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10 Ideas for New Year’s Eve Fun with Kids!

Katy Mark — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

1. Create a Balloon Drop in your home. Grab a bed sheet, fill with balloons, fold in half and tape to ceiling or archway. You could also secure with Velcro. Add string to one side of the sheet and pull at midnight! Try a test run first.

2. Create Calendars. Let the kids print off calendars or make some yourself (great way to practice days, months and numbers). Then let them personalize a cover, draw something on each month or just color in the sides, top and bottom. Help them fill in important dates like birthdays and holidays, too!

3. Make a Bucket List. Write down all of the things your family would love to do this upcoming year. When you take time to write things down, they become imbedded in your mind and easier to accomplish.

4. Time Capsule. Grab important items that represent 2020 and let the kids add personalized touches like a hand print or photos, or things that they made. Fill it, lock it and put “Do Not Open Until …”

5. Make Your Own Pizza. Shape your pizza dough into numbers for the new year, or something funny to represent the past year (toilet paper roll, anyone?). Add the toppings and eat up!

6. Have a Glow in the Dark Party! Go to your local dollar store and get glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces, and swords. Play games like ring toss with the necklaces and glow hide and seek.

7. Get Creative! Lay out lots of crafts or scraps of paper, glitter, paints, stamps, pipe cleaners, etc. and let the creative juices flow. Make party hats, noise makers or confetti.

8. Celebrate Midnight in Another Country. Sample food or drinks, or try games or traditions that represent the country that is celebrating at that hour.

9. Bake Good Luck Cookies or Cake. Let your kiddos help bake and decorate cookies or treats with their favorite toppings to help bring good luck this year. At midnight they can toast with milk and the goodies they created.

10. Create a NYE Wishing Tree. Ask your crew to collect some branches from outside and put them in a vase or tall cup. Cut out star shapes from paper or crafting foam and let everyone add a wish to their stars. Punch a hole and add sting to tie each star to a branch and you’ve got a family ‘Wishing Tree’ for the upcoming year.

Pro Parent Tip: even though little ones want to be a part of the fun, you don’t have to keep them up until midnight to include them. Consider setting the clocks in your house to midnight or creating own countdown (even if you’re only counting to 8pm!) Put them to bed and then have your own adult party

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Practical Tips to Help Parents Clean & Stage Their Homes to Sell Faster

Katy Mark — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Cleaning and staging a home can take time. So if you’re a busy parent, you may be looking for solutions to prevent prepping your home from stressing you out. Silver Lining Organizers can help you get your home ready for potential buyers by putting everything in order. You can also benefit from these nifty tricks to help you stay sane and your home stay clean for showings and open houses:

Don’t Overlook Minor Details

Addressing big tasks like cleaning and decluttering is important, but keep in mind that when buyers come to your house or look at pictures online, they’re taking every aspect into consideration. This means smaller but equally important details, like the appearance of your furniture. Even if you plan on taking your furniture with you, its condition will likely factor into a buyer’s decision (i.e., when they’re determining the cleanliness of the home).

If your furniture has seen better days, you don’t have to buy all-new pieces to appeal to buyers. You can simply replace the fabric on the furniture you already have. If you lack the time for this, hire a furniture reupholstery service to get the job done for you. It can cost anywhere from $350 to $1,000 depending on the type of fabric and how much of it is needed.

Hire a Professional Housekeeper & Cleaner

If you’re maxed out on time and constantly stressed out with parenting responsibilities, then hiring local housekeeping services may be your best option for getting your house spotless and keeping it that way while you try to sell your home. Hiring a housekeeper can even help your home sell faster.

Maid services will offer more in-depth cleaning services, so be sure to weigh each option to determine which is the best for your needs and your budget. If you decide to call around to local housekeeping and maid companies, The Spruce recommends asking about a professional interior deep cleaning. This service will likely be separate from routine maid or housekeeping services but will help get your home spotless.

Schedule a Sitter to Help With DIY Cleaning Projects

Prefer to clean your home without the help of professionals? Then you should at least consider hiring professionals to help out with your children as you take on this essential staging task.

