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Five things to do with your kids: Oct. 4-10

By Michelle | Friday, October 3, 2008, 06:35 PM

Looking for things to do this weekend or the rest of the week? Here are five ideas for fun with the little ones.

1. Get into the Boonshoft for free on Oct. 5: That’s right. From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, Dayton’s Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will welcome one and all to its celebration of 50 years at the Ridge Avenue location. Admission is free, and a day of programming, shows and entertainment has been planned for those who knew the Boonshoft when it was the Dayton Society of Natural History, and those who are relatively new acquaintances.

2. Enjoy some family peace time at peace museum: Children and caregivers enjoy cultural events, crafts, games, music and more during Family Peace Time, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument Ave., Dayton. (937) 227-3223.

3. Get in the Halloween spirit: During Halloween window painting and monster BINGO, children ages 6-12 can play monster bingo, create a Halloween craft and more, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, Payne Recreation Center, 3800 Main St., Moraine. $1. (937) 535-1060.

4. Enjoy the fall with your baby. If you’re a stay-at-home mom or have the day off Oct. 8, treat your baby to some fresh, fall air while exploring leaves during Backpacking Babies, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Road, Bellbrook. Free. (937) 438-5569. www.metroparks.org

5. Spiders aren’t all that bad: Learn with a story, craft and a spider safari in the park all about spiders just in time for Halloween, 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton; meet at last parking lot. Free. (937) 278-2623. www.metroparks.org. Reservations required.

Have more ideas for family fun? Share ‘em here.

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Help break world reading record on Oct. 2

By Michelle | Thursday, October 2, 2008, 10:36 AM

Want to help break a world-reading record (or just read your kids a really great book today?)

Today, Oct. 2, 2008, children in schools, libraries, stores, hotels, playgrounds, offices, and homes across the country are reading Corduroy. Written in 1968 by Don Freeman, Corduroy is the tale of a teddy bear waiting hopefully in a toy department to find a home. One night after the store closes, Corduroy comes to life and embarks on an adventure to find his missing button, and then ultimately finds a new home.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a campaign designed to bring attention to the importance of early education. By encouraging hundreds of thousands of children and adults to read the same book on the same day, Jumpstart aims to break a world record and to make early education a national priority. Jumpstart also has donated thousands of books to low-income communities for children.

If you join in the reading campaign, be sure to visit Jumpstart’s Web site to register.

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Milk perfect for the school lunch box

By Michelle | Monday, September 29, 2008, 12:21 PM

Parents who want to pack a more nutritious lunch for their children can now ditch the sugar-rich sodas and juices and opt for a healthy serving of organic milk.

That’s right. No refrigerator is required for Horizon Organic’s single servings of milk. The milk is vacuum-sealed and pasteurized and therefore will stay safe in a lunch box, backpack or locker for hours at room temperature. The 8-ounce servings are available in a variety of flavors, including reduced-fat plain, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

This mom and her 4-year-old preschooler put the vanilla and chocolate flavors to the test against the same flavors in regular milk (we just added a splash of vanilla extract to regular 2 percent milk). Neither mom nor preschooler noticed no real difference in taste (and happily, nobody became sick, either). My daughter especially enjoyed the included expandable straws.

We recommend, however, chilling before serving strictly for better taste. If you’re packing a school lunch, refrigerate the milk overnight and maybe include a freezer ice pack in the lunch box to keep it cool.

These single-serving are very practical if you want to pack milk to avoid the lunch line (plus the flavors are mighty tasty). These also would be convenient for travel. The drawback? The price. A case of 18 single servings is currently available at www.amazon.com for $22, with a list price of $28.47 (you do the math, but that’s well over a $1 per single serving on sale).

Horizon Organic products are also available at mainstream grocery stores nationwide, including Kroger. For more information, visit www.horizonorganic.com.

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5 things to do with your kids the weekend of Sept. 26-28

By Michelle | Friday, September 26, 2008, 04:43 PM

Moms, are you looking for something to do with the family this weekend? Here are five ideas for some early fall family fun:

1. Pirates weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival: Seeking adventure? Well, mateys, this may be the perfect weekend for you to head to the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg when pirates raid the village. Don’t miss the Pirate Stunt Show and Pirate Play Time. The festival will run from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28. An added bonus: It’s also Clear Channel weekend at the fest, and a portion of proceeds will benefit Dayton Children’s Medical Center. Tickets are $19.99 for adults and $9.99 for children ages 5-12. Discount tickets are available online.

