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Snow Play
The first accumulating snow has fallen in Columbus and with that comes all of the snow related activities. Read on for 9 ways to say-n-play in the snow! Do you want to build a snowman? And then label body parts, clothing items, and use spatial concepts in order to build your child’s vocabulary. Take a moment to make a Snow Angel. Describe how to make it and then make one together. Which angel is bigger? Paint the Snow. Liquid watercolors are a perfect way to color the snow and can be spread via a spray bottle or a paint brush. What colors are you using? Play with snow gems. Create these…
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14 Outings to Beat the Winter Blues
Hunt for Bison at Battelle Darby Creek and then explore the Battelle Darby Creek Nature Center. Both are located in the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park near Galloway and completely free to the public. The Nature Center offers a “living stream” with toads and fish that can be explored from above, below, and beside. In addition, the nature center has interactive exhibits and a variety of animal pelts for children to explore. Outside, there is a heard of bison that roam freely within two enclosed pastures. If you are lucky, they will be in the pasture near the parking lot when you arrive! Finding your way there can be a bit tricky, so be…
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Toy Testing: Picasso Tiles Ferris Wheel Set
We just received our latest happy mail delivery from Picasso Tiles and were so excited with what we found. The package contained the PicassoTiles PT62 Kids Toy Building Block Ferris Wheel Set LED Light Children Construction Kit Magnet Tiles for us to test in exchange for our honest review. This Ferris Wheel set includes the Picasso Tiles pieces to build a ferris wheel, LED light inserts for the square pieces, and different shaped confetti filled inserts to create sound blocks. My daughter pulled out the Picasso Tiles and immediately began building. Once I put together the Ferris wheel frame, she was then able to create a simple Ferris wheel on her own.…
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10 Can’t Miss Events this Holiday Season in Columbus
The holiday season is upon us in Columbus and the anticipation to create magical moments is real. Below are ten tried and true ways to experience the magic of the holidays – hopefully you will find some inspiration to help create your own holiday traditions. Shop Small this holiday season and support the local makers in your community, especially on Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 24th this year. Click here to find 6 ways you can shop small for those tiny humans in your life. Stroll the luminary lined brick streets in German Village during the annual Village Lights event. This year Village Lights falls on Sunday, December 2 from 5…
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Toy Testing: PicassoTiles Glow in the Dark Race Track Set
We recently received the PicassoTiles PTT307 Glow in The Dark Flexible Race Tracks for reviewing purposes. When it was first opened, my husband made a comment about how the track looked like a one trick pony and he thought Big Sis would grow tired of it quickly. This race track has been in our living room now for approximately two weeks and it is the first toy Big Sis is drawn to in the morning and then when we get home from school in the evening. It has been a pleasant surprise to see how much use she has gotten out of it already. She first began to play with it as…
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Guest Post: Local Author & Mom Renee Casteel Cook
Meet Renee Casteel Cook, a local Author, Eater, Mother, Reader! Read on as she introduces her latest children’s book, “Meet Maddie,” and the inspiration behind the character. My writing career started when I moved to Columbus four years ago and left my previous day job in advertising to write The Columbus Food Truck Cookbook (and follow up, Best of Trailer Food Diaries which spotlights Columbus alongside major food truck markets like Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon). I was pregnant with my now three year old daughter as I researched the mobile food scene – an even better excuse to eat for two while visiting the trucks and recipe testing! Once she was born…
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Top 5 Craftin’ Outlaws
Craftin’ Outlaws is Columbus’ longest-running alternative craft fair. The mission of Craftin’ Outlaws is to expose the public to an alternative to mass produced products and to support local indie artists, crafters, and designers. This year the event will be on November 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The following are the artists that I can’t wait to check out! Flannel Board Fun As a Speech Language Pathologist I love a good flannel board. I am excited to see the variety of stories and activities Flannel Board Fun will be bringing to the event. Thankful Knits The macrame pieces that Thankful Knits creates are…
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November – A Month of Kindness
World Kindness Day falls on November 13 this year, so I am officially declaring November the month of kindness. Children learn by observing adults, even when those adults aren’t intentionally trying to teach them anything. This month I am challenging myself to be more intentional in spreading kindness in hopes that my daughter will learn and follow my lead. Below is the list I have made to guide us on our quest to focus on doing good for the month of November. Will you join us in our efforts to throw kindness around like confetti? Celebrate World Kindness Day on November 13 by completing 1 random act of kindness. Build…
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North Market Scavenger Hunt *Updated*
The North Market is located just west of N. High St. between Vine and Spruce St. It is the only public market in central Ohio and and is home to more than 30 merchants. The North Market offers a variety of foods, sights, and sounds. What better way to explore the hustle and bustle of this public market than with a scavenger hunt. Before you set off for your scavenger hunt adventure, print the list provided below. Prepare for the scavenger hunt ahead of time by going over the items on the list. Talk about the different types of items you will be searching for and where these items might be located. Some might be up high,…
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Baby Talk: 0-3 Months
Language development is fascinating and even more so when you get a front row seat through a first hand experience. When baby is 0-3 months, he isn’t talking yet, but he is observing his world and beginning to make communication attempts. At 0-3 months baby is reacting to his world by crying, cooing, smiling, grunting, and gurgling. How you respond to baby’s sounds begins to teach baby the cause and effect relationship that becomes purposeful communication. Closer to 3 months old baby may begin to make attempts at communicating. Eye contact becomes more purposeful, a social smile emerges, and sounds (other than crying) are produced. The most beneficial ways to…