If you need help finding a sitter, MommyBytes suggests a few simple tricks to locate someone you can trust to help keep an eye on your children. Check in with local faith organizations, your pediatrician, or with online sitting services that pre-vet sitters. This will allow you to focus on all of those detailed deep cleaning and decluttering projects that will help stage your home for buyers. Keep in mind that a babysitter charges an average of $16.75 per hour to look after one child, so if it’s not in your budget, you can also consider asking friends or family members to help out with your little ones.

Have Children Help With Decluttering & Cleaning Tasks

Depending on the age of your little ones, you can always put them to work helping out with household chores that will help keep your home clean for showings. Try to keep your kids’ age and abilities in mind when assigning chore responsibilities and also consider setting up a reward system to keep your kids motivated. Chores help to teach children about responsibility and will help them establish healthy habits to reduce stress in adulthood.

Since tidying can be a real challenge in kids’ rooms and play areas, you should also think about letting your children help with decluttering these spaces. As your children choose toys and other items to throw away or donate, have them thank those possessions for the joy brought by them. They can then donate those items to worthy causes, and enjoy all sorts of warm fuzzies as a result.

Selling a home doesn’t have to put extra pressure on parents. Consider getting help from outside sources, such as Silver Lining Organizers, so you don’t have to stress about cleaning and staging your home. With a few simple tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be moving in no time!

Aimee Lyons

Diydarlin.com

[email protected]

Photo Credit: Pexels

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Exhibits Re-Open at Boonshoft Museum

Katy Mark — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The Boonshoft Museum is excited to announce that we have opened up more interactive areas throughout the museum!

Our water table is up and running. The Boonshoft Water Table was constructed by Boss Display. A representative from Boss recently stated, “According to the CDC, there is no evidence that the virus spreads through various forms of water such as spas, swimming pools and water play areas. The CDC also affirms that, when properly maintained, chlorinated areas of water cause the virus to become inactive. This makes our water exhibits one of the safest interactive features in a museum.” So come on out and enjoy some safe, clean, water fun!

We also installed a new exhibition into Kids’ Place. This exhibition, Hands-Off Interactives – Use your Feet, includes a series of balance beams, a large floor maze, and jumping circles. None of these elements require visitors to touch anything with their hands. And they are spaced apart to accommodate social distancing.

We also have re-opened the Bieser Discovery Center; components of Science Central, including segments of the Nano Exhibition and our Module Interactive on Matter; the Hall of the Universe; and the Sun Room.

AND we are running shows in our planetarium!

There are still many Collections objects out on the floor that visitors may have not seen, including polar bears, telescopes, and dinosaurs bones. To ensure everyone’s safety, all interactive elements are being cleaned once an hour and extra hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the museum. We are also closing the museum at 4:00 p.m. to allow our staff extra cleaning time. This is a great time to visit the museum! Come see us!

We are working on re-opening parts of our climbing tower, Carl’s Body Shape, and Bugly House! Keep checking our Facebook and website for updates.

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Preschool Promise PLUS

Katy Mark — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

COVID-19 just keeps forcing us all to do our work differently. Regardless of the challenges, Preschool Promise is here to support families. Preschoolers still need to get ready for Kindergarten. Because many children will not be able to consistently attend their Preschool this year, and other families are opting not to enroll their children at all, Preschool Promise created a new initiative called Preschool Promise PLUS.

Children who are 4-years old and reside in Montgomery County — whether or not they are attending Preschool — may be eligible to join and receive the benefit package detailed below.

Free Tablet: We’ll send all families a tablet to help their child learn at home including children who are attending a preschool in person. Families who don’t have Internet access will get a small data plan. The tablet will be theirs to keep, and there will be controls on it to limit the usage for educational purposes.
ABC Mouse Subscription: ABC Mouse, an easy-to-use online learning platform, will be pre-loaded on the tablet, and families will receive a free, year-long subscription. ABC Mouse includes fun, interactive games designed to improve children’s language and math skills.
Book-of-the-Month: We’ll mail a carefully selected book to the home of each child.
Play Boxes: Every month children will receive a box with materials and activities to do at home that will help them practice the skills they’ll need in Kindergarten. We’ll create videos to complement the boxes and help families make learning fun.
Monthly Postcard: Families will receive a monthly postcard with tips to help their child get ready for Kindergarten.
Tuition Assistance: As always, those attending a Preschool Promise site may be eligible to receive financial help to offset the cost of their tuition. This help is only available at participating Preschool Promise partner programs.
Birthday Card: Children will get a birthday card when they turn five, and a special surprise.