2. See Barbie at the Schuster Center: Moms, do your little girls just love Barbie? Well, put away the dolls and opt for the real thing this weekend when “Barbie at the Symphony” takes over the Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. View portions of six Barbie princess movies on a big screen, while the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra plays the music featured in the films live. Tickets range from $13-$41. Ticketholders should arrive at 2 p.m. to meet Barbie in person, as well as following the concert. Macy’s Department Store will staff a salon for little girls in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center from 2-2:45 p.m., which will provide a complimentary mini-makeover with lip gloss and facial glitter for little girls along with coupons the girls can use at Macy’s.

3. 32nd annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival at Young’s Jersey Dairy: Take a pony ride, watch cow-milking demonstrations, eat homemade ice cream, pick your own pumpkins and more from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28, at Young’s Jersey Dairy, located one mile north of Yellow Springs on Ohio 68. Other activities include a corn maze, caramel apple making, pumpkin donut hole making, pumpkin painting, sack races and pumpkin slingshots. Admission to the event is free, though charges will apply for some activities at the dairy farm including miniature golf, the corn maze, batting cages, slides and more.

4. Kid-friendly Halloween fun at Kings Island: The annual Nick or Treat at Kings Island theme park in Mason has gotten an upgrade. Check out Howl-O-Fest, kicking off this weekend. Dancing, ”scareoke”, a costume parade/contest (so don’t forget to dress your little ones in costume), pumpkin picking and painting, carnival games, a hay bale maze and, of course, trick-or-treat candy stops are just a few of the treats on tap at Howl-O-Fest. Nickelodeon Universe’s 18 attractions also will be open as Howl-O-Fest transforms the park into a party for pint-sized ghosts and goblins on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. Free with park admission. Online ticket prices are $25.99 adults, $19.99 junior/senior (3 and up, under 48” tall and 62 and older). Hint, it will cost you much more if you buy at the gate, so buy tickets online before you go.

5. A festival for everyone this weekend: Craving chocolate? Maybe a pretzel oozing with cheese or a deliciously sweet caramel apple instead? Or perhaps you’re more in the mood for some garlic-rich dishes? If any (or all) of these sound good, then this weekend’s festival lineup is just for you. Check out the fall festival guide at www.ActiveDayton.com for full details. Happy eating!

Have more ideas for fun? Share them here:

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Belated postcard from France

By LucyB | Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 01:34 AM

When I opened my mailbox today, I was surprised to find a postcard that I wrote three months ago! It was addressed to my Hubby and my youngest child, who my two older kids and I abandoned in the States while we were on a two-week trip to France.

Three months? You read that right. My friend and tour guide Dr. Kirsten Halling trekked up the Eiffel Tower to mail all of our group’s postcards so they’d get the special Tour Eiffel postmark. The group had already been to the top the night before, but persistent K wanted us to have that postmark. But in three months, she could have walked the postcard back to Dayton herself.

The card’s image of Notre Dame at night brought memories of the trip flooding back. Here’s how it read:

“Bonjour! Second day: So far we’ve seen the Louvre, Sainte-Chappelle, boat ride on the Seine, La Conciergerie, the Latin Quarter. Tonight, Eiffel Tower. I’m drinking a cafe creme right now and started off lunch with a Ricard. So Nice! Miss you — Me.

“P.S. Kids are being Very Good.

“P.P.S. Hostel is atrocious!”

This gives you a pretty good idea of the pace we were keeping. I never thought I could walk so far so fast.

But K had an awesome itinerary planned out for us, and our group of five adults and seven children trooped along behind her quick little legs as best we could. (I perpetually brought up the rear, willing my aching feet to take each step.)

Being a professor who has led umpteen student tours to France, Kirsten carried along her “little black book” of lecture material. At every single stop, she had a prepared quickie history lesson at her fingertips. And being a mom of two tweens, she knew just how to spark the interest and imagination of our young travelers.

K had hosted mini-French lessons for two hours each Saturday for a month before our departure. We learned the alphabet sounds, calendar terms, counting, simple questions like “How much does it cost?” and how to order from a French menu in French.

Also, we learned streetwise tips like how to deal with gypsies (say ‘no’ forcefully and walk away, no matter how plaintive the story or sorrowful the eyes), to never order coffee with dinner (wait till afterward, you stupid American), and to act casual and not point and stare at topless sunbathers (especially pointed advice for our young male globe-trotters).

