On any given Tuesday or Thursday evening, children eagerly enter the Mayerson JCC, ready to step into the shoes of their on-stage characters. Laughter fills the lobby as the future cast members of the next big performance make their way into their creative space.

Theatre at the J is a relatively new program at the JCC, having launched in 2022. Since its inception, it has significantly grown, with two major Disney musical productions already under its belt. While the hard work and passion behind these performances is evident on stage, there is so much more unfolding behind the scenes during rehearsals.

“Participants gain invaluable experience during classes and rehearsals, where students grow their confidence and create peer connections,” said Eliana Rantz, director of Theatre at the J. “The process is just as important as the product.”

Rantz has witnessed even the shyest of children blossom into confident performers. Throughout the classes, actors discover their strengths, build confidence, and find their unique voices. While some students bound into each class, seeking out their friends, others may hang back, waiting for a chance to connect.

Fortunately, for those who feel nervous, Rantz makes a concerted effort to foster connections through engaging exercises. Each session incorporates fun games, breathing techniques, acting exercises, and more, fostering teamwork and self-expression as students develop their characters. Theatre at the J offers two classes for different age groups: Everyone’s a Star and Everyone’s a Star Mini. The upcoming session will culminate in a performance of Disney’s Frozen JR.

“I’ve seen tremendous growth in not only the theatre program, but with the students who make it happen,” Rantz said. “Come join us for Theatre at the J—where the drama begins this January 2025.”

The upcoming performance dates will be in May at the Mayerson JCC. We hope to see you there!

Learn more by CLICKING HERE!

The post Theatre at the J appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

If you’re holding off getting your kids a phone but the world isn’t with you, then the solution we call “The Family Phone” could work for you! It’s helped us navigate those in-between years with respect for our kids and sanity for us while maintaining a boundary we were convinced was right for them.

The “Family Phone” is our answer to the incredible pressure all parents feel about giving kids a personal device at a young age. Many parents get phones earlier than they want to because they don’t have a great way around the fact that starting in (roughly) 6th grade, a lot of communication and systems with friends, activities, events, and schools is set up around the assumption of the child having a personal cell phone with internet and social media.

For instance, if I drop something off for my kid at school, the official policy is “Text your child and tell them it’s in the office.” I have to ask them to go old-school and send a note to their classroom teacher. Yes, I get a lot of sighs. But I’m willing to stay strong for the sake of what we think is best for our kids.

Wherever you draw your line, I know there are many factors that have gone into your thinking. We all love our kids, and YOU are their parent! I hope you make that decision intentionally and thoughtfully and informed by data available on the early impact of phones. One thing I know is that wherever you draw the line, your kid will want it sooner! The Family Phone idea helps bridge that gap.

Here’s how the Family Phone works:
The Family Phone is an additional household phone owned by the parent(s)/adult of a home but available for use by any and all members of the home at any time. It is owned by the adult(s) who pay the bill and operates at the sole discretion of the adult(s). It is not a private device: no one can ever say it’s “mine.”

Here are some key ways it functions for us:

• It roams as needed with any member of the family or stays put at home. Taking the Family Phone out of the house must be approved every single time: no one just walks out with it in their pocket.
• The phone number may be given out to the kids’ friends or coaches, etc., for communication purposes.
• The phone password is known by all and never changed. No additional passwords or private accounts may be established on anything. The camera and other apps may be opened or used by all members of the family.
• All communication on the phone is done with the understanding that it can and will be read by any or all members of the family.

Here’s why we love The Family Phone concept:

It establishes a sense of parental authority over technology in our home.
We believe parents should be operating in full authority over kids’ technology and devices because—as plenty of studies show—they have a huge impact on our kids’ health and well-being. Yes, I want them to eventually be able to manage the phone wisely without me (like almost everything else we do as parents!), but it’ll happen gradually with good boundaries and coaching.

I want to do, as Proverbs 22:6 says, “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

When I let go of it someday, I want to have trained them well. We also believe that it models for our kids how they should interact with God about all their stuff: God owns everything, and whatever we have is given to us for our use and enjoyment with wisdom and good stewardship.

The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. -\ Psalm 24:1.

We want our kids to think the same about their devices. Having a phone is not an inalienable right in our household. The Family Phone concept starts this off right—establishing our authority over technology in our home and acknowledging that kids need to grow in wisdom about how to use it.

It has built-in accountability and no assumption of privacy.
The Bible makes it clear that we are all prone to sin and sometimes make bad decisions (and not just at 13!) We believe a strong sense of accountability is important, and the lack of privacy on the Family Phone is a great starting point for that.

