serve. Our bodies make mucus a slimy substance filled with antibodies that protect our bodies from viruses and bacteria and enzymes that help destroy them. This booger precursor also acts as a lubricant to keep our nose and sinuses wet, shields the tissue and blood vessels in our nostrils and sinuses, and traps dirt, dust, pollen and other harmful substances.

Something just doesn’t feel right

Young kids, who tend to get sick more frequently and therefore have more boogers, often pick their noses because it has something new and foreign to

“Simply put,” Senders says, “little ones have a need to clear a blockage — especially when allergy season comes around or when environmental conditions like dry or dehumidified air are a factor.”

Picking your nose can be self-soothing

In some cases, Senders says, kids may be trying to self-soothe when they pick their nose, just like they suck their thumb and twirl their hair for comfort. What’s more, eating boogers can also be seen

“Eating boogers is called mucophagy,” says Senders. “To kids, boogers taste salty which makes them taste good. Plus, kids see pulling boogers from their noses as an easy way to get rid of them.”

Parents should not worry

While parents may be concerned that nose picking leads to germs spreading, Senders says it can be quite the opposite.

“Since it is your secretions, it is not harmful. There is even some evidence that it boosts your immunity,” he says. “Plus, if you don’t clear boogers out of your nose, you will most likely swallow them. Most mucus we make ends up in our stomach as postnasal drip. So, it’s not as gross as you think!”

However, if you feel your child is picking their nose too often and especially if there is a lot of dried blood, Senders suggests using positive rein-

“Instead of scolding them for eating boogers, praise them for using a tissue. Blowing is not advisable,” Senders says. “When you blow your nose 50% of the secretions get pushed back into your sinuses

Additionally, he says parents should encourage kids to drink more water to cut down on the booger

“Since 80% of boogers are water, by drinking water, you make the mucus thinner and have less boogers,” he says. “In the winter, the air is drier and, in the summer, when the AC is on, the air is drier. Both cause thicker mucus which is harder to clear. So, keep that water bottle close.”

Animal Habitats: A Sticker and Activity Book for Curious Little Explorers Paperback – Sticker Book

By IglooBooks and Willow Green, illustrated by Gisela Bohórquez

Get little ones exploring different habitats with this exciting book packed with fun activities, pretty stickers, and space to record what they find on their adventures. As they draw, stick, and investigate the world around them, your little explorers will learn all about who lives in the garden, who swims in the pond, and much, much more.

Keepsake Crafts for Grandpa and Me, Grandma and Me: 42 Activities Plus Cardstock & Stickers!

By Megan Hewes Butler and illustrated by Francesca De Luca

Includes 42 crafts to create and share with each other. Use the included cardstock sheets and stickers in the back of the book to enhance your special project. Cherish your special creations forever, or give them as gifts to keep spreading the love.

Melissa & Doug Extra-Large Reusable Sticker Pad

By Melissa & Doug

The Melissa & Doug extra-large sticker activity pad is an exceptional learning activity that helps children develop strong fine motor skills and promotes creative play. It features five colorful backgrounds and 200-plus cling-style, repositionable stickers. For ages 3 and older.

MATERIALS:

NEO Parent Crafting with Kids: Handprint Sunflowers

By: Krystin Fletcher

STEPS:

• Begin by tracing and carefully cutting out five handprints from the yellow cardstock.

• Add a drop of glue to the top of your Popsicle stick and attach one of the handprints. Then continue to glue the hands around the top of the Popsicle stick.

• Yellow, Green & Brown Cardstock/ Construction Paper

• Cardstock/Canvas for a Background

• Markers

• Large Popsicle Sticks

• Scissors

• Liquid/Tacky Glue

• Using some of the green paper, cut out some small leaf shapes and attach to the bottom of the Popsicle stick.

• Finally, cut out a circle from the brown paper to be the center of the flower. Before gluing it down, use a brown or black marker to some little spots for decoration.

Tree nut-free Granola Bars

By Melissa Koski Carney

Fall means back to school, and in our house that means the return to busier schedules. I’m always looking for recipes that my kids love that are easy to make and easy to pack for school lunches, or to eat before after-school sports. These granola bars are just that! They are a quick and easy grab-and-go treat.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup Rice Krispies

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup butter, softened to almost melted ½ cup honey

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Limiting Screentime for the School Season

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix oats, Rice Krispies, flour, baking soda, shredded coconut, and brown sugar.

3. In a small bowl, warm up your butter until it’s almost melted. Combine with the honey and pour the mixture into the bowl with the oats and other dry ingredients.

4. Combine everything together and then pour the mixture into your prepared pan. Sprinkle optional chocolate chips on top and press everything down tightly.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes — mine are typically done by around 22 minutes. Cool in the pan completely before removing from your pan and slicing into bars.

It’s important to set screentime limits for children, especially during the school year. Dr. Gina Robinson, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s, recommends keeping your kids’ screen time to two hours or less a day. It may seem challenging, but Robinson said consistency is key and stresses it’s best to have set rules in place before kids get on their devices to avoid unexpectedly stopping them in the middle of a TV show or video game. And, if you’ve been more relaxed with screen time over the summer, it’s a good idea to have a conversation about it towards the beginning of the school year. When it comes to enjoying screen time, Robinson says you can try finding ways to make it more of a family activity. Robinson added it’s important to lead by example — meaning parents need to take breaks from their devices if they want their kids to as well. — clevelandclinic.org

First Day of

Students around Northeast Ohio celebrated the first day of school and shared their school smiles for us!

Josiah, Kindergarten

Mason, 11th Grade

Henry, Eighth Grade; Owen, Six Grade; Ethan, First Grade; and Grace, preschooler

Katie, Fourth Grade

Aubree, Fourth Grade

Beckham, Fourth Grade

Gwen, First Grade

Amelia, Kindergarten

Harrison, Kindergarten

School Photos

Jordan, Sixth Grade

Jaden, 11th Grade

Rocco, Seventh Grade

Robert, 11th Grade

Nora and Eliza, Third and First Graders

Charity, Second Year of College

Emma, First Day of Toddler Room

Ester, Third Grade

Jason, First Grade

Maya, Third Grade

Back

 Class

CREATING CONNECTION, RELEVANCE KEY TO SOLVING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

By Rachel Abbey McCafferty

When students miss school, they’re not just missing the chance to learn something new in class. They’re missing out on engagement opportunities, on friendships, on community resources. And a lot of students in Ohio are missing out on those opportunities every school year.

In the 2018-2019 school year, 16.7% of Ohio students were chronically absent, according to an October 2023

report from the Ohio Attendance Taskforce. In the 2022-2023 school year, 26.8% were. The report defined chronic absenteeism as missing 10% of school hours.

And missing that much school can be a big problem. Students who attend school regularly are nine times more likely to graduate high school on time, and 6.7 times more likely to be reading on grade level by the third grade, the report noted.

Frank Gant, an educational consul-

tant with State Support Team Region 8, sees a variety of factors leading to increased absenteeism, from confusing messaging around how long students should stay home when they’re ill to health concerns like asthma and dental issues. There are also families who became disconnected from a school when community engagement efforts faded during the pandemic.

Matthew Bowen, superintendent of the Campbell City Schools, was part of the Ohio Attendance Taskforce,

which was made up of school leaders like superintendents, business people and representatives from the state’s juvenile court system. The Campbell City Schools in Mahoning County have worked to create year-round engagement opportunities and wraparound support for its students and families through the Community Literacy Workforce and Cultural Center, but took a backseat during the pandemic, as the district wasn’t able to offer in-person services.

“It was very much an environment where it was reading, writing, arithmetic, basically taught in isolation with less engagement and less collaboration,” Bowen says. “Here’s what I’ll tell you: when you limit engagement, when you limit collaboration, when you limit partners, you’re also creating less motivation and less purpose. And I think that’s a big piece there.”

Gant, who works out of the Summit Educational Service Center and helps support schools in Summit, Portage and Medina counties, thinks there are a number of things schools and districts can do to grow attendance.

He says building stronger relationships between families and schools is important, as well as ensuring the lessons teachers are offering are engaging and relevant. School leaders can also work to connect families with community partners, like in healthcare, or reconsider their transportation offerings to address outside barriers to attendance.

On a more day-to-day basis, parents can help students get excited for school by using the idea of “positive anticipation,” Gant says, adding helping them find things to look forward to at school, like an interesting upcoming lesson or a class party, or helping them find a club or sport they enjoy. And parents can also help students learn how to respectfully ask teachers why a lesson is relevant to their daily lives or their future.

“If they don’t understand why they’re learning it, and they don’t understand why they’re there, then it just becomes something they

Students who attend school regularly are nine times more likely to graduate high school on time, and 6.7 times more likely to be reading on grade level by the third grade

have to do,” he says.

For example, in the Campbell schools, leaders have intentionally brought back student clubs and other activities, going beyond what was offered before the pandemic,

and the district has seen attendance increase in the past year.

The report also notes students are more likely to be engaged with school and attend regularly when “positive conditions for learning are present.” That includes academic learning opportunities, but also supports to emotional well-being, physical health and social connection.