We also learned that if you don’t speak the language but make an effort anyway, however bad, the French will respect you for trying and will usually cut you a break, especially if you use your bad French while wearing a slightly scared and helpless expression.

The most important lesson of all was to use “s’il vous plait” and “merci” incessantly.

In short, if you want to have a fabulous time in France, make nice with a French professor and let her plan your trip.

Here are some tips on getting around Paris:

— Passports: Every traveler obviously needs one. Keep them with you at all times (I carried mine and my kids’ in a travel wallet). Apply for them at the post office no later than eight weeks before your trip, to be on the safe side. These cost about $100 for adults, half that for kids. They’re valid for 10 years for those over age 16, but children must have them renewed every five years.

— Footwear: Bring two pairs of comfortable walking shoes. The French don’t usually wear tennis shoes as streetwear, and if you do, you’ll stick out like a sore toe. I brought Keens and two pairs of comfy, well broken-in sandals. Kids, however, are free to wear tennies or Crocs as they please.

And for the love of God, bring flip-flops for the shower! We NEVER went barefoot anywhere but in the ocean. I bought us each a pair of flips from Dollar Tree and tossed them in the trash when we were packing for home.

— Banking: Check with your bank before you go to make sure your ATM card will work in Europe. I used my Visa debit card everywhere with total success, much to the dismay of my Hubby at home. (Travelers checks are outdated: You have to search high and low for a bank that will exchange them, and you are scrutinized like you’re trying to steal the crown jewels. Also, most storefront exchange spots are a rip-off. Stick with the plastic, my friends.)

— Phones: Check with your cell phone company well in advance to make sure your phone will function properly overseas. I had to get a rental from Verizon which allowed our group to stay in contact by texting. Phone calls were too expensive, something like 50 cents a minute.

— Guidebooks and maps: Borrow the latest Fodor’s or Frommer’s or Let’s Go from your local library, read it and take notes in a small reporter’s notebook (and no, I didn’t use company property!), take the street map out of the back, but leave the book at home. (They’re too heavy to lug around — trust me!) My husband and I got some great tips from “Cheap Eats Paris.”

— Transportation: Bring small headshot or school picture-type photographs of each member of your party — about 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches — so you can buy a Carte Orange for the week or a multi-day Paris Visite pass at the rail or RER station at the airport. You need to show your passport to the friendly clerks, and they’ll make you up a little wallet for your tickets. (Kids love these things.) The tickets are good for the train, bus or Metro, which is the subway that snakes under Paris. Children 4 to 11 are half price (yay!).

Kids under 4 travel free, but here’s the part where I warn you that getting around Paris with a toddler is something that I wouldn’t try. Wait a few years so they’ll remember the trip.

A single Metro ticket is 1.5 euros and it includes all transfers within an hour-and-a-half of first stamp to anywhere in Paris. A carnet of 10 tickets is very useful and can be purchased at machines in Metro stations with a bank card. If your credit card doesn’t work, go to the ticket window. And don’t forget your manners.

Use the Metro! Get yourself a Metro map, or just study the maps posted on every underground wall. Once you familiarize yourself with the color-coded lines and figure out the end of the line for each route you want to take, you’ll be able to travel the city with ease. (If I can do it, anyone can.) And each Metro stop has it’s own style, so that’s interesting in itself.

Two safety tips: beware of pickpockets, and step lively when entering or exiting the Metro or train cars.

— Buy a Paris Museum Pass for every adult in your party. It’s the cheapest way to see all the wonders of Paris, and it cuts line waits down considerably. We bought ours at the Louvre. A four-day pass is 45 euros. Here’s the best part: Children under 18 don’t need a pass, and they get in all Paris museums free of charge. That’s what I said: FREE!

More on what to pack, where to eat and where not to stay later.

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How to potty train in 3 years or less

By LucyB | Friday, September 19, 2008, 11:16 PM

Hubby and I decided to kick this potty training thing into high gear for our youngest, who turns 3 at the end of November.

He started showing signs of readiness before his second birthday, and we started coaxing him to try out his potty seat and stashed a few potty rings in our bathrooms.

It all seemed very promising at the outset, but our frequent weekend car trips always threw us off our rhythm. We’d get back home and have to start from scratch.

Now it’s a year later and his third birthday is looming, so it’s go-time. I had started feeling like we were holding him back by not pushing him harder to succeed. In my experience with our two older kids, I found that it takes parental diligence to potty train — something this perpetually tired working mom finds difficult to muster, especially on mornings after the late shift.