We let our kids decide if they want to explain the communal situation surrounding the phone to their friends. They must decide if giving the number out is a wise idea. You’d be amazed how many kids they decide not to give the number to because their little sister could be holding the phone when the text arrives! If someone can’t text with words appropriate for my 9-year-old, then I don’t want them texting any of my kids: score one for the family phone!

We cannot bury our heads in the sand about the prevalence of terrible stuff they can be exposed to on a device. I’m talking way beyond cuss words on a few texts: online bullying, grooming, pornography—just to name a few. “Good kids” get into stuff like this all the time. A lack of privacy is a good way to give them pause about who they’re talking to, what they’re looking at, etc. We ALL need a sense of accountability with our devices because, as Romans 14:12 says,” each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

It allows for social connection.
I want my kids to have access to social connections with their friends—for plans, rides, fun exchanges. I certainly remember more than a few (thousand) hours spent talking about absolutely nothing on 3-way calling with my own friends at 11-14 years old. I was very jealous of my bestie, who had her “own line” so she could talk as long as she wanted! I understand kids want to connect with each other and that it happens over phones.

The Family Phone allows for fun social connection. Nearly all of the exchanges on the phone are sweet, fun, and age-appropriate. I don’t want my kids to miss the connection, even if it’s just about wearing the same colored leggings the next day or playing 2K at a certain time together.

Other moms I know have allowed their kids’ friends to text their phones to reach their poor phoneless children, but that’s a hard pass for me. I absolutely cannot handle answering kids’ texts on behalf of my kids. I refuse to be the middleman. Score another one for the Family Phone!

It allows for communication during separation (if necessary). I say “if necessary” because we actually think our kids NOT having a phone every time we’re apart is a good thing. It fosters a sense of confidence and independence. It forces them to ask for help. It makes them talk more to the adults around them. I could go on and on.

However, around 11-14 years old is also the window where many kids start to spend periods of time alone in the house while parents run errands, work, or socialize. Like many of you, we don’t have a landline/home phone anymore, so the family phone is a proxy for this when we’re out of the house with our phones. I want my kid to be able to call 9-1-1 while I’m out on a run.

The Family Phone also allows for me to make the occasional decision that my child needs to take a phone with them while they’re away from the house. It gives me the flexibility to decide based on the circumstances. We don’t send it to all ‘away’ school events or athletic games. We also don’t send it to friend’s houses. But there are some occasions I want them to have a way to reach them. The Family Phone means it’s possible if I want it, but not a given.

It requires negotiation and sharing among siblings.
Yes, sometimes this is a big headache! I know it’s “easier” to just give everyone an individual device and forget about the sharing. But we have found that one shared family phone (and one shared iPad) DOES work! They have to brainstorm, plan, and create their own systems and ways of sharing them. This is a great thing to teach all kinds of practical interpersonal and communication skills.

Yes, they squabble over it sometimes, but it’s been a much bigger win than lose. I’ve watched them decide to do something together “while they wait” and then forget all about it! I’ve watched them compromise on the music they’ll both listen to, and each takes one ear of wireless headphones. I’ve watched them agree to include their sibling in a FaceTime they make to a grandparent. It makes them include others in their technology interactions and forces them out of the mentality that their needs always prevail. Overall, another win for the character we’re trying to teach them from Philippians 2:4; “Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.”

The Family Phone is one of those rare parenting solutions we stumbled into that’s worked in the years between the ages of 10-14. It was too helpful to keep to myself. We’re all in this parenting thing together, and none of us knows exactly what we are doing when it comes to technology and devices! I hope our little experiment proves helpful in your home, too.

Find even more great parenting articles from Crossroads Church by CLICKING HERE!

The post FEELING PRESSURE TO GET YOUR KID A PHONE? TRY THIS. appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

“My kids are so selfish.” “I think my son is a kind of an a**hole. Is that OK to admit?!” “Sharing our toys is really hard right now.”

I can’t tell you how many times parents have said things like this to me. They see selfish behaviors in their kids and have no clue how to fight it. How do we raise kids to be less selfISH and more selfLESS?

As I’ve worked with kids and students for years, the last 14 years at a church with over 5,000 kids and students each weekend, I can tell you that parents are not alone in their concern about raising generous kids.

I’ll get to some answers in a bit, but first, let me tell you a story.

