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By LucyB
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 07:06 PM
To the delight of dozens of area children, Oakwood celebrated the opening of a new splash pad and renovated play area at Orchardly Park on Wednesday, July 2.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by a throng of hot, eager neighborhood kids (and their hotter parents) who have watched the construction crew’s daily progress since the project began in April.
My 2-year-old son dragged me to the park — between Orchard and Wonderly on Delaine Avenue — daily to see the big diggers and concrete mixers. What a time we had watching the machines and men in hard hats work their magic. We continued our research into all things construction at Wright Memorial Public Library, where the librarian helped us find a stack of children’s books filled with bulldozers and rollers and the like. He ate it up.
Anywho, back to the park opening: At the appointed time (5 p.m.), a few Oakwood officials gave short remarks, talking about the pride of community and the history of the park, which hadn’t been updated in 15 years. The ribbon was cut and the water was turned on, and joy was unbound.
My favorite part of the ceremony — besides the cookies, popcorn and ice cold water provided by the city — was the kudos given to Oakwood supermom Sheila Eiffert, who had raised the issue of providing accessible play areas to community children.
A few years ago, Sheila was in final running of a contest sponsored by Playskool that built an accessible playground in the winning community. When she and her team of supporters asked Oakwood officials for a spot on city land at the Old River soccer fields for the proposed playground, she met with resistance.
The city’s decision not to support the effort created some bitterness among community parents, but during Orchardly’s grand re-opening Sheila got due credit: She was lauded as the impetus behind making sure that the Orchardly project took into account children with limited abilities — and a pledge was made that future city projects will be designed with that consideration as well. Bravo, Sheila!
I keep getting off topic. Back to the park itself: My older kids loved the new spinny, climbing contraptions, but my toddler was totally overwhelmed both by the volume of clamoring kids and the complexity of the equipment. There are simpler slides and swings on another part of the site, but we didn’t get over to explore it yet (we’ll save that for another day).
He did enjoy the costumed characters — Dora, Scooby, Cat in the Hat — making their rounds at the celebration. Some kids don’t handle interactions with imposing furry creatures well, but he lit up when he saw Scooby and gave him a big hug. That’s handy to know for future outings to the ballpark and such.
But alas, despite the blazing sun and lack of shade over the play area, I couldn’t convince my tot to try the spray area. Too many shouting, running big kids for his taste. We’ll have to work up to that on a quieter day.
While I’m grateful that Oakwood saw the value of improving its heaviest-used park, I do have a few concerns about the new site. My main worry is for the park’s sandbox, a beloved feature that’s used nine months of the year. The old one will be torn out and turned into green space (a friend said there were health concerns about the cleanliness of the sand).
A new sandpit was put in, but apparently during the grand opening, water pipes in the area actually sprung a leak and the sand area actually flooded! It didn’t dampen spirits, though, and city engineers rushed over to assess the situation.
Also, one little friend noted that the rubberized surface under the play equipment was so hot that it was burning her bare feet — it’s adjacent to the splash pad, so of course kids will shed their shoes. Not sure if that can be remedied, except with a pair of water-friendly sandals like Keens or Crocs.
And I’m sure there will be more kinks to work out, but the hope is that Orchardly Park will continue to be a highlight of the community.
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By Michelle
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 06:28 PM
I don’t know about you, but with gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, our family is spending a lot more time at home.
Not that this is a bad thing.
We opted against a vacation this year to save some money, which translates into more time in our backyard and our community. Plus, since it’s summer, we’re not constantly driving our daughter to school, dance class, swimming lessons or running never-ending errands for school projects, theme days, etc. And even more, we are just going out less — cooking out instead of going out for dinner, spending time in the backyard instead of constantly day-tripping to museums and more.
I have to say, it’s really nice to spend time at home.
But I’m wondering if these rising expenses and with the general economic downturn whether there will be a lasting impact on families. Will this ultimately force families to slow down a bit (for example, I imagine all the constant driving to soccer practice and games this fall will not be pocket-book friendly).
How is your family economizing?
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By Michelle
| Monday, June 23, 2008, 05:51 PM
Let’s face it moms, we all think we have the cutest baby or kid in the world. In fact, I’m quite sure my two kids are the most adorable children to ever walk (or crawl) the face of this planet.