The report included a number of recommendations to improve attendance, from creating those kinds of supportive learning environments to giving students chances to have their voices heard.

When students can find deeper meaning in their school experience, “attendance just comes naturally,” Bowen says.

Enduring the pandemic was difficult, he adds, but it did offer some lessons on what can’t be replicated digitally.

“You cannot teach those soft skills, that collaboration, that engagement, those partnership authentic opportunities, those experienceships that students so much enjoy,” Bowen says. “Those are the things that, after the pandemic, it was an awakening for all of us to say, you know, we need to get back to this and, not only do we need to get back to this, but we need to do this better than ever before.”

9 Ways to Create Lasting Bonds with Grandparents through Books

By Scott Sollers

Finding time to bond with your grandchildren can be challenging, especially if you live far away. That’s why I’ve made it a point to make the most of our special time together in the simplest, purest form –through reading. The shared experience of reading with my grandchildren has filled me with joy and created memories that will remain with us forever.

This National Grandparents Day (Sept. 8) is the perfect time to start a new tradition of reading together. Here are a few creative ways to get started on your special reading journey.

Visit Little Free Libraries

Take a walk with your grandchild to visit local Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood. Choose a book together. When you are done reading it together, put it in another Little Free Library for others.

Participate in reading reward challenges

Several libraries and businesses provide incentives to children who read. Make this a fun activity with your grandchild by working with them to complete the required reading minutes, and enjoy the perks together (pizzas, amusement park trips, etc).

Go on a storybook walk

Storybook walks let young readers enjoy a story and the great outdoors, as pages from a children’s book are printed and placed in displays along a walkable path at a park, school or neighborhood. Check with your local library for their recommendation of where to find the most current storybook walks.

Get a library card

September also happens to be National Library Card Sign-Up Month, so there’s no better time to introduce your grand-

child to the nostalgia of libraries. Make a plan to visit the local library together every so often to check out more books.

Make book-themed crafts

Extend the fun of books beyond the pages, and make puppets of your favorite characters, bookmarks inspired by your favorite story or dioramas that showcase a scene from a book.

Attend author readings and book signings

Many chain and independent bookstores love to host local authors for a read-aloud and book signing. These events offer a special and unique opportunity for kids to get their books signed and burning questions answered. Listen to audiobooks

Audiobooks provide a wonderful shared experience to foster the love of learning while on the go! Plus, they give children the opportunity to listen to books at a higher level than they’d normally read.

Start a grandparent/grandchild book club

Book clubs are the perfect way to socialize with friends while encouraging a love of reading. Round up some of your friends and their grandchildren and start planning regular meetings to discuss age appropriate books.

Establish Caribu accounts

Try to make some time for reading even though distance might keep you apart. Caribu is a video calling app that lets family and friends read together, virtually!

Scott Sollers is an award-winning author and proud grandparent of 3 (Felix, Harry and Ellie). His first book, a Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs, released last month. His next book “The Adventures at Lake Omigosh” will be released in November.

SCOTT SOLLERS WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN HARRY AND ELLIE.

BENEDICTINE

HIGH SCHOOL

Nov. 3

Fall Open Houses

2900 MLK Jr. Dr., Cleveland 216-421-2080, cbhs.com

CUYAHOGA VALLEY

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Oct. 24

4687 Wyoga Lake Road, Cuyahoga Falls 330-929-0575, cvcaroyals.org

GILMOUR ACADEMY

Sept. 29

34001 Cedar Road, Gates Mills 440-473-8050, gilmour.org/visit

HAWKEN SCHOOL

hawken.edu, 440-423-4446

Lower & Middle Schools

Nov. 23

5000 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst Upper School

Nov. 2

12465 County Line Road, Gates Mills

Mastery School

Nov. 9

11025 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland

Birchwood School of Hawken birchwoodschool.org, 216-251-2321

Oct. 20

4400 W. 140th St., Cleveland

HERSHEY MONTESSORI

Upper School

Sept. 13 & 28, Oct. 4 & 19, Nov. 8

11530 Madison Road, Huntsburg Twp., 440-636-6290, hershey-montessori.org

Lower School

Sept. 14, Oct 26 & Nov. 9 10229 Prouty Road, Concord Twp., 440-357-0918, hershey-montessori.org

LAUREL SCHOOL

Lyman Campus

Oct. 8

1 Lyman Circle, Shaker Hts.

Butler Campus

Oct. 23

7420 Fairmount Road, Novelty 216-464-1441, laurelschool.org

Submit your open house to openhouse@northeastohioparent.com

THE LILLIAN AND BETTY RATNER SCHOOL

Nov. 8 (Grades 1-8)

Nov. 15 ( Toddlers-Kindergarten)

27575 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike 216-464-0033, theratnerschool.org

MAGNIFICAT

Oct. 6

20770 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River 440-331-1572, magnificaths.org

THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT’S CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

themusicsettlement.org

University Circle Campus

Nov. 14

11125 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland 216-421-5806

Ohio City Campus

Nov. 14

2610 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 216-377-1410

OUR LADY OF THE ELMS

Oct. 6

1375 W. Exchange St., Akron theelms.org, 330-836-9384

PADUA FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL

Oct. 20 & 21

6740 State Road, Parma 440-845-2444, paduafranciscan.com

RUFFING MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Nov. 9

3380 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-7571, ruffingmontessori.net

SAINT IGNATIUS

Sept. 29

1911 West 30th St., Cleveland 216-651-0222, ignatius.edu

ST. PAUL WESTLAKE

Nov. 14

27981 Detroit Ave., Westlake stpaulwestlake.school, 440-835-3051

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

Lower & Middle School

Oct. 20

20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights 216-321-8260, us.edu

Upper School

Oct. 20

2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley 216-831-2200, us.edu

Tailgate Tailgate

Time: Time:

By Joel Hammond

What you need to know for your game plan!

Like with anything, there are degrees to just how serious you want to make your football tailgate.

And as football season kicks into high gear with the start of high school, college and pro action, we have what we feel is a happy medium setup for you: not too serious for the casual tailgaters’ Friday night high school setup, and just serious enough, with all the right thingamajigs and doohickeys, for the more serious among us, who might be found in the Muni Lot in downtown Cleveland on an upcoming Sunday morning. (We won’t tell!)

Have tailgate tips and tricks? Email them to joel@northeastohioparent.com and we’ll share them with our readers on our website and social media.

Equipment!

Portable grill + mini propane tank: These have been absolute game-changers for the tailgate scene, with portable stand-up or tabletop options at reasonably affordable prices. The Coleman Roadtrip Xcursion, for example, is a foldable, standup option. Add in a couple mini propane tanks and your tailgate is off to a tasty and not-too-cumbersome start.

Condiments caddy: Bring your plastic silverware, grill utensils, napkins, condiments and more to the show all in one fell swoop with this convenient accessory.

Collapsible table for serving: Sure, the tailgate of your truck could serve as a de facto serving table, but if we’re talking about upgrading our game, a four-foot collapsible folding table is an easy way to ease your space burden on gameday.

Food tents: Whether it’s hot in late August or cool in late September, the bugs are coming for your delicious tailgate fare.

Games!

Yes, cornhole is a traditional tailgate game, but for space-conscious partiers — or those without a truck or tailgate — perhaps it’s space-prohibitive. Try these alternatives to keep your guests entertained while waiting for kickoff.

Spikeball: The volleyball-like game of “roundnet” — but played much closer to the ground — is described as “that yellow trampoline game” and “if volleyball and foursquare had a baby” and is played two vs. two. A player

hits the ball down into the net and that player’s opponents having three hits to get it back onto the net, prefer ably with the opponents being unable to return it back to the net.

Ladder Toss: Throw a rubber bolo onto one of three rungs on a ladder-looking contraption to score points; the further down the ladder you land your bolo, the more points you get. The GoSports version of the game (found at various retailers) – is a family favorite and collapses neatly into a small bag for easy transport.

Food!

Old standbys are a must on the go, so we of course recommend hamburger sliders (or non-meat versions for vegans and vegetarians at the party), hot dogs, potato chips and more. But, just because you’re on the go doesn’t mean you can’t add a little flair to the menu. Our recommendations:

Buffalo chicken dip: An easy set-itand-forget-it slow-cooker dish, this is always a hit with those craving a bit of a kick and pairs perfectly with pita or tortilla scoops.

Corn salad: A staple of our family for parties, combine frozen corn with diced onions, peppers and tomatoes, black beans, the juice of a lime for a healthy salsa alternative.

Broccoli, grape and pasta salad: A fun twist on traditional pasta salad, this recipe from Southern Living is a big winner for your party.

Picking s Fall

By ShanaO’Malley-Smith

Find an orchard

Northeast Ohio has dozens of apple orchards and farms that are open to the public. Many provide U-pick opportunities beginning in late summer and going through the end of fall. Before heading to your local orchard, check their website or social media page for detailed information. You’ll be able to find out their U-pick days and times as well as what variety of apples are ripe for picking.

What to bring to an orchard

There isn’t much you need to bring for apple picking. Most places provide bags or baskets for you to carry your apples. Apples may be priced per pound, so be mindful of how full and heavy your bag becomes. Check to see if the orchard accepts cash or card and if they charge an admission fee so you can be prepared.