We adopted our youngest when she was 10 years old. One of the first gifts she received was a Madeline doll. I’d loved Madeline as a kid, and my mom thought her new granddaughter would love her own doll. Because our daughter lived in an orphanage for years, she didn’t have resources to give gifts and gift-giving in the orphanage was rare. Soon after coming home, she walked across the street and gave her Madeline doll to a young neighbor.

How did I react? I was mad. I was also afraid that her grandma would be hurt that her gift was given away. It was an expensive doll, so it didn’t seem right to give it away.

But years later, I’m wondering why I didn’t celebrate her generosity. Prior to that, we had celebrated when our kids had given gently used toys to charity, so why didn’t I celebrate this? Were certain things just “too good” to give away?

The answer, of course, is no. God gives us the very best. We should do the same.

As parents, we want our kids to be generous. A verse in the Bible has a great phrase about becoming cheerful givers:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

But sharing is difficult, and in the first few years of life, kids simply don’t have the capacity to grasp the concept. But as they mature, and consider the world around them while also becoming more empathetic, generosity is a character trait that can be taught—and even more importantly, modeled.

Kids learn from watching their parents. So, the first step in training our kids to be generous is to model generosity. (The Merriam Webster definition is freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things; providing more than the amount that is needed or normal: abundant or ample.) Here are a few questions to get you thinking:

• As a child, what was modeled to me? Did I see generosity in my parents? What thoughts and beliefs that I picked up as a kid have affected how I approach generosity as an adult?
• What have my kids seen me do that is generous? Where have I given my time or resources to others? You may realize that while you are generous, you may be doing it out of eyesight of your kids.
• Where have I modeled selfishness?

Once we understand where we are, we can plan our journey to encourage generosity in our kids. Maybe you’ve realized your actions are quite generous but your kids don’t see it. Or maybe there are areas where you can grow in your generosity. Maybe there are thoughts and actions around generosity that were modeled to you as a kid that you do not want to be part of your family’s story.

Here are some steps to help train our kids in generosity (which has the extra bonus of leading them out of selfishness):

• Model it: When our kids were young, I was blessed with neighbors also raising little ones. We were a great support system and would often drop notes, chocolate, or even a bottle of wine on mom’s porches as a reminder that we were not alone. That was a generous act, but my kids never saw me do it. I usually did it after they were in bed. How fun it would have been, and great training, to have them in on these special deliveries? Don’t hide those generous acts from your kids.
• Talk it: Remind kids of God’s generosity with us. All that we have comes from God. Thank Him regularly for the ways he has blessed your family. Because of the way He has blessed us, we naturally have a desire to bless others. Also, point out the generosity of others. When others are generous with your family—tell your kids. As we are generous with others, explain to our kids what we are doing and why. This isn’t bragging. It is how we train our kids. At my dad’s funeral, I learned of so many generous acts that he did in his life, and I had no clue. I would have loved to have talked about those with him.
• Do it: As a family, look for ways to be generous together. As the holidays approach, there are many ways to support families in need or donate to coat and food drives. Clean out our closets, collecting toys and clothes to donate. Give of your time to neighbors who need yard work. Bake treats for city employees. And remember, as we do these acts, our kids are watching. Years ago at church, the kids collected peanut butter to send to our friends in South Africa. One 5th grader was happy to bring in several jars of peanut butter. As he dropped his generic peanut butter in the boxes, he turned to me and said rather apologetically, “We bought Jif Peanut butter for our family.” I thanked him for his donation and didn’t follow up on the Jif comment. I did wonder what he was thinking, though. Was he learning that we keep the best to ourselves and give the cheaper or less desirable items to others?
• Celebrate it: When we see our kids being generous, celebrate it. I believe the old saying “celebrate what you want to replicate.” Typically the behavior we celebrate, we’ll see again. Celebrate the generosity of others too.

A few years after giving her brand new Madeline doll away, our daughter decided she wanted to bring her friends from the orphanage here for the summer. Pretty generous, huh? I talked her out of it, and we sent toothpaste, toothbrushes, and socks to the orphanage instead. But that did not satisfy our daughter. She continued to plead with us to give her friends a summer they would never forget. She was sure that if people met her friends, they’d adopt them. She had a grand plan.

Finally, I gave in, gathered some friends, and we worked to make her dream a reality. It sounded like a crazy plan, and most people agreed that is was a crazy idea. It seemed undoable—a bunch of American moms bringing 15 Ukrainian orphans to the USA. But it happened. The kids had an amazing summer, and our family gained another daughter. And many of those kids, plus others from their orphanage, were adopted into families.

