Fun, inexpensive or free things to do in Central Ohio #10--Free Concerts

If you are looking for something fun and free to do on a Friday evening with the family head on down to Grove City.  There you will find the Summer Sizzle Concert Series. 

What:  Summer Sizzle Concert Series
When: Fridays in the summer from 7-8:30p
Where:  Park St. and Broadway (Hwy 62) in Grove City
Schedule:
Family Fun Friday, Summer Sizzle Concerts

June 4: Paul Clark Band, Oldies
June 11: Eight Day A Week, Beatles Tribute Band
June 18: The Cyndi Black Big Band, Big Band
June 25: Dwight Lenox, Jazz/Swing
July 9: Blend, Acappella 50's
July 16: Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, Zydeco/New Orleans
July 30: Party of Nine, Classic Rock/R&B
Aug. 6: These Guys Live, Classic Rock
Aug. 13: Soul Kitch'n, Classic Soul/R&B/Funk
Aug. 20: Coyote Canyon Band, Variety/Family Favorites

During the concert Park St. is blocked off so they kids can play.  Kids can play with sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, and jump ropes during the concert.  Don't forget to stop in Graeter's for yummy ice cream or shakes to help you cool off during the concert.

If you come you may want to get there early or bring a chair as the provided chairs tend to fill up quickly.  If you don't care about a chair there is generally room to sit on the curb so you can watch your kids play while you listen to the music.  Oh, and be prepared for dirty children!  They are playing on the asphalt and tend to get filthy in the process.

Fun, inexpensive or free things do to around Central Ohio #9---Free Movies

Does your child like movies?  Are you looking for a fun, free way to spend a morning?  Then come down to Grove City on Wednesday or Thursday mornings in the summer. 

Each Wednesday and Thursday in the summer Star Cinemas has a free movie showing.  The movies begin at 10a and doors open at 9a.  So, get there early if you want a seat!  Here is a link to the showings: Star Cinema.  The Family Summer Morning Matinee Series list is toward the bottom of the page.

Have you signed up for your local library's summer reading program?

This is another free thing to do this summer.  Most public libraries across the country have some sort of summer reading program.  It is for both adults and children.  Even children who cannot read can still sign up.  They just need to have an older sibling or adult read to them.  If you haven't checked it out you should.  You may be surprised!

Here the program begins the first week of June and runs until the end of July.  Children mark off squares for every 20 min spent reading.  When they reach a certain point the sheets can be taken in for a raffle entry (reminds me that I need to take mine in).  Once the sheet is completed it is turned in and the child receives a coupon sheet good for free items in the Columbus area and, generally, a back pack.

Also, during the summer the library has special programs for kids of all ages.  For instance, here, we have the Turtle Lady who comes to visit.  She brings turtles, of course, and various other animals for the program.  Last summer we went to a food tasting party.  The kids got to try different types of pancakes and toppings. 

If you are in the Columbus area here is the link to our local library: Get a Clue Summer Reading Program  Check it out!

Ugh!! Do not try to seat more people in your car than you have seat belts!

This one should be a no brainer, right?  Wrong!  Please, people!  Each and every person who rides in your vehicle should have a dedicated seat complete with a lap/shoulder belt, booster seat, and/or harnessed seat. 

This afternoon I went to our local pool. The weather wasn't great, but we have a pass so we went.  There was a mom behind us with five kids ranging in age from 6 mos to 13 or 14yrs.   The kids were well behaved at the pool so no issues there.

As it turns out we left about the same time.  Being the nosey person I am I watched her get into her vehicle.  I thought for sure she'd have a van or at the very least an SUV.  Nope.  She had a Saturn car.  A car that seats only five people.  She then proceeds to pile all of the children into the car.  Four people in the back seat and two in the front.  I felt sick!  I really need to have the state number for car/booster seat misuse on speed dial!  I should have said something, but honestly, I don't think she would have responded well.

So, please everyone pass this along.  Please tell your friends and relatives that you should NEVER share a seat belt with anyone nor should you have children share seat belts with each other.  Every person who rides in the car needs to have a dedicated seat. 

Is My Child Ready for a Booster???

As your child gets out of toddler hood and into the preschool age you may find yourself  asking that very question.  So many parents are in a rush to get a child out of the so-called "baby" seat and into a "big kid" seat.  Just remember that every step up in seats  (rear facing is safer than forward facing, a forward facing 5 pt harness seat is safer than a booster for most young children) is a step down in safety. 

At what age is a child ready for a booster?  There is no magical booster age.  Maturity plays a much bigger role than age.  Generally, I tell parents 6 yrs AND 40 lbs.  I do this because a six year old is more mature and much more likely to sit correctly in a booster each and every time it is used.  Plus, at six the child's bones are a little more developed and stronger than at younger ages. 