Preschoolers and parents wear masks while engaging in preschool activities.

For more information, email us at [email protected], or call (937) 329-2700. There is no cost to join. Preschool Promise is a publicly funded initiative created to ensure that more Montgomery County children have the opportunity to attend one year of high-quality Preschool. Families may enroll online at www.PreschoolPromise.org/apply.

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Do you have concerns with your child’s development?

Katy Mark — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

One of the greatest joys as a parent is seeing your child grow and develop. Each child develops at a different rate. However, some factors and other causes can make learning and communication a struggle for many children.

From crawling to walking, simple vocalizations & pronunciation to spelling, writing and picky eating our team can help. If your child struggles with developmental skills we can help!

Development during your child’s first 5 years are critical in future success. And while every child learns at an individual rate, developmental delays may cause concern and hardship.

Development happens fast – don’t let your child fall behind! Do you have concerns with your child’s development? Use our guide below to see what milestones your child should be reaching at every stage.

Child’s 1^st year: https://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/your-childs-first-year/

Child’s 2^nd year: https://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/your-childs-second-year/

Child’s 3^rd year: https://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/your-childs-third-year/

Child’s 4^th year: https://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/your-childs-fourth-year/

Child’s 5^th year: https://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/your-childs-fifth-year/

Take their FREE online screening tool now!

ABC Pediatric Therapy has five convenient locations throughout Dayton and Cincinnati For more information visit their website!

West Chester

7591 Tylers Place Blvd
West Chester, OH 45069
Phone: (513) 755-6600
Fax: (513) 755-3762

Red Bank Road

4325 Red Bank Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45227
Phone: (513) 271-2419
Fax: (513) 271-2425

Western Hills

2039 Anderson Ferry Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45238
Phone: (513) 922-5437
Fax: (513) 922-1530

Miamisburg

3449 Newmark Drive
Miamisburg, OH 45342
Phone: (937) 281-1286
Fax: (937) 281-1298

Beavercreek

3817 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Beavercreek, OH 45431
Phone: (937) 427-9200
Fax: (937) 427-9203

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Jurassic Quest is coming to Cincinnati Aug. 21-30 at Coney Island

Katy Mark — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Jurassic Quest is coming to Cincinnati Aug. 21-30 at Coney Island.

Jurassic Quest has transformed into a drive-thru event this year, running Aug. 21-30 at Coney Island.

The exhibit includes an online audio tour that will take guests throughout the exhibit where they will encounter some of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth. Cincinnati guests will be among the first in the nation to go on a quest that will lead them throughout the thrilling dinosaur safari.

Jurassic Quest will be taking extra precautionary measures to provide a clean and safe event. Guests are to remain in vehicles and to wear masks in the event they exit the vehicle in allowed areas, including complimentary restrooms and the Dino Store. Social distancing rules will be requested of all guests and maintained by Jurassic Quest crew. Guest safety and enjoyment is the top priority for this event.

This year you’ll need to reserve a day and a time slot for Jurassic Quest Tickets are $49 per vehicle, and $80 for vehicles that fit 9-15 people. For more information, visit jurassicquest.com.

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Back-to-School Basics

Katy Mark — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Going back to school can be tough, even in ordinary circumstances — but this has not been another ordinary summer vacation. No one could have prepared for the turn of events that closed out the school year for 2020. E-learning from home was quite the curveball, and brought with it feelings of confusion and frustration, as well as a longer than normal school break. With the lengthened time away from typical classroom instruction, many parents have been left to wonder how they’ll ever get their kiddos in the back-to-school groove.