It’s also a good idea to wear comfortable shoes or boots since you’ll be doing some walking, weaving in and out of tree branches and standing on your tiptoes to get the ones off the high branches.

Orchard etiquette

Orchards are typically privately owned by farmers or families who allow their personal farm to be used for the public’s enjoyment. Before heading out on your picking adventure, check to see if they have specific rules posted. Here’s a few basic visiting rules to keep in mind:

Don’t climb or damage the trees. There’s no need to bring cutters or ladders. Only pick what you can reach and do not attempt to climb or bend any branches. Stay in designated picking area. Farms may have acres of apple trees but only allow a few rows a day to be picked. Different varieties of apples are in various stages of ripening and should not be picked until they’re ready. Only pick what you plan on paying for. Be mindful of over-picking or accidentally knocking off apples you don’t intend to buy.

Don’t taste test. While it’s tempting to take a big bite out of an apple in the field, it’s advised not to, since the apples may have pesticides, bird droppings, bacteria or other things you wouldn’t want to consume. Instead, see if the farm has samples that are

washed and cut. The USDA also advises that fresh produce should be rinsed under running water before consuming. Apples can also be gently scrubbed. Do not use soap on apples. Check their pet policy before bringing your four-legged friend.

How to pick apples

Did you know apple trees ripen from the outside first, so the apples hanging on the outer branches will be the ripest. A ripe apple should be firm, with no bruising or mushy spots. Don’t yank an apple off the branch or shake the branch and let it fall. Instead, give the apple a gentle twist and pull, and it should come off easily with the stem attached.

Set apples gently in your basket or bag as they can bruise easily. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The farmers or helpers on site are very knowledgeable and can give you a lot of great info about the apple varieties.

Apples from the market

No time to pick your own? No problem. Most farms will have a

�� Ohio is one of the top 10 states in apple production in the United States. It produces around 50 different varieties, including the Melrose, Ohio’s state apple.

market or stand with pre-made, ready-to-go bags of apples. Apples are usually labeled with the name of the variety. They may also provide some characteristics about the apple variety. For ex ample, they may say the variety of apple is sweet, sour, good for baking, etc. They may also pro vide samples for you to try before you purchase a bag.

Storing apples at home

Once you get your apples home, you’ll need to find a place for them. Do you keep them on the countertop or fridge? The good news is, you can do both. For the short-term, apples can be left in a bowl on the countertop for about a week. Do not store it with any other fruit as their gases will make other fruit ripen quicker. For longer-term, apples should be refrigerated, ideally in the crisper drawer in your refriger ator, away from other produce, where they can last for months. Rinse apples under running wa ter before consuming. You can also gently scrub with a produce brush to remove dirt.

- CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 -

Oh Gourd!My

What to do with pumpkins after Halloween?

After the trick-or-treating fun is over, don’t throw Mr. Pumpkin in your trash. Instead, there are a few natural things you can do to recycle your pumpkin at home. Did you know your backyard wildlife would love to fest on your leftover jack-o-lantern? Decomposing pumpkin also makes a great fertilizer for your garden. When you’re done with your pumpkin display, cut it into chunks and throw in a flower bed, or animalfriendly spot in your yard. Watch birds, squirrels, groundhogs, deer and more stop by for a delicious treat.

Any leftover scraps will decompose over the winter in your garden or flower bed. Just make sure to avoid painting your pumpkin or treating it with any chemicals so it stays safe for animals to eat.

1. The United States grows more than two billion pumpkins yearly, with more than 80 percent harvested in the month of October.

2. In 2023, a Minnesota horticulture teacher set a new world record for the world’s heaviest pumpkin, weighing in at 2,749 pounds.

3. According to Guinness World Records, the largest pumpkin pie weighed 3,699 pounds and was made by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers at New Bremen Pumpkinfest in New Bremen, Ohio on September 25, 2010. The diameter of the pie was 20 feet.

4. Pumpkins are native to North America. The oldest pumpkin seeds were found in Mexico, dating back to 7000-5550 B.C.

5. Pumpkins are more than 90 percent water.

6. Why are some pumpkins bumpy? Warty pumpkins have been all the rage the past few years, adding texture and color to the front porch display. These pumpkins have been genetically bred for their bumpy texture and are perfectly healthy gourds.

LL FUN

Ongoing Through Mid October

Pick Your Own Apples. Pick some great Ohio apples and take a wagon ride.10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patterson Farms, 8765 Mulberry Road, Chesterland, pattersonfarm.com

Corn Maze. Winding paths that steer you to intersections where you must decide where to go. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road., Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

Through 11/3

U-Pick Apples & Fun Farm

Activities. U-pick, maze and other activities. Weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 50336 Telegraph Road. Amherst, hillcrestfunfarm.com

Day-By-Day

9/6-7

Cleveland Oktoberfest. An exciting menu of activities and entertainment to delight young and old alike. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Rd., Middleburg Hts., clevelandoktoberfest.com

9/14-10/31

Pumpkin Days at Nickajack Farms. Pumpkin bowling, paintball, and a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. 11 a.m to 7 p.m. 2955 Manchester Ave., Canal Fulton, nickajackfarms.com

9/20-22

Elyria Apple Festival. Three days of family fun, food, entertainment, corn hole, children’s activities, and more. Ely Square, Broad St. & Middle Ave., Elyria, elyriaapplefestival.com

9/21-22

Apple Harvest Weekend. Witness many traditional harvest activities and discover how apple butter and cider are made. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

9/21, 9/28, & 10/12

Fall Festival. U-pick apples, live music, farm animals, pony rides and more. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bauman Orchards, 161 Rittman Ave., Rittman, baumanorchards.com

9/28

National Alpaca Farm Day Open House. Meet alpacas and learn about the alpaca lifestyle. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our Little World Alpacas, 16800 Cowley Road, Grafton, ourlittleworldalpacas.com

Medina Fall Festival. Hay bale maze, pet parade, pumpkin painting, games, face painting and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Main Street Medina, mainstreetmedina.com

9/28-10/27

Pumpkin Pandemonium. Scavenger hunt, harvest maze, hayride and more. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, heritagefarms.com

10/2

Fall Colors Hike. Discover why the leaves change colors and what other plants and animals are doing to get ready for winter. 5:30 p.m. Chapin Forest Reservation, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

10/4-6

Norton Cider Festival. Apple decorating, train rides, inflatables, fireworks and more. Columbia Woods Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Dr., Norton, nortonciderfestival.com

10/4-26

Pumpkins and Ponies. Pony rides, horse rides, hayrides and more. Fridays and Saturdays. Spring Mist Farms, 691 Pearl Road, Brunswick Hills, springmistfarms.com

10/5-6

Hale Farm Harvest Festival. Experience the seasonal work of a 19th century farm like cider pressing and fermentation. 10/78. 10 to 5 p.m. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, wrhs.org

10/11-12

Enchanted Forest. Meet costumed volunteers such as black bear, dirt, luna moth, and slug along the pumpkin-lit trails. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave., SW, Wilmot, wildernesscenter.org

Fall Fun Advertisers

Heritage Farms

Pumpkin Pandemonium starts on September 28. Bring the family to go on a scavenger hunt, get lost in the Harvest Maze and take a relaxing hayride around the farm. Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 2-6 p.m. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, the farm for all seasons. Visit heritagefarms.com for more information. 2024 is their 176th Anniversary as a family owned and operated farm. Come enjoy all the fun.

Lake Metroparks

In addition to protecting watersheds and open space, Lake Metroparks annually provides more than four million visitors with countless recreational and educational experiences at diverse facilities including an agriculturally-themed park, a nature center, a state-of-the-art education and wildlife rehabilitation center, two golf courses, six parks on Lake Erie’s shoreline and across-country ski center. With more than 60 miles of trails and 39 parks to explore, there’s plenty for you and your family to explore! 11211 Spear Rd., Concord Twp.: 440-639-7275, lakemetroparks.com

Lorain County Metro Parks

Halloween Fair is back! This family-friendly spooktacular event brings back the haunted walking trail, train rides, food booths, games, and more. This event will be held October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 with a special Sensory-Friendly, All-Ability Day on Thursday, October 10. Tickets go on-sale on September 24 at loraincountymetroparks.com/halloween. Admission is $5 per person and available through presale only—no onsite ticket sales.

Nickajack Farms

Pumpkin Days at NickaJack Farms is open every day 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from September 14 through October 31. Purchase your tickets online or at the door. Activities include hayrides, corn maze, pony rides, animals, corn crib, peddle carts, and much more. Interested in only pumpkins and decor? The perfect non-admission area is full of fall fun. The farm grows 75 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Mums, large and small straw bales, corn and corn stalk bundles available for sale. nickajackfarms.com

Patterson Fruit Farm

Patterson Farm hosts their Family Fun Fest, a young-family oriented creative farm outdoor play area, daily from Sept. 14 through Oct. 27 at 8765 Mulberry Road in Chesterland.

Reached by a wagon ride, it includes a huge pavilion of straw, corn maze, climbing tractor, tree house, homemade go-carts, pumpkin painting, PYO apples and pumpkins available. Food concession on week-ends. Call 440-729-7144 for updates on weather conditions and closings. Visit the Farm Market at 11414 Caves Road, open daily year round. pattersonfarm.com

Red Wagon Farm

Every fall they turn their working farm into an amazing place for families to come visit and spend the day “unplugged.”

The wagon ride through the Land of the Scarecrows, five-acre corn maze challenge, kid’s play area; and giant corn kernel pit are family favorites. They now offer a brewery, beer tent and live music to add to the adult fun. Please visit the website for hours of operation. redwagonfarm.com

Ways to Prepare Your Elementary Child for Middle School

By Joel Hammond

Ah yes, the protective cocoon of elementary school, with lots of support in place to protect students in their earliest formative years. For parents of elementary school students, that protective bubble is comforting. Then comes the transition to middle school, where things change — sometimes drastically. Districts across Northeast Ohio handle that transition differently. Preparation for those changes can begin now, even many months until your student transitions to a new school. Here are seven things local parents said they did — or wished they did — to prepare their children before attending middle school.

1. 2.

Help child take ownership of classwork and teacher communication. Ashley Walker, of Solon, says she encouraged and often forced her fourth grader, Steven, to be the first one to contact his teacher for missed work when he was absent. Does your child have a class issue? Encourage your student to discuss with his or her teacher or other support staff. Walker says she was supportive and helped follow up, but in fourth grade, it became her son’s responsibility to get the ball rolling as a means for self-advocacy.

See the school. Most districts will provide a “meet the school” type event in the weeks and months leading up to the transition. School officials we spoke to emphasized the importance of this event, not because students will remember every nook and cranny of their new school but being in the school helps debunk any preconceived notions students might have about it being too big, or confusing, or scary. By seeing the school, and that it largely looks like their elementary school, one student concern can be mitigated.

Work on organization. Valli Porter, also of Solon, told us that if she had it to do all over again, she’d work with her daughter, Arleigh, on her organization skills while she was still in elementary school. Her daughter always has been a strong student, but this duo was surprised by how hard the transition to middle school was given the added responsibility the student faced such as taking supplies to class, remembering the right thing from her locker now and for her class in two hours, and charging her Chromebook. Porter suggested others work on making lists, what students need and when, packing the night before and more. “Middle school exposed how much she relied on that small, forgiving elementary school environment,” Porter says.

Learn about different and enhanced academic standards. In middle school, students have more teachers — each of whom has different rules and customs. Projects intensify, with longer-term, more complicated work loads. Parents and students can learn more about the type of work expected, and typical middle school teacher expectations, by asking other parents in their network or neighborhood who have gone through the transition already. Additionally, clear communication and direct questions of teachers and school administrative staff early in the year can help drive clarity of these new, deeper expectations.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 7

Practice independent learning. Raise your hand if you have jumped in to help with your elementary school student’s homework at the first sign of trouble or confusion. Given the more difficult work and standards mentioned, the temptation may still exist to jump in to help, but guidance from educators suggests students are better off completing the work by themselves — and seeking assistance when necessary, either from their teachers or other sources.

Investigate/explore other activities available in middle school. Your son is a soccer and baseball devotee? Your daughter is on the fast track to 20 hours a week at the gymnastics gym? Middle school is a good time for those interests to potentially expand and broaden. Band, choir, robotics and more now become options for your student, and they can test and learn what other activities in which they may be interested.

Establish boundaries and rules, but also new privileges. For all the reasons described above, new boundaries and rules may be in order. Given the intensified academic expectations and responsibilities, a more formal homework or post-school-day schedule may provide the additional structure your student needs to succeed. Providing ways to practice independence and adding rewards may be appropriate to keep your student engaged and enthusiastic about these changes.

Dealing with Disappointment

Tips for your child on how to handle this common emotion and why it’s important.

By Aisha Taylor

As parents we want to protect our children from everything that can cause pain. Protecting them from disappointment is no different. Between friends, school, sports and unmet expectations, disappointment is a common emotion that children face. Therefore learning to handle it is a crucial skill for their emotional development.

Sometimes when a child feels disappointment, a parent naturally wants to jump in and try to fix things. Ryan Edlind, M.S.W, father, licensed social worker, therapist and adjunct professor, advises parents against this. He explains that disappointment “can have a very positive impact on the child.”

Similarly, Lisa Starr, a second grade teacher at Berkshire Local School District and a health and fitness teacher, shared that parents tend to want to bubble their children up, but disappointment can create resiliency, which they will need as adults. Parents need to know how to address disappointment when it happens, when to step in to help, and if disappointment is happening at school, know when to involve the teacher.

In order for parents to be able to help their child deal with disappointment, they need to know when it happens.

Starr encourages parents to be aware of how their children are behaving and if anything begins to change. If your children share something with you or you notice a difference in their behavior or mood, help your children name what they are feeling.

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

As your children develop the vocabulary to speak about what’s going on, Edlind says they can feel more confident expressing what they are feeling and why, and figuring out if there is anything they can do. He also provided these questions to ask:

• What are you disappointed about?

• What’s the hardest part about it?

• What are ways that you can deal with this disappointment?

Parents can also learn to ask good questions after the school day.

Starr suggests parents read through the newsletters and stay connected to the virtual communication systems. It may seem tedious, but that information can help parents ask good questions. Parents may not learn much if they just ask their child, “how is your day?”

Instead, she provided the example, “I saw in the newsletter that you all are learning a new math game. Did you try that today? How did that go? I see that you’re doing new groups during reading. Who are you with and what are you learning?” These questions can begin to help your children remember different things they encountered and want to talk about.

Going through this process takes time for both the parent and child.

“It is best not to rush the process of letting the kids work through their disappointment,” says Karen Townsend, child and adolescent therapist. “If a child isn’t ready to talk about being disappointed, then parents can either give their child the space and/or engage in an activity with their child like coloring, building with Legos, shooting basketballs, cooking, or playing a board game. Kids will often open up while engaging in an activity because playing is part of how they process their thoughts and feelings.”

REFRAME THE DISAPPOINTMENT

After your child verbalizes what happened, then you can help begin to reframe the disappointment and find the silver lining.

“‘Maybe you didn’t get the grade you wanted on the spelling test, but you got three more correct this week than you did last week,” Starr says as an example. “Or, you worked so hard. Imagine what the outcome would have been if you hadn’t.’

By doing

this we are helping kids see that we get to decide where we will focus and spend our time.”

Talking through disappointments can also help your children see alternatives. Helping children state what they feel can also help them figure out what they can do about it. For example, if a child is disappointed when a friend didn’t want to play at recess, Starr suggested that the parent could say, “You said she didn’t want to play with you at recess. Who did you play with? Oh you got to spend time with that person. Or, who can you look for to play with who may need a friend who you can be a friend to.”

Given that friendships are an area that can create disappointment, Townsend encourages parents to read books and find organic opportunities to talk to their children about friendship to help them learn what healthy friendships look like. For example, having conversations about characters in movies or shows and asking if the character is being a good friend or not and ways the character can respond to some of those difficult moments.

FOSTER HEALTHY ONGOING COMMUNICATION

Sometimes parents can think things their kids are disappointed about are ridiculous or are not worthy of the feelings or disappointment. Parents have to resist the urge to dismiss their child’s feelings or minimize

Townsend says. “Therefore, it’s important for parents to listen to their children and validate their feelings. This helps build trust and connection between the parent and child, and as the child gets older, the child will still want to share bigger issues with the parents.”

She adds, “This doesn’t mean agreeing on everything. But, if a child feels dismissed early on, then kids kind of shut down, and they don’t think their parents are a safe person to go to. Being able to keep lines of communication open and as a parent focus on the long term goal of having a healthy relationship with your kids where they can come to you.”

Having healthy relationships and open lines of communication starts with what’s said and how we speak. What we say can cause our children to open up or shut down.

Townsend suggests parents avoid saying things like, ‘It’s no big deal. Get over it. Stop crying.’ In that moment, the child may feel dismissed, or think those feelings aren’t ok. Instead, a more helpful thing can be to just give a hug, be there physically to support your child, or give your child a pat on the back. Consider saying, ‘I know how hard you tried.

I’m sorry it didn’t work out, or I can see how disappointed you are. Do you want to tell me more about what happened today at school? Can I help you figure out what to do next time if this happens again?’ This is powerful, because you are supporting your child while helping him/ her develop a growth mindset and to get back up again.

DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET

Knowing how to bounce back and deal with disappointment is important, because children need to know that life isn’t over after a disappointment and all of life isn’t going to be this way.

Townsend encourages parents to help children learn this truth by sharing examples of people who have overcome challenges and disappointment so children see they aren’t alone when they experience disappointment, but they can continue to persevere and work through those things, and not let it set them back for life.

She adds this can help children develop character and learn to try their best even though they won’t get everything they want. She recommended some books that parents could read with their

children to help them understand how to work through disappointments:

“The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes” by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

“After The Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again” by Dan Santat

“Sally Sore Loser: A Story About Winning And Losing” by Frank J. Sileo

“Get Unstuck from Disappointment (Kids Can Cope)” by Gill Hasson

These conversations aren’t easy, and at times they require parents to deal with their own disappointments so they can see clearly enough to help their children with theirs. Edlind says, “When parents mishandle their own disappointment and lash out at their child, this can disappoint their child. So it’s mission critical that a parent learns how to deal with their own disappointment.”