Does this mean that no one under six can ride in a booster?  No, there are exceptions.  Some five year olds are very mature and can ride properly in a booster. 

How do I know if he is ready?  There is a check list for this:
1.  Does your child lean forward/to the side in a booster?
2. Does your child regularly sleep in the car?
3. Does your child slump down in the booster causing the belt to rise up onto the stomach?
4.  Would your child immediately lean forward to pick up a dropped toy on the floor?

If the answer to ANY of these questions is "Yes."  then your child is not ready for a booster.  That is not to say you cannot begin booster training.  With practice a child can learn to ride properly in a booster.  Just remember it does not happen overnight.



Booster fit
1. While in a booster does the lap portion of the belt sit low on the hips or touch the thighs?
2. Does the shoulder portion of the belt lie midway between neck and shoulder?
3.  Can the child stay seated this way for the whole trip?

If the answer to ALL of these questions is "Yes."  then the booster fits your child.

Please check your state's laws for regulations on booster seats.  Just remember that the laws are only the minimum.  Meaning that your four year old does not HAVE to go into a booster if he has hit 40 lbs and is most likely safer in a five point harness.  It is not illegal to extended harness or to extended rear face.  In fact it is safer.

I got my Recaro ProBooster today!!!

Yea!!  I am so happy!  I have been salivating over this seat since Recaro had a press release about it several months ago.  Offically, it hit stores June 1, but people have been preordering for a while.  I kept debating since I don't need to seat (trust me I don't and can't even justify it).  Well, I ordered.  I got a good price and I ordered.  I got the Blue Opal.  It arrived this afternoon.

Monkey is the one who found the box on the porch.  As soon as he saw it he asked if it was his new booster.  I said it was one for us to play with and he was slightly disappointed.  Neither of us could wait to open the box (for different reasons though, he actually wanted the box).  I pulled it out and was in love!  It is a very well designed seat with lots of side impact protection (SIP).  It also looked very cushy and plush. 

So, out to the car we went.  It had to go behind the passenger seat (at least that was my intended spot) as I already have a Britax Frontier and a Clek Oobr in the backseat.  When I set it down I had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't fit (I have a pretty narrow backseat).  It didn't.  The base fit, but the shoulder area didn't.  It was just too wide and the door wouldn't close.  I was so disappointed, but not totally discouraged.  Instead I un-installed the Frontier so I could play with the two boosters.

Monkey is 5.5 yrs old, 40 lbs (clothed), and 45" tall.  The belt fit on Monkey is the same in both boosters.  The lap portion of the belt touches the tops of his thighs.  The shoulder portion is in the middle between his neck and the edge of his shoulder.  The belt guides on the ProBooster are more "user friendly" meaning it is easier to get the seat belt into the guide.  Monkey could not buckle or unbuckle either seat himself (we need to work on that).  Monkey's legs bend just at the edge on the ProBooster and about 0.5" over the edge of the Oobr.

Overall, I like both seats.  I like them for different reasons, but I like them.  Monkey likes them too.  Right now he says he prefers the ProBooster, but he has yet to ride anywhere in it.

ProBooster Specs:
Weight of seat: 13 lbs
Seat life:  Six years from date of manufacture (DOM)
Weight minimum:  30 lbs
Weight maximum: 120 lbs
Height range for child: 37-61"
Widest point (shoulders): 19.5"
Base width: 16"
Seat depth: 13.5"
Height at highest setting (from seat to top of headrest)" 30"
Price:  About $120 depending on where you shop and what coupons you can find.

ProBooster Pros:
It is light.
Lots of SIP
Deeper seat than most boosters
Wider at shoulders than many boosters
Very cushioned
Breathable fabric on SIP
Has a recline bar to fit more vehicle seats
Does not need head support behind the head rest
Removable cover


ProBooster Cons (I may add more later as we use the seat):
No carry handle
Does not have LATCH or rigid LATCH
Does not become a backless booster for older kids (8+)


Oobr Specs:
Weight of seat: 25 lbs
Seat life:  Seven years from DOM
Weight minimum: 33 lbs
Wight maximum: 100 lbs
Height range for child:  38-57"
Widest point (shoulders): 18.25"
Base width: 15"
Seat depth: 12"
Height at highest setting: 29"
Price: $200-300 depending on cover and where you shop

Oobr Pros:
Magnesium reinforced frame
Carry handle
Rigid LATCH
Recline feature
Cup holder
Lots of wild colors and some patterns
Becomes a backless booster for older kids (8+)

Oobr Cons:
Heavy
Cover on back isn't removable (it is on seat)
Expensive


As a tech and a parent I DO not recommend putting a child under 5 or 6 into a high back booster.  Most state laws require a child to be at least 4 yrs AND 40 lbs to be in a booster seat.  It is my experience that most four year olds are not mature enough to ride in a booster.  Please read my post  "Is My Child Ready for a Booster."