Dayton Parent spoke to veteran moms, educators and dedicated PTO members to ask for tips on how to help students prepare for the switch back to a normal school routine. Try some — or all — of these ideas, and make the summer-to-school transition a success for your family!

Abigail Shumaker is a local mom, as well as a preschool teacher for the Beavercreek City School District. During her time off from school she loves to swim, ride bikes and go on adventures with her son.

“Begin talking to your child about returning to school,” Shumaker says. “Highlight the excitement of going back and discuss any fears or concerns they may have. This is important for all students, to prepare them mentally and emotionally.

“Consider turning off the TV and video games. Screens are addicting, we all know this. That desire to be on a screen can take away from the fun of hands-on learning. If you begin to cut back screen time prior to school, your child may adjust better.

“Lastly, go on a back-to-school shopping spree! Let your child pick out their own folders, pencils, backpacks, etc. Use this as an opportunity to share your own excitement with your child. Advancing a grade is a big accomplishment and an exciting time, so make it fun!”

Julie Carter, mom of two, has been a guidance counselor for Huber Heights Schools for 16 years and an educator for 27 years. Her favorite thing about summer break is being able to spend more time with family.

Carter agrees that making an event out of school supply shopping is a great transition idea, and wants families to know that if it simply isn’t in the budget, you should reach out to your school counselor. Carter also added the following suggestions:

* Start practicing “school lunch” a week or two ahead of time. Pack lunches, practice opening containers, and eat in a 20-minute timeframe.

* Write goals for the next school year. Post them in the house.

* Set an alarm each night and practice waking up to it every morning.

* Begin to slowly move bedtime back a couple of weeks ahead of school. If you move it 15 minutes a night, it won’t be as hard!

* Pick out outfits for the first week of school.

* Celebrate! Bake a cake and decorate the day before the return to school.

Lea Pochet has been a PTO board member and a substitute teacher at her three children’s schools for several years. She looks forward to family vacations and going to the pool every summer.

For Pochet and her family, continuing to learn throughout the summer has been the most helpful in easing the transition back to school. “As a family, we continue to learn every day,” Pochet says. “I purchase ‘Summer Bridge Workbooks’ for my younger kids to work on. I also get the books that are required for English class early in the summer and encourage them to read these twice. Our elementary school does a reading incentive program, so we try to read every day.

“Summer may be different this year with fewer trips to the zoo and museums, but there are a lot of teachable moments that I try to take advantage of. We even use board games such as Scrabble, Boggle and Yahtzee to promote learning opportunities. We try to do the best we can to have fun and learn at the same time. My final bit of advice is to stay positive! Our kids are always watching us.”

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Dixie Drive-In Movie Theater Opening

Katy Mark — Mon, 11 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The Dixie Twin Drive-In Theater is a classic example of Americana that offers current day value with a touch of nostalgia and Opening Day for the Dixie Drive-In Movie is May 12, 2020!

Movies start at dark and there’s a full Concession Stand of food, drinks, treats, snacks, and meals for you and your family to enjoy! The Concession lines will be marked to practice safe social distancing while you order food.

Here is the schedule for the first week:

Movie Schedule: Tues, May 12 – Thurs, May 14; Sun, May 17

Screen 1: Trolls World Tour / Dolittle

Trolls World Tour PG
9:10 PM – 10:45 PM

Dolittle PG
11:00 PM – 12:40 AM

Screen 2: The Invisible Man / The Hunt

The Invisible Man R
9:15 PM – 11:20 PM

The Hunt R
11:35 PM – 1:05 AM

Movie Schedule: Fri, May 15 – Sat, May 16

Screen 1: The Vast of Night PG-13
9:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Screen 2: The Vast of Night PG-13 – Open Caption
9:30 PM – 11:00 PM

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Distance Learning

Katy Mark — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Distance learning has been adopted by families across the country virtually overnight! While there are some benefits that come with this new schedule, many families may find this new time together challenging. Here are some thoughts and ideas as you navigate this new reality.

Give Yourself Grace

One of our parents told us he and his wife are embarrassed that they are struggling to get their son to focus much on his assignments. We reminded him (and all other parents) that home is the safest place for kids and parents don’t have the advantage of a classroom full of kids that usually influences children to behave according to the group norm so they are not subjecting themselves to negative attention from the teacher. Take care of yourself, don’t be self-critical or judge your success based on what you hear is happening in another household. There is no one right way to do this shelter-in-place-plus homeschooling! Keep a conversation going with a parent you trust who knows your children well and muffle the rest of the noise.

Break it Up

Don’t try to do all of the school work at one time. That is likely not what your student is used to. Many times, teachers have classes broken up with brain breaks, specials, a walk outside, etc. It is important to give your student space between their lessons.

Reach Out

Remember, your school is not closed! We are still running our classrooms, just more spread out. If your student is struggling to understand a new concept, or with the workload, reach out to the teacher. Many times you will find that reaching out to your child’s teacher will save time and lessen frustrations.

Keep a Schedule

Just like most adults, your child is used to a predictable schedule. Try to keep their schedule as close to normal as you can. Keep it manageable and easy to understand for them. Make sure they are set up for success with a consistent space that is considered their new ‘classroom’ and helps them focus. Something like the following gives you flexibility and predictability.
➔First, we have breakfast
➔Then we do a set amount of time for work
➔Then we have a brain break or play outside for a bit
➔Then we have lunch and (if necessary) a rest time
➔Then we do another chunk of work
➔Then we do a fun learning resource (a game, a STEM activity, a puzzle)

Don’t Forget the Younger Siblings

This could be the hardest adjustment for your family! Keeping your younger kids occupied while working as your older child’s teacher is tough. If you can, allow your younger child to participate in a variation of what their sibling is doing. Try to find some activities that will keep your younger child entertained. There are so many resources online (Busy Toddler and Days with Grey are some of our favorites) to take a look at that can give you some great ideas. Here are some of our favorite tried and true activities:
➔Shaving Cream Fun- spray it on a table, outside on a tarp, and let your child get messy!
➔Sensory Bins- make sure these are safe and age-appropriate. Rice bins can be great for
even your youngest learner and typically is taste safe.
➔Magnets- ABC, 123, color, shapes, any magnets you have are great ways to play! Use a
cookie sheet to help your child be independent with their activity.

Take it One Day at a Time

Once again, reach out to your student’s teacher and school administration if you need help. We are here for you and your family!

The post Distance Learning appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

How to celebrate Easter and support local businesses during coronavirus

Katy Mark — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This Easter falls on April 12 — smack in the middle of Ohio’s month-long ‘Stay at Home’ order.

But we don’t have to let social distancing and stay-at-home orders bring our spirits down! Here’s our guide on how to celebrate Easter and support local businesses during coronavirus:

Learning Express

Learning Express Toys has decided to offer curbside pick-up through Friday, April 10th from 12 pm-2 pm. Check out the Bunny Buffet order form where you can pick from different options and put together a wonderful Easter basket!

AR Workshop

AR Workshop is located in Centerville and is offering some adorable DIY Easter Kits for Kids! FREE Delivery is available within a 15 mile radius or Curbside Pickup is available between 12-2 Friday, April 10! Order online here.

Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe

How do you shop? Call in your order OR order online (937) 436-5066. You can get hand-dipped chocolates delivered to your front door, shipped to you directly or Curbside pickup! Hours remain the same. Sunday: Noon- 4 pm, Monday-Friday 10 am- 6 pm and Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.

The Little Exchange Fine Gifts

Custom Easter baskets start at $35! The staff is available M/W/F 10-2 to give you a FaceTime tour of all of their Easter goodies. Call 937-299-1561 or visit their website to shop with confidence, knowing your purchases benefit Dayton Children’s Hospital. Complimentary gift wrap, curbside pickup and free delivery to your door! www.thelittleexchange.org

Order and Carry Out Easter Brunch

Local restaurants have definitely taken a hit during the current pandemic. If you have a favorite restaurant and you are looking for a way to support them – consider carrying out your easter brunch or dinner this year! A huge plus – – no HUGE post-meal cleanup for you!

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