Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cincinnati, OH

Movies, Maybe?

by Amy Mumper

March 19, 2009

I'm lovin' National Amusements right about now.  They seem to know that we moms need some time out to just chill.  Here are a couple of ideas:

1. First, try National Amusements for "Nick Jr. at the movies", starring Dora, Backyardigans and more.  What a great way to introduce your child to the movie experience!  It's every Thursday and Saturday mornings, just $6. 
2. Offered by National Amusements as well...  "Kidtoons" serves up G rated movies fro kids every Sunday and Tuesday at 10am for just $3.50 at the Springdale cinema de lux.

Also in on the movie action is "Omnimax" films at the Cincinnati Museum Center.  This is an amazing experience and well worth it!

As another option altogether, try the Wizard of Oz by the Frisch Marionettes at the Sharonville Community Center at 7pm Saturday.

Whatever you choose, how about letting us know?  What's worth taking time to do in the tristate?  Let us hear from you!

83 Ideas for Fun In and Around Cincinnati

by Amy Mumper

February 24, 2009

1.  Visit Devou Park in Northern Kentucky and check out the view

2.  Visit Sawyer Point in Downtown Cincinnati - playgrounds and tennis to say the least

3.  Visit Eden Park

4.  Cincinnati Parks offer great camps

5.  Gorham farm; a working in Evendale

6.  Shaw farm has a great Fall Fest

7.  Meet Farmer Frank at Sunrock Farm

8.   See the Krohn Conservatory's nativity scene at Christmas

9.  Attend the Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory

10.  Try a free class at the art museum

11.  Visit the Taft Museum

12.  A favorite of mine!  Duke Energy Children's Museum at Union Terminal

13.  Contemporary Art Museum

14.  Do the scavenger hunt at the art museum

15.  Do a mommy and me movie at AMC

16.  Attend a Cincinnati Reds Game

17.  Try the trails at French Park

18.  Enjoy Lindner Park Nature Preserve in Norwood

19.  Try the Drake Planetarium for programs and birthday parties

20.  Jump around at Go Bananas!

21.  Run, Jump and Play when you need to get the wiggles out

22.  Bike ride at Woodland Mound Park's trail

23.  Enjoy yummy ice cream at Graeter's

24.  Candies at Aglamesis

25.  Cincinnati Chili for dinner at Skyline!

26.  Lunch at LaRosa's!

27.  Picnic on the Ohio River

28.  Visit handmade Loveland Castle

29.  Loveland Bike Trail is great exercise for families

30.  Totter's Otterville in Covington is fun for ALL ages

31.  Fine arts sampler weekend is a must do event

32.  Library activities are versatile and year round

33.  Blue manatee Story Times and special classes are interesting

34.  Joseph Beth Booksellers Story Times are three times a week

35.  Findlay market; take the kids to shop for dinner

36.  Coney Island

37.  Kings Island

38.  The Beach Waterpark uses its facilities virtually year round

39.  Ice skating

40.  Kentucky speedway is a unique experience

41.  Music hall

42.  Newport aquarium for your fishies

43.  Oktoberfest ZinZinnati

44.  Flying pig marathon - even The Littles can enjoy with the Hog Log

45.  Vineyards; in Cincy no less!

46.  Tall stacks - a history lesson

47.  Great wolf Lodge

48.  Coco Key

49.  Xavier games

50.  UC games

51.  Zoo

52.  The fountain at Yeatman's cove

53.  Movies - G-rated fun

54.  Go play café

55.  Children's theatre

56.  Playhouse in the park

57.  Aronoff Center for the Arts

58.  Climb Carew tower

59.  Walk the Purple People bridge

60.  Pizza tower

61.  WGUC Classics for Kids

62.  Cincinnati Music Academy

63.  Musik Kids

64.  Madpotter

65.  Parky's farm

66.  Parky's ark

67.  Winton woods riding center

68.  Chuck e cheese

69.  Bonbonerie tea room

70.  Omnimax theatre

71.  Lazer kraze

72.  Bowling

73.  Color me mine

74.  Pump it up

75.  The Imaginattic

76.  Kentucky Horse Park

77.  Try a free Gymboree class.

78.  Wyoming fine arts center

79.  Golf lessons at Sharon woods.

80.  COSI

81.  Visit the Indianapolis Children's Museum

82.  Try the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton for flight fun

83.  WHO-DEY think gonna see 'dem Bengals?

Hometown Math

by Amy Mumper

February 11, 2009

Tuesdays are List Days!!

Apparently, I'm just a little wordy, because I can't just give you my list.  First, I have to say thank you to each of you for visiting yesterday!  (Haven't seen it?  Stop by now, post a comment and enter to win!)

And, in keeping with our theme this month of investigating pre-math skills, you simply must visit my colleague Jenn at Being Savvy Pittsburgh.  She is doing a giveaway for the High Five magazine (Highlights for little ones!). My 4 year old boy LOVES it! When you're done reading the list below, visit Jenn and enter to win! 

Now, my two cents on math:  I'd like you to expand your idea of math beyond just counting.  Think about other facets of math as well.  Things like patterns, shapes, spatial relationships.  And, another fyi - it's all about dialogue.  You can count until the cows come home.  But, to really make an impact, you have to dialogue about the math you see everyday.  Check out some hometown sites worth that will support your quest to bring more math into your lives. 

Welcome to our new feature: Weekend Roundup!

by Amy Mumper

February 06, 2009

I'm excited to try out our new feature, so let's get right to it: Need a reason to start thinking spring ? Visit the "Greater Cincinnati Summer Camp Adventure Fair" and get a free admission to one of the museums! From 12-4 pm on Sunday February 8 at the Museum Center , you can dream yourself all the way to summer camp. To get a free ticket, just stop by the Cincinnati  Read more...

"Holiday events around" town OR "Be Creative"

by Amy Mumper

December 09, 2008

Yesterday, we took a look at books, toys and activities to help you celebrate Hanukkah . Today, we look at a few more opportunities around town. From the free to the more expensive to flat-out creative, we take a look: You know what? Forget the 'good writing form' - allow me to begin with the flat-out creative: "With the economy..." how many times have you heard  Read more...

5 Things You Must Do in Cincy before the kids grow up!

by Amy Mumper

October 06, 2008

Whether you?re a Cincy native or a transplant, you?ve just GOT to do these 5 things here in the Queen City ? get going, time flies, you know! Cincinnati history has been part of my family for generations. Literally! Thinking over the best places to go before your ?Littles? becomes ?Bigs?, I can?t help but think of my Grandma, who probably took me to each of these things. Visiting the CBD in  Read more...

The Littlest Picasso

by Amy Mumper

October 06, 2008

Art is such a rich form of expression, especially for little ones that are still learning words to put with their world, experiences and emotions. No wonder you want to know about city resources to enhance your child's natural sense of curiosity. Various mediums abound take your pick! Ceramics your bag? Try mymadpotter.com for some QT and creativity! How about 2D mediums? Try Gymboree  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic

by Amy Mumper

October 06, 2008

My friend Kari and I recently proved that kids are indeed art critics! And you know what else? They REALLY enjoy it! Your Little can gain an appreciation of any type of art. First, visit the art museum or get books to find an interesting subset of art (Sculpture, photography, impressionism, etc). Then, stock up at the library and learn what you can by checking out the web. Allow your  Read more...