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

Time To Start That Garden

April 30, 2009

Now that the weather is warming up and the threat of frost is getting smaller each day, I'm itching to start a garden. With the economic downturn and my daughter's interest in learning how things grow, planting a garden so we can harvest our our fruits and vegetables seems like a smart idea. Have you considered starting a victory garden of your own?

If you have a decent-sized backyard, you can select a small area to convert into a garden. My soil is hard clay (like much of Columbus), so I had to add several bags of top soil and some peat moss to create a workable garden. I also bought some landscape timbers to outline the garden and separate it from the rest of the yard. If you don't have any backyard to spare, or you live in an apartment, you can still grow vegetables with pots or planters, some soil and a little sun and water. Last year I grew lettuce and peppers quite successfully from a small planter.

To make this a fun family event, let your preschooler help you dig and mix the soil while preparing the garden. Most garden stores sell kid-sized gardening tools so they can dig and hoe to their satisfaction. You can also ask your child to help choose what to plant - some ideas for good Ohio-weather plants including peppers, spinach, cucumbers, strawberries, zucchini, carrots, and green beans. Many herbs also grow easily and quickly, and make great plants for your child to be assigned to care for.

Set up a chart detailing the care needed for a garden, including planting, watering, and weeding. Few kids can resist a watering can and some thirsty plants, so you'll likely have an eager helper. With a little time and TLC, you'll be cooking up some of your homegrown veggies this summer. And hopefully, the thrill of growing your own food might tempt even the most picky preschooler to try some new foods! 

Spring into the Season With Metro Parks

March 26, 2009

Have you noticed the buds on the trees lately? Or those little peeks of green coming from flower beds? Spring is officially here, and while we're early in the season, the signs of everything coming back to life are all around us.

Ever since our tree began to bloom, my preschooler has been obsessed with seeing all of the trees "bloonin'!" Earlier this week we took a walk on one of the trails at the Battelle Darby Metro Park to satisfy her curiosity, and not only did we see buds on trees and grass starting to green again, but we also saw several birds back from their winter vacations.
 Read more...

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch: Circle S Farms

by Christina Mack

October 16, 2008

Last week I posted about a farm to the north of Columbus, so it's only fair to bring you a pumpkin patch for the southern part of the county, too. One of my favorites in southern Franklin County has to be Circle S Farms . I visited Circle S Farms for the first time last year, when my daughter's preschool class traveled to the farm to pick pumpkins. I remember it was a wet, dreary day, but  Read more...

It's Time for the Circleville Pumpkin Show!

by Christina Mack

October 13, 2008

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons This Wednesday marks the start of the 102nd Circleville Pumpkin Show . I went to this festival several times when I was younger, and I'm still stunned and amazed that you can hold a four day event dedicated to the orange gourd. Yet those four days are packed full of parades, competitions, demonstrations, entertainment, games, food, and of course, lots and  Read more...

Visiting The Pumpkin Patch: Honey Haven Farm

by Christina Mack

October 10, 2008

With so many local farms hosting fall harvest celebrations and pumpkin patches, you could spend each weekend visiting a different one and still not visit all of the farms in the greater Columbus area. My family has been to several over the past few years, but there are a few we really enjoy and visit over and over again. One of our favorites is Honey Haven Farm . It's a slightly longer  Read more...

Bring A Friend

by Christina Mack

September 23, 2008

There are many times when I take my daughter out to play that I wish I had brought a friend of hers along with me. Some places, like the zoo, are easy to do on our own. After all, she spends most of the time looking at animals, and we can easily do that together. Even if she wants to ride the train, it's big enough for me to join her, and I only hit my head on the roof every now and then.  Read more...

Learning From The Wind

by Christina Mack

September 18, 2008

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Have you cleaned up yet from Sunday's hurricane-force wind storm? That rare event left many in the city without power, lots of downed trees, and four days of no school for many kids. My kids thought the wind was fun to watch, but for those who had trees crashing down around them followed by darkness, I'm sure the wind was probably very scary. I'm still  Read more...

Documenting the Changing of the Seasons

by Christina Mack

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...

Take A Walk Around Columbus

by Christina Mack

August 01, 2008

A recent study ranked Columbus #27 of America's Most Walkable Cities . At first I had to laugh - are you kidding me? We need our car to even get out of our neighborhood! How could we be that high on the list? But as I thought about it, I realized there are some pretty awesome places to go for a walk in Columbus. This can be either for a nature walk, a walk through a vibrant neighborhood with  Read more...

Three Days in and Around Columbus: Day 3

by Christina Mack

July 10, 2008

We've marveled at the sights of downtown, talked with the animals at the zoo, and splashed around in Zoombezi Bay. What's left to do for a third day in Columbus? Let's start by getting back to nature and end with a little shopping indulgence. The Columbus Metro Parks are located all around the county, preserving natural areas and providing walking/biking paths to enjoy Ohio's  Read more...

Go Camping in Your Own Backyard

by Christina Mack

June 27, 2008

I recently discovered that tomorrow, June 28th, is the date for the Great American Backyard Campout . Organized by the National Wildlife Federation, this annual event brings awareness to outdoor family activities and learning about our natural world. Personally, I think this is a great excuse to pitch a tent in the backyard and make s'mores. For my preschooler, camping is a really fun  Read more...

Activities Beyond The Preschool Classroom

by Christina Mack

June 17, 2008

When my daughter's preschool ended for the summer, I thought Cordelia would be lost without some kind of structured class. She was never in a classroom setting before this past year, but in a short time she learned to enjoy working in a group dynamic. While she's starting a summer preschool program today, it only lasts for a few weeks, and then I'll be looking for more classes to keep her  Read more...

History Lesson: Olentangy Indian Caverns

by Christina Mack

May 20, 2008

I have a BA in History, so of course I think it's an important topic for kids. But as a mom, I also know that if it isn't interesting, keeping a child's attention will be difficult. The best way to start a love of history is to start with the fun stuff. One of the places I enjoyed as a child was the Olentangy Indian Caverns . Native Americans were interesting to begin with, but a long,  Read more...

5 Best Day Trips Within an Hour

by Christina Mack

May 19, 2008

There's a lot more to Ohio than just Columbus. And while our home city has plenty to offer, sometimes it's good to get away, right? We've got lots of family-friendly attractions surrounding us, many only an hour or so away. Some of our favorites: Old Man's Cave:  It is in Hocking Hills State Park is in south-eastern Ohio, and has some of the most breathtaking natural scenery in the state. Old  Read more...

5 Best Ways to Enjoy the Park of Roses

by Christina Mack

May 15, 2008

One of the most impressive parks in Columbus is the Park of Roses . Located behind the Whetstone branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Clintonville, this 13-acre park provides something for everyone. Here are just a few ways to take advantage of this magnificent park: The gardens Naturally, the rose gardens are worth seeing. It is called the Park of Roses, after all! But beyond  Read more...

Top 5 Things To Do Outside in Columbus When the Rain Stops and the Sun Shines

by Christina Mack

May 14, 2008

OK, we all know it tends to rain in Columbus. A lot. But there are long stretches of the summer that are hot and dry. Staying inside may be tempting, but you can only color and make craft stick people for so long before you're itching to go do something. So try one of these suggestions to spruce up your sunny days. Be a good sport: Visit your local park and practice hand-eye coordination  Read more...

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

by Christina Mack

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...