If you lost your temper recently, please don’t beat yourself up. We are a work in progress. Even Starr says she’s still learning as an adult how to handle disappointment. This is good news, because parents and children have the beautiful opportunity to learn, stretch, and grow together.

Elementary Art STORAGE

Li’l Davinci Art Cabinet Frame. Open the frame door, pop in the newest creation, then close the door to professionally and proudly display your child’s hard work… much to their delight! It holds up to 50, 8.5x11 pieces in each frame, including bulky 3D creations. Perfect for showcasing the endless stream of masterpieces from your budding Picasso, while creating an organized and stylish time capsule of their progress. Various retailers.

Dunwell Art Binder Portfolio. Displays 48 viewable pages. Custom spine insert to organize and identify kids’ art storage with ease. Various retailers.

Shutterfly.com. Turn your kids’ art into a gift or other keepsake such as a coffee mug, keychain, magnet, plate, ornament and more.

Touchnote.com Make postcards or greeting cards with your child’s art, put in your relatives address and Touchnote will send them. There are also framing options and more.

By Angela Gartner and Shana O’Malley-Smith

Every week or, even daily, your child might bring home something artsy for you to put on the fridge door to be admired. Whether it’s a drawing or craft, these school projects can add up throughout the year — and even as they move from grade to grade.

So, what do parents do with these projects once their fridge life has expired? Here are some tips to keep everything, without cluttering your home.

STORAGE

There are plenty of ways you can personalize a storage spot just for artwork that doesn’t cost a lot. Consider a simple large plastic bin, which you can label and decorate for each child where they can put their art after showing it off. If you look at big retailers, they also have something called “portfolio bags” at a low cost. It can save some space by hanging in a special spot, plus it keeps the artwork safe. If you are looking for big ticket items, art storage racks are an easy way to display many pieces at once, especially if you have multiple children.

SCAN

To ensure your child’s artwork is not forgotten, create a digital copy of the art by taking a photo with your phone. You can even include your child holding the piece of artwork. There are plenty of online services for photo saving and sharing where you can place them in a folder or digital scrapbook.

Art Portfolio Bags Storage. You can carry and store more than 60 pieces of art in this durable, waterproof storage bag. Various retailers.

SHARE WITH OTHERS

If you have copies of all your child’s digital artwork, it could be a fun way for you and your child to share their artwork with others. There are plenty of places where you can create custom postcards and even cards with your child’s art. For example, Touchnote.com is an app and website that has opportunities to send postcards and cards to family and friends.

SAVE WHAT YOU WANT AND DISPLAY

There are some pieces your little artist will make that are worth framing and displaying all year round. For the artwork, you and your child can mark it with their name, age and grade created. Attach a little note on the back of the piece in the frame for you and your child’s future selves to understand why it was so special to keep.

DECLUTTER AND RECYCLE

After your child has displayed their artwork for a certain amount of time, it might be a good time to discuss recycling. While you might not want to discard every piece your child creates, there are some that don’t need to be saved. If you are storing your child’s art throughout the year, when school is over, go through all the pieces. Choose what you want to scan, save, throw away or put in the recycling bin.

and

Wire Art Display. Easily hang photos, posters

more from the cable using the included clips. Various retailers.

Helping Your Child with Handwriting Skills

By Angela Gartner

From tying shoes, cutting with scissors, picking up toys and using utensils, to holding a crayon or pencil, young children are practicing fine motor skills. While many children hit these developmental milestones easily, everyone learns at their own pace. As kids begin to learn how to write, parents want to watch out for signs their child is having difficulties early on.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, most children between the ages of 4 and 5, developmentally should be able to print their name and write numbers one through five. In elementary years, ages 6 and 7, kids should be able to do a three-fingered grasp of a pencil, color within the lines, and write most numbers and letters consistently on lines.

“I think probably from a very young age, parents may notice their child is having an unusual grip (of a pencil, crayon or marker),” says Erica Richley-Duda, MSEd, LPCC-S, CCTP, executive director of Special Education at Summit Academy in Akron. “And I think when kids are first learning they may have that grip that’s a little bit unusual, but then it will correct itself over time.”

She says the grip could be one indicator,

but parents might notice their kids writing slowly or being inconsistent with the shapes or sizes of their letters.

“This could be something especially as they approach school age — kindergarten through second grade. If these things are still persisting, those may be indicators that something else is going on,” Richley-Duda says. “But if a parent isn’t aware of things that they should be looking for, it may be harder for them to pick up what potentially is an issue.”

For concerns about their child’s writing, parents should reach out to their school district or, if needed, their pediatrician. However, every child might not be diagnosed with a learning difference such as dysgraphia, which is a specific learning disorder in written expression.

“So when you’re noticing that there’s some issues, that’s where it’s always helpful at the school level to start to talk to an occupational therapist,” Richley-Duda says. “Are you noticing any issues? Are there interventions that could be tried at home, or at school, or does the student actually need services to correct those issues?”

She notes another part of writing is the ability to express your thoughts, which some students might be struggling with

expressive language, whether it’s written or oral.

“This is where a speech language pathologist can come in to help the student actually put what they’re thinking into meaning so they can convey their thoughts to others,” Richley-Duda says.

She suggests making it as fun and engaging as possible when practicing handwriting. Some of the things she mentions is instead of using paper, write in shaving cream or foam or use stencils to help them properly form the letters. Create a banner, card or craft for someone. Parents can also have their child do something that relates to their interests.

While technology has become increasingly part of our daily lives, teaching kids how to write is still important.

“I think at the present time, at least in my experience, there’s definitely the need to learn how to write versus just going straight to typing,” Richley-Duda says. “You think about how many times you have to hand sign a document. And if we got rid of writing all together, where we were just typing and using technology, I think we would lose a lot more skills and abilities, I think it would have a very significant impact.”

CREATIVE PLAYROOMS

Creative Playrooms Montessori and Child Care

Centers give children a leg up as they begin to climb the ladder of lifetime learning. Their gifted educators help kids fall in love with learning, and their centers focus on enriching the whole child — physically, emotionally and cognitively — through their traditional and play-based Montessori approach. As an award-winning childcare provider with six locations and 50-plus years of experience in the Greater Cleveland area, Creative Playrooms offers multiple programs for infants through school-age, but also provides families an additional choice of traditional or montessori programs. creativeplayrooms.com

Elementary School Guide

CUYAHOGA VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Committed to

Christ-Honoring Excellence, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy is redefining “collegeprep.” Their extraordinary faculty and staff work with 6-12 graders as they become who God has created them to be – academically, socially, and spiritually. More than an education, CVCA is a trajectory-altering experience during a critical time of a student’s life. Something different here. They can’t wait to show you! To get an up-close look at CVCA, join them for our Fall Open House on October 24 or Family Preview Nights on November 7 and 12. Register today at cvcaroyals.org

GILMOUR ACADEMY

As an independent and Catholic school, Gilmour is uniquely able to educate the mind and the heart of every student. After beginning their personalized academic journey at Gilmour’s Lower School, students transition seamlessly to the Middle School. There, seventh and eighth graders explore new passions, continue their faith journey and develop their talents in a highly individualized learning environment. They are also able to take advanced courses at the Upper School, making for a smooth transition into high school. gilmour.org

Grades 7-12 School Open House

Sunday, September 29 - 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Optional Information session - 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Tours and opportunity to meet with administrators, faculty and coaches

Students and families interested in the Upper and Middle School (Grades 7-12) can attend an optional information session from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in The Lorraine and Bill Dodero Center for Performing Arts. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., you will have the opportunity to speak with current faculty, administrators and families, learn more about tuition assistance, tour campus with a student ambassador and meet the athletic coaches. Join for either portion or both.

As an independent and Catholic school, Gilmour Academy is uniquely able to develop both the minds and hearts of its students.

Gilmour’s identity as an independent school reflects a commitment to rigorous academic programming, smaller class sizes and a variety of real-world learning opportunities. This personalized education allows students to tailor their experience to their interests. They have opportunities such as AP courses; electives ranging from molecular genetics to web development, and set design to digital music; semester-long internships in research labs; or the chance to develop their own concentrated set of experiences and coursework around one of five VECTOR themes.

Gilmour’s nature-based learning program includes opportunities for students in all three divisions. The school’s 144-acre campus features a chicken coop, greenhouse, an apiary, Giving Gardens and an outdoor learning pavilion, and environmental science coursework and sustainability initiatives have been added to the curriculum.

The Lorraine and Bill Dodero Center for Performing Arts features a main stage theater, studio

Mission

theater, practice rooms and exhibition spaces. This state-ofthe-art facility is utilized to advance student engagement and expression through the arts.

Gilmour’s unique combination of offerings allows each student to discover their passions within a rigorous academic setting that calls for students to write more, articulate better and develop their ideas further.