Some of us go to great lengths to prove it to the world — by this I mean entering those cute baby/cute kid contests. Parents magazine is currently looking for the cutest kid in America.
If you’re on a mission to prove it’s your kid, you better brush up on your photo-taking skills so you can capture the perfect moment that will really showcase your child’s inner and outer beauty. Or maybe you just really want to impress your family and friends with the perfect scrapbook.
Sharon Elcock, who has organized hundreds of photo shoots for Parents magazine, shares these basic picture-taking tips:
Take photos with a really simple, but pretty background. No one wants to look at dirty dishes in your kitchen sink (hmm, guess this counts me out). Instead, go for natural scenery in front of lush greenery or pretty flowers.
No pictures with food on the face. Cute for grandma’s refrigerator — not so much for the judges.
Try to capture your child in a care-free, happy moment. Photos that are too staged usually don’t show you’re child’s true energy and personality.
No extreme close-ups. It makes it hard to see the whole child.
Try taking pictures using interesting, fun angles.
And before you enter that next beautiful baby/child contest, why not share your photos with local moms at 937/513moms.com
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Helpful tips
By Michelle
| Saturday, June 21, 2008, 09:55 AM
Hey moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas — this could be a dream come true — or your worst nightmare depending on how you look at it.
The Wiggles are coming to Ohio. That’s right. Your four favorite (or not so favorite) Australian goofballs are coming to Columbus in August in a live stage show. Scheduled to appear are Anthony, Jeff, Murray, Sam (who replaced Greg as the Yellow Wiggle in 2006 — though Wiggles programs featuring Greg still air on the Disney Channel) plus pals Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and Captain Feathersword the friendly pirate.
So act quick. Tickets for “Pop Go The Wiggles Live” at Nationwide Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 6:30 p.m. go on sale for the general public on Monday, June 23 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at Ticketmaster. There’s a 10-ticket limit per household. All kids who’ve reached their first birthday and older will need a ticket. Prices range from $20 to $40.
A couple upcoming kiddie shows in Dayton:
Check out Sesame Street Live with Elmo and the gang Sept. 4-7 at Hara Arena. Tickets for all performances range from $12-$25. Looking for a deal? All seats will be $12 on opening night. Tickets go on sale to the general public on July 21 at 10 a.m. All children who’ve reached their first birthday and older will need a ticket. Tickets will be available at the Hara box office or at Ticketmaster.
See Kidz Bop Live, a rock concert for kids, at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering. If you’re not familiar with Kidz Bop (though you’ve probably seen commercials for the CDs on TV), the schtick is kids performing today’s popular Top 40 hits. Featuring local participants, dance contests, video screens and song voting, kids will be the biggest part of the show — and kids and parents both are encouraged to get up and sing and dance along. Tickets range from $15-20 and are available at at Ticketmaster.
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By Michelle
| Friday, June 20, 2008, 08:17 AM
My almost 4-year-old daughter has suddenly decided she’s the boss — especially when it comes to ordering around her 6 1/2-year-old cousin.
For years, Sophie and her cousin have been best playmates. They typically get together several days a week for a playdate at grandma and grandpa’s house. They put on their dress-up high heels, push around their dolls and stuffed bears in strollers, play house, pretend to be superheros, go “chalking” on the sidewalk and swing “high as the sky” on the swings in the back yard or at the park.
It’s so sweet to watch them together… well, most of the time.
All bets are off when it comes to sharing the big wheel and scooter. Playtime suddenly isn’t so sweet.
My Sophie has decided that the big wheel and scooter are hers (though they really belong to her cousin). Let’s just say the sharing isn’t going so well.
In fact, this goes far beyond whining and bickering over a turn. Sophie has gone as far as pushing her cousin off the big wheel in demand of her turn.
“But she wasn’t sharing,” Sophie pleads, as if this made pushing her cousin off the big wheel perfectly acceptable.
Ayyyyy.
Some background: I typically work until about 7 p.m., so much of the time I’m not around when the girls are playing together. Daddy takes Sophie to grandma’s, and inevitably I end up on the phone reinforcing my husband’s “share nice” lectures after an incident that usually leaves one or both in tears.