Side by side at lowest position.  Oobr is on left and ProBooster on right.

Side by side at highest position

Profile (you can see the rigid LATCH on the Oobr)

Fun, inexpensive or free things do to around Central Ohio #8--Young's Jersey Dairy

For the eighth installment of things to do I am going to talk about Young's Jersey Dairy. 

Young's Jersey Dairy
6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd

Yellow Springs, OH
In the summer (June 1- August 15) Young's Dairy Store and Cheese Market is open Sunday- Thursday from 7a-11p.  On Friday and Saturday they are open from 7a-midnight.  Please check the website for hours of operation for Udders and Putters, the petting zoo, and other attractions.
 
We have been to Young's twice now since moving to Ohio.  Both times we have gone was for A Wool Gathering as I like to knit and crochet (I will post about A Wool Gathering later in the summer). It is about an hour drive from Columbus to Yellow Springs. It is an easy drive as it is just out west on I-70.
 
Young's has much more than you would expect from a Dairy.  Mainly because it isn't just a dairy.  They have putt putt golf (Udders and Putters), a petting zoo, barrel train (Moovers and Shakers), big tractors to sit on, Cowvin's Kiddie Corral (play area), and much more.  In the fall there is a corn maze as well.
 
Monkey's pick is Moovers and Shakers.  I think he could ride on that train all day!  Second pick for him would be the large tractors.  He just loved sitting on them and pretending to drive them. 
 
There is plenty of parking so you needn't worry.  Once you've parked I suggest you explore the dairy and all it has to offer before going into the ice cream shop.  I've found that it makes a great bribe for good behavior during the trip.  Especially, when momma wants to look at roving, yarn, and patterns (from A Wool Gathering).
 
Is Young's free?  Yes and no.  Some of the things are free at Young's.  The petting zoo is free as are the large, retired tractors.  You will have to pay to ride Moovers and Shakers,  to play at Udders and Putters, or to go into Cowvin's Kiddle Corral and for some other attractions.
 
For what age groups is Young's appropriate?  Pretty much all age groups will enjoy Young's.  Little ones can go in Cowvin's Kiddie Corral, Moovers and Shakers, and the petting zoo.  Older kids can enjoy Udders and Putters, driving range, and batting cages.  Everyone should enjoy the ice cream.  I mean after all who doesn't like ice cream?
 
So, pile the kids in the car and head to Young's!  The weather has been great so get out and enjoy it!
 
 
 

 

Tie Dyeing; a creative way to spend a day.

Last summer I thought it would be fun to tie dye shirts.  I hadn't done it since high school, but for some reason thought it would be fun.  I suggested it to the other moms and they all agreed. So, last August (or maybe it was September) we gathered at my house to tie dye. 

It was a busy, loud, windy, hot day here in Ohio.  So, not exactly conducive for tie dyeing, but we did it anyway.  We had about 10-12 moms and tons of kids show up.  We had lots of dye and didn't run out until almost the end.  Due to the wind and lack of space some shirts ended up different colors than intended and some didn't soak up enough dye because they dried out.  All in all though everyone had fun.

Fast forward to this year.  In May we had our monthly meeting and planned our June calendar. Again, tie dyeing was brought it.  The weather is finally nicer and we can get outside to do things so it came up.  We planned for a date in June to tie dye.  Again, I offered my home, but this year I had stipulations.  Due to the chaos last year I decided that we should have no more than 10-12 warm bodies at a time.  All agreed. 

Yesterday was the day to tie dye.  At 9:30a I began setting up tables.  This year I decided that the garage would be a better venue so we could stay out of the sun and/or rain.  So, three tables were set up and covered with plastic garbage bags.  By this time other moms had arrived so they were helping set up.  Since the dye is most potent in the first 45 min it seemed smart to fold all of the items to be dyed and then start dyeing.  This is what we did.  It was kind of an assembly line.  We all helped each other out.  There is no wrong way to tie dye, but there are some really neat folds.  Check out this site: Folding techniques

Once all of the items were folded, twisted, and banded I went to mix dye.  Mixing the dye actually sounds more daunting than it is.  All you do is dump the baggie of dye into the plastic bottle, add water to the fill line, screw on the top, and shake.  Very easy.  So, out to the garage to dye. 

Each person chose their first item.  The item was placed on top of a plastic grocery bag.  Then the dyeing began.  I started with mine as an example and as I was talking about the color wheel I messed up!  I am not sure how it will turn out.  I wanted a spiral with yellow, lime, and turquoise, but I messed up the placement of the colors (i.e. the lime wedges aren't across from each other). After the demo the others began to dye.

