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A trip to The Newport Aquarium with the Young and the Old(er)
We recently spent a weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio and The Newport Aquarium was a must see on our list of things to do. The aquarium is located just over the river from Cincinnati in Newport, Kentucky, so we were there in a matter of minutes from our stay in the city. When my husband and I planned our trip to Cincinnati, we had our daughter in mind for each of our stops and picked destinations based on her interests and experiences. She loves the water, so we made sure The Newport Aquarium was on our list. However, we quickly realized once we arrived that what appealed to our toddler at the aquarium also appealed to us as…
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Learning Through Play at the Duke Energy Children’s Museum
We recently spent a weekend exploring Cincinnati, Ohio. The first stop on our adventure was the Duke Energy Children’s Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center. The museum is an easy one and a half hour drive down I-71 from Columbus and admission is only $5.50-$10.50 (depending on age). The relatively short drive and affordable cost allow it to be a fun day trip from home or must-see stop on a weekend away in the Queen City. The museum provides eight educational and themed play areas, with two specifically designed for preschool-aged and younger. The children’s museum provides more than 1,800 additional hours of programming each year. We picked a weekend when the…
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All Things Green
In anticipation of Spring and St. Patrick’s Day, this week we are celebrating with all things green. Read on for some green inspiration. Make a Green Smoothie. Not only is making a smoothie a great way to build your child’s language skills, but it’s a great way to sneak some healthy food into your child’s diet. I used this recipe from Super Healthy Kids for inspiration for the perfect green smoothie. Set up a Green Walk down the hallway. I printed out common green objects, cut them out, and then taped them on the hallway walls. My daughter went up to each common objects and imitated a word or sound after I modeled it for her.…
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A Dr. Seuss Celebration!
March 2 is a day for celebration. It is Dr. Seuss’ birthday (He would be 113 this year!) and Read Across America Day. In celebration of the day and the 44 books Dr. Seuss has written, I have put together 5 toddler-friendly activities paired with a Dr. Seuss book for each day of the week. Monday: Start the week by reading a Dr. Seuss classic, Green Eggs and Ham. I love that Dr. Seuss wrote this book on a bet that he couldn’t write a book with fifty or fewer distinct words. Then, make a tasty breakfast of green eggs and ham. In lieu of food coloring, check out the blog Family Food…
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Learning Body Parts with Goldfish Swim School
As a Speech Language Pathologist working in early childhood intervention, I often evaluate a young child’s receptive language (what spoken words she understands). Part of the assessment process examines if a toddler can identify body parts upon request. Typically, the ability to identify body parts begins to emerge between 12 to 18-months old. Around this age, a toddler will identify anywhere from one to six body parts when asked. My daughter began swim lessons with Goldfish Swim School at 13-months old. At the time, she could identify her “tummy” but wasn’t consistent when identifying other body parts. When we asked her to identify a body part, she knew we were…
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Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 2
It’s official; Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. This can be the hardest time of year for active families. The lack of Vitamin D and inconsistent weather make for some very antsy and grouchy children…not to mention their parents! I started a list a month ago of some great places in Columbus for a young toddler to explore during this time of the year, Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 1. Below, I have continued the list with some additional ways toddlers can play, explore, and learn while out and about in Columbus. Pee Wee Play Gym/Toddler Time: The Westerville…
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5 Reasons to Start Swimming Early at Goldfish
I never thought I would take my daughter to her first organized swim lesson before she could walk. This past summer, my girl was so interested in water and swimming pools that she seemed almost fearless. So, when the opportunity for swim lessons became available, I decided that enrolling her at Goldfish Swim School would help her not just enjoy the water, but also learn how to actually swim. Looking back, I am so happy she had her first swim lesson shortly after turning a year old (your child can start as young as four-months old at Goldfish). Below, I am sharing five benefits my family has gained because our daughter started swim lessons at Goldfish…
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Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 1
The first 3 months of the year are generally the longest for me, as I’m sure they are for everyone else. Now that our daughter is 17 months old, we have a full-blown toddler in the house, and our house is feeling even smaller than actually it is. At 17 months, baby girl enjoys outings; with a lot of places around town, I find the activities may be a little too structured, the space may be a little too dangerous, or the other children may be a little too big for her. Below, I have listed some great places in Columbus for a young toddler to play, explore, and learn, where we will…
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A visit to the AHA! Children’s Museum
We had the time and opportunity over winter break to explore the AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum, in Lancaster, Ohio, and we are so glad we did! The museum is an easy 45-minute drive from Columbus and admission is only $6, which makes it a very manageable and worthwhile day trip. The museum’s mission statement is, “Educating children in a world of discovery, curiosity and imagination through hands-on play.” The museum is designed to educate and accommodate children ages six months to eight years-old. There is a lot to take in upon arrival. The museum is a 4,000 square foot, open space, with 33 hands-on exhibits (at last count).…
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5 Easy Toddler-Made Ornaments
This holiday we have been making ornaments that focus more on the process than the product. The process of making these ornaments allows a child to explore different art mediums and just create. Below, I have listed 5 simple ornaments that a toddler can create, with a little support from their favorite adult. Salt Dough Ornaments: This activity is quickly becoming one of our favorite holiday traditions. The recipe is simple: 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, and 1/2 cup warm water. Your child can help you mix the ingredients together, roll the dough out, and then press out the shapes. Let the ornaments dry for 2 to 4 days or place…