Earlier this week, I received the following phone call from my husband while at work:
Husband: “You won’t believe what Sophie just said.”
Me: “Uh-oh. Now, what?”
Husband: “She told Julia as we were leaving, ‘You can have your scooter back now. I’m leaving. I’ll be back tomorrow to be the boss of you again.’ “
Me: “WHAT??????????”
When I asked to speak to Sophie on the phone, she seemed somewhat proud of her “domination.” Let’s just say when I got home we had a long talk about how we treat the people we love, and everyone for that matter.
Funny thing is Sophie only seems to exhibit this behavior with Julia. At preschool, her teachers tell me she’s quiet, but very friendly and gets along well with all the kids. “Sophie’s everyone’s friend,” her teacher told me at the year-end conference. At home and at her other grandma and grandpa’s house during the day, she’s sweet as can be about 95 percent of the time (they all have their moments).
She’s also very mothering to her baby brother and her younger cousin, Taylor. She also plays very nicely with the kids in the neighborhood.
I’m afraid my in-laws are going to get the wrong impression of their granddaughter if this behavior continues. I don’t know what it is about the recent dynamic with Julia, but hopefully we can stop this bad behavior soon. Advice, anyone?
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Mommy confessions
By LucyB
| Monday, June 16, 2008, 02:27 PM
So I’m caving — but just a little bit — on buying a cell phone for my 12-year-old son. We had set 13 as the “golden age of the cell phone,” but to tell you the truth, he did so well on his last report card — bringing up three grades from interims! — that I think he deserves the reward.
We have been wavering on this for some time. Our poor mistreated son has been begging for a phone since fourth grade. Although he swore he was the only sixth-grader on the planet without one, I highly doubt that was the case.
In general the boy is a responsible person, but my husband is old school. He half-jokingly suggested that to prove himself worthy of carrying a phone, son would have to carry a chalkboard eraser in his back pocket for three months without losing it!
For us the time is now: He’ll be a big junior high student soon and involved in sports and socializing. He’ll get a longer leash, but I want to be able to give him a call and jerk him back when I need to.
What age is too young for a cell phone? Did I wait too long? Not long enough? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll post any responses when I get back from TWO WEEKS IN FRANCE! — the kids and I are flying out of Dayton in a few hours. Wish me luck.
Au revoir!
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By Michelle
| Sunday, June 15, 2008, 09:00 AM
Summer’s here. The kids are home, and chances are they’re already tired of riding their bikes, swinging on the swingset or splashing in that wading pool. If you’re looking for a bit of variety, check out these three ideas for things to do this week (June 15-21, 2008):
See a massive turtle: One of the last remaining giant alligator snapping turtles in the world is coming to town from Monday, June 16, through June 21 at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton. Take advantage of this limited opportunity to see this 165-pound creature who’s 150 years old. Admission to the museum is $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors and adults. Plus, check out the super-cool Chinasaurs exhibit while you’re there.
Explore nature’s beauty: Check out butterfies, frogs, fish, plants and more at Wegerzyn’s Children’s Discovery Garden. The park includes drop-in activities that last 20-40 minutes such as storytimes, flower tours, vegetable gardening, wildlife feeding and more. Registration will not be taken as these activities are designed for casual drop-in participation (perfect for our more hectic lifestyles). The park is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue in Dayton. The children’s area is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Rubber duck race: Wanna see 15,000 rubber ducks in the Great Miami River? Don’t miss the 5th Annual Rubber Duck Regatta at RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., Dayton, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 18. A benefit for United Rehabilitation Services, all proceeds will benefit infants, children and adults with disabilities or others with special needs in the region. This race is held in conjunction with the Lite 99.9 Listener Appreciation Lunch and will include live entertainment, food and vendors, as well as fun family-oriented activities. Admission is free, but you can adopt a duck and benefit this local charity for $5 (plus, you could win prize such as a $2,500 Kroger gift card or airplane tickets. Don’t forget to adopt your duck beforehand.
Do you have the inside scoop on any cool events for kids? Share your ideas here.
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