Raising generous kids may introduce risks and adventure into your life. It may be uncomfortable. But I believe that our families will be blessed in ways we can not even imagine.

By Kim Botto, for Crossroads Church

The post Want to Raise a Generous Kid? Do This. appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Summer is a time for less regimentation and later bedtimes. Because there isn’t a strict school schedule that is driving family priorities, it’s normal and healthy to become a bit lax during the summer. But in the fall it’s time to step back into a more regimented lifestyle. Just as many of us look forward to summer, we should also look forward to fall. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. The next day starts the night before. This is the time to make lunches and prep backpacks. Even for those of us who aren’t going to school, the success of our next day can be determined by our habits the night before.
2. Embrace a set bedtime that gives you needed sleep and prepares you for productivity.
3. Set standard evening meal times where you all connect and debrief your day. A simple regimen to put in place is to go around the dinner table and ask each person two questions. “What was the worst part of your day?” and “What was the best part of your day?” This will create meaningful conversations.
4. Take care of yourself first. If you need an hour alone in the morning before the kids get moving, do it. If you need to roll straight out of bed into the car, do it. Strategically choose the patterns for you rather than mindlessly fall into stress.
5. Establish a prayer cue. If you are driving your kids to school, identify a traffic light where every day you will pray out loud for a blessing on their day and for the entire faculty and student population.
6. Fun doesn’t end when summer ends. We all still need to play. For us, that meant jumping on the trampoline for 15 minutes every night after dinner or playing murderball up against the chain link fence.

It isn’t the one-off experiences that make for a meaningful and great life. It is the intentional ordering of our days over a lifetime. Fall is a great season to restart.

By Brian Tome for Crossroads Church. 
Find out more about Crossroads Church by CLICKING HERE!

The post SIX WAYS TO CRUSH BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Through top-tier academic, arts, music and athletic programs, students from pre-K to 12th grade excel and are well-prepared for college, military service or employment. CPS students not only benefit from community support but also give back, enriching their neighborhoods and fostering a cycle of growth and generosity.

Register today for the 2024-2025 school year! To learn more, visit cps-k12.org/enroll or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance. Here are a few standout neighborhood schools for your child to enroll in today!

Frederick Douglass School: A Community of Learners
Frederick Douglass School is a neighborhood school that provides a balanced educational experience centered around contemplative arts and sciences. Each student receives a personalized, creative and engaging learning experience through mindfulness and movement. Situated in the heart of Walnut Hills, this school prides itself on its strong sense of community and commitment to student achievement. Partnerships with Miami University and Walnut Hills High School continue to foster the unique gifts of students. Frederick Douglass School also prioritizes social-emotional learning, equipping students with the skills to confidently navigate life’s challenges.

Evanston Academy: Nurturing Future Leaders
Evanston Academy, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, is committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment where students thrive through experiential education, a thorough curriculum and active community collaboration. Situated in the vibrant Evanston neighborhood, the school’s innovative Career Awareness and Exploration program provides students with early exposure to diverse career pathways through hands-on learning experiences. Complementing academic rigor, Evanston Academy prioritizes students’ social-emotional development through a comprehensive weekly Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum, ensuring they are not only academically prepared but also socially and emotionally supported.

Chase School: Building Bright Futures
Nestled in Northside, Chase School serves pre-K through sixth-grade students with a commitment to excellence. Organized into primary and intermediate teams, Chase employs a collaborative teaching approach. The mission, “Inspiring the Human Spirit through Cultural Arts Education,” reflects its dedication to a well-rounded education. With a dynamic curriculum and robust arts and athletics programs, Chase ensures students thrive academically, physically and emotionally.

At Cincinnati Public Schools, we believe in the potential of every student. Our commitment to providing a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment ensures that each child is prepared to succeed in school and beyond. Whether you choose Frederick Douglass School, Evanston Academy, Chase School or another CPS school, you can be confident that your child will receive an education that values their unique strengths and prepares them for a bright future. Enroll now for the 2024-2025 school year and join a community dedicated to excellence in education.

To learn more about these schools and enroll, visit: https://www.cps-k12.org/our-district/enrollment or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance.

The post Cincinnati Public Schools Spotlight appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Through top-tier academic, arts, music and athletic programs, students from pre-K to 12th grade excel and are well-prepared for college, military service or employment. CPS students not only benefit from community support but also give back, enriching their neighborhoods and fostering a cycle of growth and generosity.

