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

Weekend Update: The Week Ahead

February 20, 2009

It may still be gray and dreary outside, but there's plenty to do inside this week. Here's some highlights of what's going on in Columbus during the week ahead:

Grandview Heights Public Library has one of the best storytimes around, and if you haven't taken your child yet, you don't know what you're missing. Their preschool storytime is held on Tuesdays at 10am, and includes songs, dance, and of course, a story to spark the imagination.

If you're more interested in a story told in a unique way, then it's not too late to get tickets for Disney on Ice: A Disneyland Adventure at Nationwide Arena. (2/26-3/1) Join hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in this original adventure where everyone's favorite super family, the Incredibles, takes a fun-filled vacation to Disneyland where they meet beloved Disney characters and enjoy famed Disney attractions. Audiences will swing to the beat with Baloo through the Jungle Cruise, fly like a space ranger through Space Mountain with Buzz Lightyear and spin wildly through the Mad Tea Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter.

For those with an eye towards art, check out Rockwell's America: Celebrating the Art of Norman Rockwell at the Ohio Historical Society. Rockwell's America has been held over by popular demand through March 15 providing an additional opportunity to literally step inside the pages of history as seen through the eyes of Norman Rockwell, one of America's most beloved and recognized artists. With life-sized re-creations of Rockwell's most famous scenes, dozens of hands-on displays and all 322 of his original covers from The Saturday Evening Post, it is the largest Norman Rockwell touring exhibit ever created. This is a great exhibit for grandparents - point out how different your childhood was from the world your grandchild is currentlygrowing up in.

The New Albany branch of the Columbus Public Library will be welcoming Shirley Parish from the African Culture Company on Tues. 2/24 at 7pm for a lesson in African music and history. Celebrate Black History Month with a lively evening of African drumming, dances, songs, stories and games.

Finally, don't forget that Friday, 2/27 is Family Friday Night at COSI . COSI stays open late for family-friendly fun the last Friday of every month. You can explore science, discover fun, and stay late! Admission is only $7 per person after 5 p.m. and includes all of COSI plus an Extreme Screen movie!  Read more...

Hometown (or State) Books for Preschoolers

by Christina Mack

November 25, 2008

A few days ago my daughter and I got into a discussion about Columbus. She didn't understand when I told her that Columbus was our home. "Our house is named Columbus?" she asked. I tried to explain more about the city, how big it is, and how it is part of the state of Ohio, but I think it was too much for her to comprehend. Or maybe I just wasn't doing a very good job of explaining it.  Read more...

Five Great Books For Your Child

by Christina Mack

November 24, 2008

Now that the holidays are here, it's time to start thinking of gifts for our children. My family has a long tradition of giving children just as many books as toys, and so we have a large library as a result. If you're shopping for children's books, here are a few of the favorites from my daughters' bookshelves: The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle This was one of my  Read more...

Books That Make Us Laugh

by Christina Mack

November 18, 2008

As a child, I appreciated a funny book. I always tried to find books that made me laugh, whether it was simple humor or something with wit or sarcasm. (I mastered sarcasm at a young age.) I remember my mom reading several great Dr. Seuss books to me when I was younger, using funny voices to make it even more amusing. If you're looking for a good book to make your child laugh, here are a  Read more...

Finding New Reading Spots

by Christina Mack

November 11, 2008

With the cold settling in for a long stay, all of the old indoor haunts are becoming popular for us again. One activity I'm particularly fond of during these cold days is taking the girls to one of the local storytimes to hear a story, play some games and maybe do a craft. We also like to browse the shelves and find new books at the library or bookstore, and sometimes my preschooler talks  Read more...

Stock Up For Those Long Winter Months

by Christina Mack

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...

Learning to Accommodate Differences

by Christina Mack

September 15, 2008

As many of you know, my daughter attends a special needs preschool. She was evaluated last year for developmental problems and found to be on the spectrum for autism. A quick snapshot of her behavior might make you think she was a typical almost-four year old, but if you watched her for any length of time you'd notice the differences. As a result, we have to deal with the issue of  Read more...

A Fishy Book List

by Christina Mack

August 22, 2008

When we recently visited the zoo, my daughter begged to see the fish. Fish are one of her new obsessions (don't all preschoolers have at least one?), so I'm doing all I can to meet her needs and funnel as much information about aquatic creatures into her hungry brain. I've visited the library and book store and found every book about fish I can find, too. If your child also  Read more...

Entertaining Your Kids Without Emptying Your Wallet

by Christina Mack

August 06, 2008

I used to think babies were expensive, with all of their baby toys, exersaucers, developmental playthings, and of course the Baby Einstein DVDs. And then my oldest grew into a preschooler, and I realized the entertainment only gets more expensive as they grow older. The newest electronic toys, that Dora DVD, and let's not forget her begging to go to the local children's science museum or  Read more...

A Book For When You're Away From Your Child

by Christina Mack

July 24, 2008

Being gone all last weekend, I wondered how my daughters would deal with my absence. Would they miss me? Would they wonder if I was coming back home? When I called home to check on everyone, my husband confirmed that Cordy missed me, and kept repeating, "mommy wants to see me now!" I suggested that he read her a book that I bought for her two years ago, when I went to my first BlogHer  Read more...

What To Do When You Can't Read A Book

by Christina Mack

July 15, 2008

In my living room is a small bookcase stuffed full of books, most of which are also small. This entire bookcase is devoted to the 100-200 children's books we've gathered over the past four years, and both of my daughters are constantly pulling books off the shelves and asking us to read to them. They're especially fond of the Dr. Seuss series, the Skippyjohn Jones series, The Very Hungry  Read more...

What to do this week: 7/7 - 7/13

by Christina Mack

July 07, 2008

Did you catch the fireworks last week? We watched Red, White & Boom on TV, but we did sit outside to watch our local fireworks on the 4th. Thank goodness the rain ended in time! Although another fourth of July has passed, the calendar is still full of summer events. With a little searching you can find all sorts of interesting activities to keep your preschooler busy. Here are  Read more...

What to do this week: June 16-22

by Christina Mack

June 16, 2008

If your preschooler is anything like mine, the lure of summertime boredom is calling. But it's only mid-June! No worries, though: I've got a week full of games, fun, and festivals for you to choose from, and one of them will certainly cure your child of the blahs. Got a child who loves Maisy the mouse? Join the Gahanna library for a celebration of Maisy through stories, songs, crafts and games  Read more...

What To Do This Week in Columbus

by Christina Mack

June 09, 2008

Now that summer is here, there are so many activities and events available for kids each week that it can be overwhelming to decide what to do. Or maybe you aren't sure where to look for any activities. So I'd like to highlight a few interesting events each week - some that are regular weekly activities, others that are one-time only, don't wait or you'll miss it events. On Monday, stop  Read more...

Special Adventures for Special Kids At the Columbus Library

by Christina Mack

June 05, 2008

Today is the last day of school for Columbus Public Schools, as well as several preschools around the city. While we all worry about what to do with our kids during the summer, those parents with special needs children have additional challenges. For those in special needs preschool programs, the end of school also signals the end of therapy for many. The change in routine is harder for  Read more...

Book Nooks for Tots: Best Story Times and Reading Rooms

by Christina Mack

May 22, 2008

We all know how important it is to cultivate a love of reading at an early age. But sometimes it's about more than just the book.  The right atmosphere of fun can also go a long way in encouraging your preschooler to reach for a book when bored. Luckily, Columbus is full of great places to read, and even pick up a few books, too. Here are just a few of the places to take your child for a book  Read more...