Being Savvy: Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers and kids in Columbus, OH

Find out more about:

Art

Places That Inspire Imagination

October 14, 2008

It usually doesn't take a lot of effort to inspire imagination in a preschooler. They tend to be the ones leading us in adventures of imagination, across pillows that are stepping stones over a lake you know as the carpet. But it never hurts to find new ways to inspire their imagination, whether in arts, nature, science, or crafts. Even with their seemingly unlimited imagination, they can  Read more...

Stock Up For Those Long Winter Months

September 19, 2008

Sure, it may be sunny and beautiful outside for the next week, but by the end of October the chill will be in the air and there will be few good days for playing outside. Knowing that winter will be here before we know it, it's time to start preparing for those long days stuck indoors with the "I'm booooored!" whine coming every five minutes. Instead of being forced to come up with ideas on  Read more...

Documenting the Changing of the Seasons

September 11, 2008

Surely you've noticed the changes over the past week in Columbus. The days are still warm, but nights and mornings are cool, with some being downright chilly. The official start of fall is less than two weeks away, and here in Ohio that means it's a matter of days until leaves begin changing colors. A great craft to do with your preschooler is to create a leaf album. You can either use  Read more...

Taking Chalk Art to A Whole New Level

September 10, 2008

One of my favorite things to do on a warm, dry day is grab the chalk and go outside so the kids can draw all over the sidewalk and driveway. Unlike other forms of art, like crayons on a drywall medium or markers on wood, chalk is relatively harmless and washes off easily. You might look at your child's chalk drawings on the sidewalk and think nothing could ever come from those  Read more...

Be In A Parade This Weekend

September 04, 2008

I remember when I was a kid I loved parades. While it was fun to watch, I secretly envied those who got to be IN the parade. After all, they had all of these people lined up on the streets, waiting to see them and wave at them. What child wouldn't want to participate in an event where they'll be the center of attention. (OK, well, along with many, many others.) This weekend is the  Read more...

When You Child Isn't Ready For Preschool Yet

September 03, 2008

While I'll be talking a lot about preschool this month, I also want to mention that not all kids are ready to start preschool right at three years old. My own daughter still isn't potty trained, and if we were looking for a traditional preschool that would likely be a problem. Other kids simply aren't ready to spend that much time away from mom and dad yet. If your child isn't ready  Read more...

Raid Your Local Target Dollar Spot

July 18, 2008

I'm not a craft mom. Other than a tub of crayons, I don't keep a box of craft supplies tucked in a hall closet, ready to make construction paper animals and cardboard dioramas. But I know crafts can be fun, and kids can learn a lot from creating something from paint, paper, and glue. When I run out of ideas, or feel in a particularly crafty mood, I almost always turn to one place: Target.  Read more...

Layover Lifesavers: A Preschooler's Guide to Port Columbus Airport

July 02, 2008

Photo credit: Stock.xchng Being stuck at the airport for a long layover is bad enough, but I'm guessing it's even worse with a preschooler. My daughters haven't been on a flight anywhere yet, and I think that's a good thing considering their inability to remain seated for 10 seconds. But they've had to spend time at the airport waiting on me, and I've seen other parents trying  Read more...

Take Part In A Festival For The Entire Community

June 26, 2008

Columbus natives know that this weekend is the traditional weekend when Goodale Park is taken over by an army of volunteers, organizers, musicians, artists, activists, and people of all ages and types to gather in solidarity as a single community. Some call it nothing more than a "hippie festival" but others know there is so much more to ComFest than that. First put together 36 years  Read more...

Celebrate Art at the Columbus Arts Festival

June 04, 2008

You dutifully put each new masterpiece from your child's art class in its place of honor on the refrigerator. But wouldn't it be nice if we could expose our kids to a world of art beyond just gluing macaroni to construction paper? The Greater Columbus Arts Festival , held downtown in the Discovery district this weekend (June 6-8) gives us exactly that opportunity. Aside from being a  Read more...

Taking Your Budding Art Critic To The Columbus Museum of Art

June 02, 2008

You might wonder if an art museum is a good place to take a preschooler. After all, sticky hands, no sense of personal space, and a voice that isn't always at an indoor volume generally don't mix with priceless artwork on walls without any kind of protective cover. But the truth is that many art museums welcome children and want to have a part in teaching art appreciation to the next  Read more...

5 Things to Do in Columbus on a Rainy Day

May 27, 2008

We all know it rains a lot in Columbus. Maybe not as much as Seattle, but still enough to dampen the hopes of small children who want to run and play. When you're the mom of a preschooler who is vibrating from pent up energy, finding somewhere to release that energy is a must, rain or shine. If the thought of spending another rainy day at home or stuck in a mall playground is unbearable, try one  Read more...

The Littlest Picasso: Where To Go To Make Art

May 16, 2008

Got a kid who loves express his artistic talents in every medium, including marker on eggshell white wall and other messes? Maybe it's time to find some art classes for your little Picasso. All of these options allow your preschooler to have some quality art instruction, with no clean up on your part. If you live anywhere on the north or east side, check out the Uptown Art Camp  Read more...

Cultivating A Green (And Very Tiny) Columbus-ite Thumb

May 13, 2008

Spring is here the time when plants bud and grow, and your little one continuously asks about every flower or tree you pass by. Well, what better way to answer their questions then to take them to one of the Columbus Metro Parks and let someone else explain how flowers grow out of the dirt from seeds? (And hopefully tiring themselves out enough to take a nap when you get home!)  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in columbus

urbanjungle.jpg

Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

doremi.jpg

Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

artisticendeavors.jpg

Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

roomtorun2.jpg

Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

rain.jpg

Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

localhistory2.jpg

A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

naturalhistory2.jpg

Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

waterparks2.jpg

Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

holdinghands2.jpg

The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

The Voice of Being Savvy columbus:
Christina McMenemy

Read more Being Savvy for: