• Explore

    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…

  • Uncategorized

    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…

  • Columbus Guide

    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,…

  • Baby Talk,  Speech & Language Tips

    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…

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    11 Can’t Miss Activities This Fall in Central Ohio

    Fall is a wonderful time of year here in Central Ohio and it is jam packed with so much to do. The following are just a few of the can’t miss activities happening in the area. Visit the sunflowers at Tecumseh Land Trust.  The field is on US-68 on your way to Yellow Springs, Ohio (about a 45 minute drive). This year the sunflowers are expected to bloom between September 9th – 22nd. Get your camera ready and head to the field. Check out Harvest Blooms at the Franklin Park Conservatory from September 22nd – October 28th. Stroll amongst a colorful display of mums and ornamental kale to feel fall in all…

  • Explore,  Say-n-Play Summer

    Summer Challenge #10: Complete a Scavenger Hunt

    If you have been following Say-n-Play Columbus for awhile you know how much we love a good scavenger hunt. With the weekly challenges, this summer has felt like one giant scavenger hunt. We have been on the hunt for new foods, to finding a new playground, to a weeklong photography challenge with prompts. This final week of the #saynplaythesummeraway weekly challenges, we are challenging you to participate in our weeklong scavenger hunt. I am excited to have had the opportunity to partner with local businesses to provide a grand prize at the end of the week. The prize includes a bucket filled with a bubble want, sidewalk chalk, a Columbus…

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    Transitioning to a DockATot Grand

    Sleep. As a mom to a two-month-old and a fresh three-year-old, I am in desperate need of sleep these days. I had fully prepared myself for the newborn sleep schedule – up every 2 to 3 hours for a feeding and pacing the halls with a baby who has his nights and days reversed. What I was not prepared for, however, was my toddler regressing in her sleep. Once the baby arrived, my toddler decided to fight bedtime, awaken multiple times in the night, and jump out of bed at any hint of sunlight. I was so desperate for sleep that when DockATot offered to send the Grand Dock for…

  • Say-n-Play Summer,  Uncategorized

    My First Photo Book with Pinhole Press

    My daughter is extremely interested in photography – especially when it involves using my cell phone to take a picture. So, to build off of her motivation, I created a list of prompts for her in an effort to focus her photography into specific tasks. After I give her a prompt, she has to come up with what she wants to photograph to fit the prompt. For example, “Take a photo of your favorite toy.” This activity addresses both language skills and encourages creativity through photography. Win-Win! The following are a list of prompts that I have used. These are just suggestions, so feel free to come up with your…

  • Say-n-Play Summer

    Summer Challenge #8: Visit a Place Where They Make Stuff

    This week the summer challenge is to locate a factory, within driving distance, that makes cool stuff. If you have ever tried to make anything yourself, you know how hard it can be to get a recipe or creation just right. Factories have mastered a technique and it can be fascinating to observe how they get things made. When on your tour, the guide can explain how everything works: how sugar turns into candy and cream into ice cream. Everyone is can have curiosity, so foster your child’s curiosity by exposing him t American Whistle Factory — Worthington, Ohio American Whistle Corporation is the only manufacturer of metal whistles in the…

  • Explore,  Say-n-Play Summer

    Summer Challenge #7: Visit a Living History Museum

    This week the summer challenge is to locate and experience a living history museum. This is a place where buildings, objects, and a way of life have been preserved for you to experience. You will see first hand what people wore, ate, and did for fun in another time. “These special attractions typically feature costumed historians who bring the past to present in old-fashioned settings, examining how people lived in various stages of history. The museums are interactive and allow children to try their hand at crafts, take part in historic reenactments and tour homesteads and farms with animals.” So much to see, explore, and discuss and we just so happen…