Monkey was set on a camo shirt.  I bought him a cotton thermal tee from Dharma Trading Company.  We crumpled his and put it on the bag.  He squirted brown, green, and black all over the tee.  Once finished we flipped the plastic bag over the tee and put it into the garage to steep (maybe cure is a better word) for 24 hrs. 

Everyone else did the same.  We did spiral shirts, bulls eye shirts, bandannas, socks, headbands, and more.  So far so good.  No real mess and everyone is getting a chance to dye.  The first session ended around 11:45.  The next session was scheduled to begin at noon.  They were all late.

It is now 1 o'clock.  Everyone is here.  One mom had a dead car battery and had to wait for her husband to come jump her car, but now we are all here.  Since the morning went well with folding first and then dyeing that is what we proceeded to do.  This time we ran out of rubber bands and had to use acrylic yarn instead. Once folding was complete I mixed dye. 

This time we ran out of dye.  I used a different, smaller kit (meaning fewer colors) because it was cheaper.  We ran out of red and blue.  I felt awful!!  I wanted everyone to have the colors they had chosen and a couple had to do without.  Everyone made do and I think they were happy with the items.

Around 2:30 I decided I needed to eat.  All I had eaten was a bowl of cereal and a banana at 8:30.   I was hungry.  So, the adults took a break and the kids played outside.  While inside we noticed that the box of dye had more rubber bands.  Doh!!  Never even thought to look in that box.  I thought I had brought out all of the rubber bands.

A little bit later another mom came with shirts to dye. She used the excess dye and her boys didn't care about the colors.  At 3:15 or so all dyeing was complete.  Everyone had dyed everything they had wanted to dye.  We still had pink, purple, and a little green left.  I hated to see it go to waste so I called another mom in our group who lives down the street. She came up and her daughter used the last bits of the dye (pink and purple are her favorite colors so it worked out well).

All the dye is gone.  All of the shirts are packed up.  Now it is time to clean up.  That didn't take long.  Clean up is easy for tie dyeing.  You just trash all the used gloves, plastic coverings, and paper towels.  The dye bottles just have to be rinsed.  All was clean in about 10 min. 

Did we have fun?  Yes.  Would we do it again?  Yes. There has already been talk about doing it next summer.  Plus, the kids really enjoy wearing shirts they've made.  Once I untie and wash the shirts I'll post some pictures.  I am hoping they turn out well, but as one mom said there is no wrong way to tie dye. They are in the wash now.  Total cost was about $6 each for the dye plus the cost of shirts.  So, all in all it isn't an overly expensive activity.

Tips for tie dyeing:
1. Have a smaller group (8-12)
2. Do it outside
3. Wear clothing you don't ever want to wear again
4. Make sure you have enough dye (we use the Tulip kits from Michael's)
5. Cover your workspace
6. Wear gloves unless you want tie dyed hands
7. Use only cotton or natural fabrics
8. Let items cure for 24 hrs for brighter colors
9. Have other activities or a play structure for the kids when they aren't dyeing
10.  Have fun!!

Fun, free or inexpensive things to do around Central Ohio #7---Splash Pad

I took a few days off due to the holiday, but now it is back to the grind.  Today's installment is for the Central Ohio crowd, sorry.  The fun, free thing today is the Splash Pad in Powell.

The Splash Pad is located at Village Green Park, 47 Hall Street in Powell, OH.  The park is open from dawn until dusk.  The Splash Pad is appropriate for children of all ages (well, maybe teens would be bored).

What to bring:  Kids need to bring or wear a swimsuit unless you want wet regular clothing.  A towel is good to bring as well.  There are bathrooms nearby, but children need to wear shoes in the bathrooms. 

I have only been to the Splash Pad once, but it was lots of fun.  Monkey and I went with our moms' group after a Lollipops concert last year (the concerts are held at the same park).  It was a very hot day and the kids loved being able to cool off at the Splash Pad.

What will you find when you get to the Splash Pad?  You will find a 2000 sq ft water play area.  The area has fountains that shoot up, buckets that drop, and many other fun, water related activities. 

The Splash Pad floor  is made of that squishy, foamy type surface that you see at most water play areas.  I am not sure what it is called.  It is cool for bare feet and also offers a bit of a cushion for falls.  The pad has recently been resurfaced so it should be in great condition for this summer.

What if you don't want to get wet?  Well, you're in luck!  There is a nice dry park right next to the Splash Pad.  Many kids go back and forth between the two areas. 

So, bring a picnic and spend the day at Village Green Park and the Splash Pad in Powell, OH.