But I really, really want to buy that last pack of diapers — maybe then I can boost my coffee-shop allowance and become acquainted with Boston Stoker again.

So after our last trip of the summer (over Labor Day weekend), and after an especially stinky diaper change, I sat down with my son and suggested, “Isn’t it time to train?”

“Oh, yes, I wanna train,” he said excitedly. My heart skipped a beat, then he continued: “I want a big train, Mommy.”

Homonyms are always lost on the young …

Next day we went to the store and let him pick out big-boy underwear. He chose the Hulk, Spider-Man and Batman. Plus I pulled some backup pairs from the hand-me-down bin and we were set.

With lots of encouragement and praise from his family and a few malted milk balls as incentive (I know, disturbing analogy), he’s making real progress. He’s done so well in the last week that he doesn’t want to put on a diaper even at nap time.

Which brings me to the next phase: This weekend, I plan to buy a package of pull-up diapers for nighttime use only. Even though I think pull-ups are an inherently evil product created to prolong profits for diaper makers, I’m going to use them in this transition phase to make going to the potty easier for him at night and at preschool. (I’m not brave enough to send him in underwear yet!)

But that glorious day is now within sight. I can’t wait to celebrate with a sugar-free hazelnut latte with skim. And for my son? His usual: a small cup of whipped cream and a spoon. Here’s to being diaper-free!

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5 things to do with your kids Sept. 20-21

By Michelle | Friday, September 19, 2008, 02:18 PM

Most of you have been without power much of this week, and surely your children have been a little bit stir crazy — which is, as a result, driving you crazy.

The good news is, the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, and the Dayton area has tons of fun activities to give you and your little ones just the diversion you need.

So check out these five ideas for family fun this weekend:

1. 13th Annual Wool Gathering: See sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas during this annual event at Young’s Jersey Dairy, located one mile north of Yellow Springs on U.S. 68. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21. Watch sheep shearing, see dogs herd ducks around an obstacle course and into a tub of water and more. Children also will have the chance to learn felting, weaving, spinning with a drop spindle, knitting, making rope and other crafts in the kids craft area. Jeb Mac (Jeff McKinley) and his wife, Carolina Pearl, will entertain the kids playing a farmhouse fiddle, banjo, lap dulcimer and other instruments. Plus, check out other typical fun at Young’s including picking your own pumpkins, navigating through Cowvin’s Corny Maze, putt-putt, farm animals and more. And the best part: the ice cream. Admission to the event is free, however charges for specific activities like the corn maze and putt-putt will apply. For more information, visit www.youngsdairy.com

2. Corn mazes everywhere: Young’s isn’t the only corn maze open this weekend. If you’re looking for something to do, go test your navigation skills at your pick of corn mazes across the Miami Valley. The Sept. 14 windstorm left many corn maze operators with a big mess to clean up, but the corn mazes will be back in operation for those already open for the season and the others set to open for the season this weekend. Most of the other corn mazes offer fall fun, including pumpkin patches. One maze is even politically inspired. Find locations, hours and prices in our online guide to corn mazes.

3. New exhibit at Boonshoft: Have you been to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery lately? If you haven’t, now’s a good time to go. Opening Saturday, Sept. 20, “Through Gem Colored Glasses: A Reflection of the World Through Dayton’s Eyes” presents 50 years’ worth of collections from the museum’s Ridge Avenue location. See a meterorite fragment that’s 4.5 billion years old among many other cool things. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 4, and is included with regular admission, $8.50 adults; $7 seniors and children (2-12). While you’re there, enjoy the animal exhibit, pretend-play areas, kids climbing area, gravel pit and more. Call (937) 275-7431 or visit www.boonshoftmuseum.org for more information.

4. Celebrate the apple: You know the old saying “an apple a day …” Well, have your pick of apples (literally) and more during Apple Daze at the Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 Ohio 48 in Lebanon. In addition to the farm’s traditional offerings like animals, hayrides, ice cream, cider and more, this weekend you’ll find live music, food, crafts, hayrides, pony rides and train rides and get the chance to pick your own pumpkins and apples. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21. For more information, visit www.hiddenvalleyfruitfarm.com.

5. Family Day at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force: Learn about kites, ejection seats and parachutes during Family Day at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include storytime at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and demonstration stations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including one on indoor kite flying. All activities, with the exception of the plastic sled kite activity, are free. For more information, including details on road closures during the USAF Marathon, please visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Have more ideas? Share them here.

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