Gilmour’s Catholic identity means students are learning in an environment that is inclusive, thought-provoking and rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. Gilmour empowers students of all faiths and all ages to ask tough questions, think critically and grow spiritually. This gives them the strength to see how they can make a difference in the world.

Through its comprehensive curriculum, faith-based tradition, commitment to service and emphasis on leadership, Gilmour educates the whole person. A Gilmour graduate emerges with an understanding that they have both the talent and the responsibility to make the world a better place. At Gilmour, students from 18 months to 18 years do more than succeed — they thrive.

Statement

To develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more humane and just society.

37501 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville 440-327-1175 lakeridgeacademy.org

K-12 Preview Days: September 30, November 8 & April 11

Power Points:

Enrollment: 377

Grades served: K-12 Student to teacher ratio: 8:1

Tuition: $11,600-$22,000

The Only K-12 Private School on Cleveland’s West Side

Lake Ridge Academy is a unique educational oasis on a stunning 93-acre campus in North Ridgeville. Students from over 35 communities and 13 countries flock here for our exceptional learning experience, where relationships, wellness, and belonging are at the heart of everything we do.

Small Classes, Big Impact

Our commitment to small classes and exceptional teachers means your child will receive personalized attention and a deep understanding of their unique learning style. Our teachers are passionate about their subjects and dedicated to inspiring a love of learning.

A Community of Learners

Lake Ridge Academy isn’t just a school; it’s a community. Our students have the opportunity to interact with peers from all grade levels, fostering leadership, collaboration, and lifelong friendships.

Academic Excellence Meets Individual Needs

We believe every student is an individual with unique abilities, strengths, and interests. Our rigorous curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire, while our personalized approach ensures each student can reach their full potential.

• 100% of graduates attend a four-year college or university

• 70% of students receive financial aid

• Students travel from 35 communities and 13 countries to attend Lake Ridge

• 93-acre campus 25 miles outside of Cleveland

Beyond the Classroom

At Lake Ridge Academy, we believe in a wellrounded education. Our beautiful campus offers a serene setting for exploration and discovery, while our extracurricular programs cater to various interests, from athletics and arts to STEM and community service.

A Place Where Everyone Belongs

We’re committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and respected. Our focus on wellness, both physical and emotional, ensures that our students can thrive academically and socially.

Ready to Join Our Community?

Discover why Lake Ridge Academy is the perfect choice for your child. Schedule a tour today at lakeridgeacademy.org/admissions/visit.

• The class of 2024 received over

$8.7 million in merit scholarships

• 76% of the class of 2024 was accepted to their first-choice school

• Five Graduation Certificate programs offered, including Business and Entrepreneurship, Fine Arts, Global and International Studies, Engineering and Innovation, and Scientific Research.

Elementary School Guide A

HAWKEN

Hawken’s Lower School program reflects the school’s dual commitment to academic and social curricula and focuses on building a strong foundation in basic academic skills with an increasing emphasis on personal responsibility. Recent renovations support not only Hawken’s commitment to truly knowing each student as a learner and individual, but also the school’s evolving personalized learning model. Every set of grade-level classrooms has access to an adjacent learning commons to support differentiated learning groups as well as collaborative and project-based approaches to learning. hawken.edu/admission. Call or email at admissions@hawken.edu or 440-423-2950.

HERSHEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Hershey Montessori School prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Their Montessori approach to education is scientifically geared toward the student’s natural stages of development. This allows students to discover their strengths and master challenging concepts based on personal growth and interests. Hershey’s Concord Campus serves children from birth through sixth grade. Their Huntsburg Campus serves adolescents from seventh through 12th grade. They accept Ohio EdChoice. Tuition assistance and transportation are also available. hershey-montessori.org

LAKE RIDGE ACADEMY

Lake Ridge Academy is the only independent college preparatory school on Cleveland’s West Side. Their K-12 co-educational curriculum offers a unique blend of rigorous academics, extracurricular activities, and a focus on wellness and character development. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, their devoted faculty provides personalized attention to help every student thrive. Come visit their 93-acre campus and see the Lake Ridge difference. Their next Preview Day is September 30. Register at lakeridgeacademy.org/admissions/visit

LAUREL SCHOOL

Laurel is an independent day school for girls, K-12, with a co-ed Early Childhood School. Laurel students come from over 70 communities in Northeast Ohio. Laurel has two campuses, the 11-acre Lyman Campus is in Shaker Heights and the 150-acre Butler Campus is in Novelty. The Butler Campus is home to competitive athletics, full-time outdoor experiential learning for Grades 3-5, the Environmental Justice Semester, and Northeast Ohio’s first Outdoor Prekindergarten. Learn more about Laurel at its K-12 Open Houses on October 8 and 23. Visit laurelschool. org/openhouse for details.

OUR LADY OF THE ELMS

Our Lady of the Elms offers an all-girls, faithbased education for grades 1-12, with a co-ed preschool and kindergarten. Small class sizes create a nurturing environment where students are empowered to reach their full potential and lead lives of faith and integrity. Committed to fostering leadership and a spirit of service, the Elms prepares students to make a positive impact on the world. Learn more at theelms.org.

Elementary School Guide

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School is a culturally diverse community dedicated to promoting faith, knowledge, and character. 99% of their families are receiving free tuition though the EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarships. They strive to prepare their students for the future, whether that’s helping their 8th graders get into their dream high school or getting their preschoolers ready to transition into Kindergarten. Contact them today to learn about how you can join our family. olmc-cleveland.org

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE SCHOOL

Our Lady of the Lake, a faith-filled community, promotes the growth of the whole student. This nurturing community aids students on their journey toward a life of continuous learning, community service, and emotional well-being. Serving students in Prek-eighth grade. 216-481-6824, olleuclidschool.org

RUFFING MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights is more than just a school for children ages 18 months through eighth grade. It is a beloved community where children are guided by experienced Montessori-trained teachers and immersed in a rigorous curriculum that prepares students to become independent thinkers and creative problem solvers. Schedule your tour today by contacting the admissions office at 216-321-7571 and see why Ruffing is the compelling school of choice for so many. ruffingmontessori.net

ST. HILARY SCHOOL

St. Hilary School in Fairlawn serves students in grades K-8 in a faith-based environment with a curriculum that challenges and accommodates diverse learning abilities. The average student-teacher ratio is 20:1. Special offerings include Spanish, French, Chinese, religion, art, music, physical education, technology, advanced math and enrichment opportunities. Many extracurricular activities, as well as auxiliary, remedial, clinic, lunch and extended care services are available. 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, 330-867-8720, ext. 343, st-hilaryschool.org

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Valley Christian Academy is a private, co-educational, Pre-K through fifth grade Christian school in Aurora, Ohio. VCA offers an exceptional, Christ-centered education and challenging academics. It’s quiet and caring environment is home to enrichment programs, a one-of-a-kind STEAM strategy, many extracurriculars and so much more! The school is dedicated to serving your children and preparing them for a successful life.

Schedule a tour today and see for yourself! 1037 East Blvd, Aurora, 330-562-8191, valleychristian.com

September Calendar

THROUGH 9/8

Pollinator Express. Featuring miniature trains and largerthan-life pollinator sculptures. Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenfg.org

9/14-15

Butterfly Release. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Beech Creek Botanical Garden, 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org

9/29

Migrating Monarchs: Butterfly Tag and Release Event. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org

Pick - A - Day

MONDAYS

Teen Ceramics Experience. A wonderful chance to socialize while learning hand building, wedging, wheel throwing and more. 9/16 through 11/18. 4 to 6 p.m. Bay Arts, 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, bayarts.net

WEDNESDAYS

Astronomy Club. Explore the world of astronomy in a fun, social environment on the third Wednesday of each month. 6:30 p.m. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

Funday Group. Designed to help 9-12 year olds manage their social skills. 5 to 6 p.m. The Center for LifeSkills, 6325 Cochran Road, Solon, center4lifeskills.com

Where Do Children Play?

Music and art class series with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 9/4 through 10/9. Classes held at both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Children’s Museum of Cleveland. 10- to 1 a.m. cmcleveland.org

SATURDAYS

Family Saturdays. Games, crafts, live entertainment and more. First and third Saturdays.

12-4 p.m. Skylight Park, Tower City, 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, towercitycenter.com

STEAM Team Saturdays. On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, children, ages 5-11 discover the wonder of S.T.E.A.M. 12 p.m. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org

Second Saturday Science. A naturalist answers questions and helps spot marsh wildlife, including birds, bees, and butterflies. 8 a.m. Mentor Marsh, 8852-8928 Woodridge Ln., Mentor, cmnh.org

✱ SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO US! northeastohioparent.com/events/community/add

SUNDAYS

Family FUNday. Family-friendly games, movement-based activities, art and more. First Sunday of each month. 1 to 4 p.m. Community Arts Center, West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org

Ongoing

THROUGH 9/30

1,000 Paper Cranes. A monthlong celebration of the International Day of Peace. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, rrpl.org

THROUGH 10/4

Trike & Bike benefiting VeloSano. A series of community-organized bike rides for children throughout Northeast Ohio where they can ride their bikes, fundraise for pediatric cancer research and experience the pride of helping kids in need. trikeandbike.org

THROUGH 10/31

Return of the Butterflies. See butterflies actively searching for nectar as food sources and exploring their surroundings. Take part in butterfly releases each afternoon at 2 p.m. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., holdenfg.org

Day - By - Day

9/7

Heart & Home Handmade Market Sunflower Festival. Acres of sunflowers, artisans and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lost Trail Winery and Vineyard, 5228 State St NE Canton, heartandhomemarketplace.com

Grand Times. Celebrating grandparents and creating memories. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eton, 28867 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, etonchagrinblvd.com

Grandparents’ Day Celebration. Bingo, community partners, music, and art activities to make a keepsake with your loved one. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. South Euclid-Lyndhurst Public Library, 1876 South Green Road, cuyahogalibrary.org

9/7-8

Bubble Fest 2024. Dazzling demonstrations, amazing bubble performers, bubble foam party, and more. Edgewater Park 9/7, 1-5 p.m. Wade Oval, 12 to 4 p.m. 9/8. Bubble Variety Show 9/8, 7-9 p.m. Cleveland Heights High School. northeastohioparent. com/event/bubble-fest-2024

9/8

Grandparents’ Day at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Bring your grandchild to the zoo when all grandparents receive free admission. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3900 Wildlife Way, futureforwildlife.org

9/10

Parenting Workshop: Picking Eating & Problem Feeding. Whether you’re worried about a child who won’t eat vegetables or a child diagnosed with a feeding disorder, join this discussion. 6:30 p.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org

Young Scholars’ Academy Transitional. Kindergarten readiness program for scholars ages 4-6 (entering kindergarten fall 2024) and an adult. 4:30 p.m. Collinwood Branch Library, 856 E. 152nd St., Cleveland, cpl.org

9/11

Roald Dahl Day. Come and celebrate the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many other favorites. 4 p.m. Middlefield Branch Library, 16167 E. High St., geaugalibrary.net

Mess Makers: Bug Day at the Akron Art Museum. Learn, play, and explore creation stations based on our backyard’s creepy crawlies and happy hoppers. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org

9/12

I Can Cook. Learn basic cooking skills with simple recipes for kids with disabilities and their typical peers. 6 p.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org

9/13-14

Stark County Bird Quest. This 24-hour challenge has two goals in mind — get people into the outdoors using birds as a catalyst, and to accumulate data about bird populations in Stark County. starkparks.com

9/14

Waterloo Arts Fest. Multiple stages of a great mix of local music, art vendors, food trucks, street performers and unique art activities. 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Waterloo Road between Calcutta Ave. and E. 161st St., waterlooarts.org

Rocky River Arts Festival. A festival to celebrate the talents of Rocky River residents and highlight the merchants in the Old Detroit Shopping area. 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. rrparksandrecfoundation.com

Bob Meister Special Needs Fishing Derby. Exclusively for individuals with special needs. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sippo Lake Park East, 5300 Tyner St., Canton, starkparks.com

Imagination Station Literacy Carnival. A day brimming with literary fun and cultural festivities, designed especially for children from birth through elementary age. 2 to 5 p.m. South Lorain Branch Library, 2121 Homewood Dr., lorainpubliclibrary.org

Free Hispanic Heritage Month Concert. Come early to socialize and dance in the Grand Foyer with DJ IamYulissa! 7 p.m. Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, clevelandorchestra.com

Adapted Storytime. Storytime in a supportive environment for children with autism and/or sensory integration challenges. 10:30 a.m. Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Road, mcdl.info

9/14

Education & Enrichment Expo 2024. With dozens of schools, education-related businesses, after-school and other enrichment programs, attendees will have the opportunity to discover a variety of options for their children’s educational and enrichment needs.11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Auditorium, 3900 Wildlife Way, northeastohioparent.com

9/14-15

Chalk Festival. Children and adults join professional artists to create a color canvas on the walkways around the Fine Arts Garden. 12 to 5 p.m. The Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org

Bluey’s Big Play. A brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children’s television series. State Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org

Squire’s Castle Family Campout. An overnight adventure to sleep outdoors under the stars. 1 p.m. to 11 a.m. North Chagrin Reservation, Chagrin River Road, Willoughby Hills, clevelandmetroparks.com

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k Parent & Me Storytimes and Activities

Pick-A-Day

MONDAYS

Toddler Tales Story Time. , Songs, fingerplay, flannelboards and more. Through 11/11. 10:30 a.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org

Babies and Books. Lapsit story time with rhymes, songs, and interactive play. Through 10/21.

10:30 a.m. Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna, reedlibrary.org

MONDAY & THURSDAY

Preschool Story Hour. Ages 2 and up. 9/9-11/21. 10 a.m. Peninsula Library, 6105 Riverview Road, peninsulalibrary.org

TUESDAYS

Tuesday Lapsit. Bounces, rhymes, and songs, followed by a story. Through 9/17. 10 a.m. Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road, kirtland.lib.oh.us

Tales for Twos. Enjoy stories, songs, and movements with your two year old and Mrs. McBee. 10:15 a.m. North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St., ncantonlibrary.com

TUESDAY-FRIDAY

Frogs & Polliwogs. Hands-on activities, music, games and simple crafts. Ages 2-3 with an adult. 9:30 or 11 a.m. 9/9-1/18/25. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

WEDNESDAYS

Wiggles and Giggles. Come and have fun while increasing your child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being through play. Through 11/13. 10 a.m. Elyria Central Branch Library, 211 Second St., elyrialibrary.org

Babytime. Stories, songs and rhymes. Through 11/27. 10 a.m. Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, geaugalibrary.net

Tiddlywinks. Interactive story time filled with stories, songs and rhymes. Through 11/20. 10 a.m. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., mentorpl.org

Fall Afternoon Storytime. Stories, flannel boards, fingerplays and songs. Through 11/27. 2 to 3 p.m. Windham Branch Library, 9005 Wilverne Drive, portagelibrary.org

THURSDAYS

Newsy Mom Playdates. Stories and activities on the 2nd Thursday Monthly. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Belden Village Mall, 4220 Belden Village St. NW, Canton, shoppingbeldenvillagemall.com

Family Storytime. Songs, rhymes, stories, playtime. Ages 5 and under with caregiver. Through 11/21. 11 a.m. Firestone Park Branch Library, 1486 Aster Ave, Akron, akronlibrary.org

Wee Ones Storytime. Stories, songs, rhymes and playtime. Through 11/21. 10:30 a.m. Barberton Public Library, 602 W. Park Ave., barbertonlibrary.org

FRIDAYS

Family Storytime at the Great Northern Mall. Family storytime on the first Friday of each month. 11:30 a.m. 4954 Great Northern Mall Blvd., North Olmsted, greatnorthernohio.com

Baby Rhyme Time. There will be books, bounces, bubbles and Coco the storytime bear. Through 11/29. 9 a.m. University Heights Branch Library, 13866 Cedar Road, heightslibrary.org

Storytime. Stories and songs for children ages 2-5. Through 12/27. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oberlin Public Library, 65 S. Main St., oberlinlibrary.org

Read to Me Playdate. Hear engaging books and sing lively songs with plenty of time for playing and talking. Through 11/22. 10:30 a.m. Jefferson Branch Library, 850 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland, cpl.org

September CALENDAR

9/17

Toddler Time: Sensing the Summer. Enjoy experiencing Nature with your little one as we see, smell and touch summertime in the park. 11 a.m. Orchard Hills Park, 11340 Caves Road, Chester Twp, geaugaparkdistrict.org

9/20

Wildlife at Night. Explore the local crepuscular and nocturnal wildlife of Hidden Hollow with a naturalist followed by a campfire. 7:30 p.m. 8672 Richman Road, Lodi, medinaparks.com

9/20-22

Rotary Camp Respite Weekend. A great way for a first-time camper to gain a short overnight experience. 6 p.m. to10 a.m. 4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, gotcamp.org

9/21

Cleveland Pickle Fest. 11 to 6 p.m. Mall B, 300 St. Clair Ave. NE, Cleveland, clevelandpicklefest.com

Caramel Apple Party. Ages 10-18 create their own delicious concoction using apples, caramel, chocolate, and other sweet toppings. 2 to 3 p.m. Goodyear Branch Library, 60 Goodyear Blvd., Akron, akronlibrary.org

Super Science Saturday: Darling Deciduous. Take a look at the darling world of the deciduous trees. 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Akron Fossils & Science Center, 2080 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Copley, akronfossils.com

9/24

Silly Science. Learn about different aspects of nature and science through hands-on experiments. Ages 2-5 with an adult. 9:30 a.m. Kopf Family Reservation, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, loraincountymetroparks.com

9/27-10/6

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. A colorful history lesson for children, reminding them that our individual differences make us awesome, not outcasts. Talespinner Children’s Theatre, 1305 W. 80th St, Cleveland, talespinnercle.org

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ONGOING ATTRACTIONS

AKRON ART MUSEUM

LAND JAM. Two Ohio artists transform a museum gallery into an immersive, colorful, sensory experience. United by bold color and pattern, the installation promises to be a feast for the eyes. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org

AKRON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

FARM TO TABLE. Kids pick apples, gather eggs and pick vegetables. Next, they buy and sell from each other at the farmer’s market. Lastly they can put on a chef hat and make lunch. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org

AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER

TWO ACRE OUTDOOR PLAY

PARK. Kids enjoy a 60-foot giant slide, a four-person helicopter swing, a 200-foot zip line, a mini challenge course and an old fashioned merry-go-round. 2080 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com

AKRON ZOO

GRIZZLY RIDGE. Watch grizzly bears run, play and splash in their pool. Plus, you’ll have fun sliding down the otter slide which is a fully enclosed acrylic tube that goes underwater right through the otter pool. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM CLEVELAND

BUBBLES. Stretch a bubble bigger than your body, make long winding bubble snakes, jump and catch bubbles filled with fog, set a flurry of bubbles in motion in their bubble blizzard, and more. 3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, cmccleveland.org

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN

HERSHEY CHILDREN’S GARDEN. Search for fish, frogs and turtles in the pond, learn about veggie and herb gardens, create in the sand box, care for plants with the water pump, and explore and play in nature’s playground. 11030 East Blvd., University Circle, cbgarden.org

CLEVELAND

METROPARKS ZOO

SUSIE’S BEAR HOLLOW. The state-of-the art tropical bear habitat is home to the zoo’s male Andean bear and male and female sloth bears. 3900 Wildlife Way, futureforwildlife.org

THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH 1/5/2025

PICTURING THE BORDER. Photographs of the US-Mexico borderlands from the 1970s to the present ranging from intimate domestic portraits, to images of border crossings and clashes between migrants and the US border patrol.11150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THROUGH 12/31

ONE WORLD, ONE SKY. Join Big Bird and Elmo on an unforgettable journey to the Moon and back. 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, cmnh.org

GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER

TAPE SCAPE. Using the humble product known as packing tape, the Science Center and designer/artist Eric Lennartson built an all-ages playground entirely out of packing tape wrapped around a metal frame. 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, greatscience.com

GREATER CLEVELAND AQUARIUM

ASIA AND INDONESIA GALLERY. Entering this gallery almost sends you into a zen serenity, and with those heightened senses, you’ll love seeing some of their newest species – if you can find them!

2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com

HOLDEN ARBORETUM

MURCH CANOPY WALK AND KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER.

A 500-foot-long elevated walkway that’s 65 feet above the forest floor and a tower 12 stories tall provide a breathtaking view. 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org

LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER SCHUELE PLANETARIUM. This combination of an opti-mechanical star projector and digital projector provides visitors with an immersive learning experience through high-resolution, 360 degree images and a realistic, breathtaking display of stars. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS CLEVELAND

ILLUSION ROOMS & INSTALLATIONS. Immerse yourself into the fascinating world of illusions and let these captivating rooms play tricks on your mind. Engage in astonishing and mind-bending installations that will shock your senses and puzzle your perceptions. 186 Euclid Ave., Suite 130, Cleveland, moicleveland.com

September CALENDAR

9/28

Wild About Grizzlies. It’s a ‘beary’ fun day for all things grizzly bear. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org

Read to SomeBunny. Practice your reading skills with a fuzzy friend, such as a therapy bunny, frisky ferret and more. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Twinsburg Public Library, 10050 Ravenna Road, twinsburglibrary.org

Firefighter Story Time. Meet firefighters, share a story, learn about fire safety, and explore the fire engine! 10:30 a.m. Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch Library, 5642 Andrews Rd., mentorpl.org

Looking for more ways to celebrate reading with your child?

Find activities and events at local city libraries, parks, regional atttractions and more at NortheastOhioParent.com

JUST FOR HOMESCHOOLERS

Pick - A - Day

MONDAYS

Homeschool: Fine Arts Medley. Homeschool students will rotate through four artistic disciplines: Art, Music, Dance, and Theatre. 9/9 through 10/21. Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Novelty, fairmountcenter.org

TUESDAYS

Homeschool Book Club. Homeschool children ages 7-11 read, discuss and enjoy activities. 9/17 through 12/3. 10:30 a.m. Barberton Public Library, 602 W. Park Ave., barbertonlibrary.org

FRIDAYS

Homeschool Skate. Exciting and beneficial form of recreation for home school children. 10/4-12/20. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mentor Ice Area, 8600 Munson Road, mentoricearena.com

Homeschool Hops. 90-minute jump just for homeschool students. 12 to 4 p.m. SkyZone, 6217 Chittenden Road, Boston Hts., skyzone.com/bostonheights

Day - By - Day

9/7-22

Colonial Williamsburg

Homeschool Days. Homeschoolers and their families discover history brought to life. 101 Visitor Center Dr., Williamsburg, VA, colonialwilliamsburg.org

9/11 & 13, 10/24

Homeschool Day at Ramseyer Farms. Make memories with family and friends on these special homeschool days. 10 a.m to 2 p.m. 400 Ramseyer Lane, Wooster, ramseyerfarms.com

9/12

Climbing and Fitness. Meet up with other homeschoolers and get your climbing on. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. High Point Climbing and Fitness, 2499 Keith St. NW, Cleveland, highpointclimbing.com

9/17, 10/15 & 11/19

Homeschoolers Outdoor Education. Register your homeschoolers for a series of three natural science classes. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oenslager Nature Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Ctr., medinacountyparks.com

9/18

Homeschool Hangout. Meet other homeschool families while exploring hands-on STEAM activities at the library. 1 p.m. Cuyahoga Falls Library, 2015 Third St., fallslibrary.org

9/19

Homeschool Field Trip Day: Transportation. Look at how different modes of transportation in Cleveland changed over time. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd., wrhs.org

Homeschoolers: Fantastic Fungi. Ages 7-12 explore the complex and fascinating world of fungi – organisms vital to all life on earth. 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg, summitmetroparks.org

9/20

Homeschool Family Day. Painted turtle, archerfish, foxface rabbitfish or chocolate chip sea star, learn how these and other wacky animal names originated. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., greaterclevelandaquarium.com

9/25

Homeschool Scientists. Join the Holden Arboretum to educate early learners about plant science through literacy and languages. Ages 4-6. 2 p.m. Willowick Public Library, 263 E. 305th St., we247.org

9/26

Outdoor Adventures for Teen Homeschoolers: Mountain Biking. Learn fundamental bike movements like balance and control before progressing to harder skills. 2:30 p.m. Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 W. Ridgewood Dr., Parma, clevelandmetroparks.com

10/2

Homeschool Days at Sauder Village. Connect your child to local history. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 22611 State Route 2, Archbold, saudervillage.org

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Dad MATTERS

By Jason Lea

Jason Lea has a son, a daughter and a full-time job at the Mentor Public Library. He also blogs for Northeast Ohio Parent in his nonexistent free time. You can find this East sider on Twitter at @jasonmarklea or read his blog at northeastohioparent. com/bloggers

IAdvice for Lonely Parents

f you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone.

A new survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that 66 percent of parents felt lonely or isolated sometimes. And 79 percent said they’d value a way to connect with other parents outside of home and work.

But I’m not just here to describe a problem that you’ve already noticed. Sociologists have been writing books about American loneliness for decades, and I’m the exact sort of geek who reads those books. So I come bearing options.

My (nonprofessional) advice is the same as Lucy in Peanuts: Involvement. Here are just a few options. If none of them appeal to you, hopefully they spur you to think of more choices.

1. If you’re reading this, then you probably have a kid. Have you considered getting involved in a PTA? This option provides three unique benefits. You’ll automatically have common ground with the other people in the group. You’ll get to know your kids’ friends’ grownups better. Kids tend to do better in school when their adults are more involved in their schooling.

2. You could join a service group like Rotary, Kiwanis, or a Service League. It gives you an opportunity to support your community and socialize with adults.

3. Have you considered joining or becoming more involved in a faith group? It’s easier to bond with people when you share their values.

4. There are so many nonprofits out there looking for volunteers. What do you enjoy?

If you love animals, consider volunteering for a humane society. More of an outdoorsy type? Reach out to the Metroparks. Whatever cause is close to your heart, there’s likely a local nonprofit filled with people who share your goals.

5. What do you do for fun? If you’re looking for something more playful, follow your interests. If you enjoy playing chess or board games, there are local MeetUps for that. Love music? Find a jam session. If you like reading, you could join a Book Club. (Personal admission: I work at a library and almost all of my suggestions end with, “Go to the library.”)

6. This one’s more difficult for introverts but I’d be remiss to ignore it. Embrace opportunities to chat with your neighbors. Bring out the sidewalk chalk on a nice day and let other neighborhood kids draw too. If you admire your neighbor’s garden, let them know. Even small interactions can build meaningful relationships over time. Plus, as you get to know your neighbors better, the proverbial village that helps raise your child will grow.

Once again, feeling lonely is more commonplace than you think. Even before COVID, Americans were feeling more isolated than ever. The fancy phrase for that feeling of connection to your community is “Social Capital.” It’s one of the best indications of a good neighborhood and community.

I wish you the best of luck in finding “Your People.” They’re here somewhere, and they’re probably feeling a little lonely too.