Register today for the 2024-2025 school year! To learn more, visit cps-k12.org/enroll or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance. Here are a few standout neighborhood schools for your child to enroll in today!

Frederick Douglass School: A Community of Learners

Frederick Douglass School is a neighborhood school that provides a balanced educational experience centered around contemplative arts and sciences. Each student receives a personalized, creative and engaging learning experience through mindfulness and movement. Situated in the heart of Walnut Hills, this school prides itself on its strong sense of community and commitment to student achievement. Partnerships with Miami University and Walnut Hills High School continue to foster the unique gifts of students. Frederick Douglass School also prioritizes social-emotional learning, equipping students with the skills to confidently navigate life’s challenges.

Evanston Academy: Nurturing Future Leaders

Evanston Academy, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, is committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment where students thrive through experiential education, a thorough curriculum and active community collaboration. Situated in the vibrant Evanston neighborhood, the school’s innovative Career Awareness and Exploration program provides students with early exposure to diverse career pathways through hands-on learning experiences. Complementing academic rigor, Evanston Academy prioritizes students’ social-emotional development through a comprehensive weekly Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum, ensuring they are not only academically prepared but also socially and emotionally supported.

Chase School: Building Bright Futures

Nestled in Northside, Chase School serves pre-K through sixth-grade students with a commitment to excellence. Organized into primary and intermediate teams, Chase employs a collaborative teaching approach. The mission, “Inspiring the Human Spirit through Cultural Arts Education,” reflects its dedication to a well-rounded education. With a dynamic curriculum and robust arts and athletics programs, Chase ensures students thrive academically, physically and emotionally.

At Cincinnati Public Schools, we believe in the potential of every student. Our commitment to providing a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment ensures that each child is prepared to succeed in school and beyond. Whether you choose Frederick Douglass School, Evanston Academy, Chase School or another CPS school, you can be confident that your child will receive an education that values their unique strengths and prepares them for a bright future. Enroll now for the 2024-2025 school year and join a community dedicated to excellence in education.

To learn more about these schools and enroll, visit: https://www.cps-k12.org/our-district/enrollment or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance.

The post Cincinnati Public Schools Spotlight appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

There’s now a novel and very futuristic-feeling new way to give back to local communities in Cincinnati. Residents from all over are starting to forget about dusty old donation boxes because charities working in and around the area have begun to welcome donations in Bitcoin.

But why have they made this move to accept digital decentralized currencies alongside more regular donation options, and which charities are leading the way here? This article explains it all.

Why Bitcoin for charity?

So, why exactly are local and regional charities offering up this new way to give back? The main reason, that makes the most immediate sense, involves the idea that giving people as many convenient options to help out their fellow man as possible is always a good thing. It’s just another way among many to give back, and other ways to donate have not fallen away. You can still go to that church bake sale and offer up your spare change the way you usually do.

In general the most stable coins, including Bitcoin, have also stopped wildly jumping around and dipping in price as much as they did in the past, when they were still new. To keep coins from losing their value, the value of Bitcoin miners’ rewards are halved every few years. As this Bitcoin price chart after halving shows, volatility is still a concept worth thinking about, but it’s becoming easier to trust that Bitcoin won’t suddenly become less than worthless overnight. This is a big part of why charities in Cincinnati, and everywhere else, are starting to accept them as donation funds.

Bitcoin donors also get special perks:

• No Borders: If you’re interested in donating to international causes, donating using Bitcoin is the way to go. This is because decentralized coins don’t have borders the same way US Dollars do, making it easier to directly support on other continents.
• Transparency: When you donate to a charity using your Bitcoins, you get to know exactly where the funds go. It’s all on the blockchain, so you get to keep an eye on your contribution.
• Tax Advantages: According to the IRS, Bitcoin assets are property assets, at least as far as tax is concerned. Plus, unlike selling a Bitcoin and having to pay capital gains tax, a Bitcoin donation allows you to deduct a more exact value come tax season.

The charities now taking Bitcoin donations

Naturally, not every charity offers this option right now. But as time goes on and more people get used to the idea of giving in this way, it’s likely that they will eventually. For now, it can be slightly challenging to figure out which local organizations have jumped on the trend early. Here’s a short list of the largest ones:

• The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
• The University of Cincinnati Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati

As more charities get on board and see the value of offering donors as much choice in how they want to donate as possible, platforms like the Giving Block will likely keep track of them. So, if you want to donate using crypto but aren’t sure where you can, resources like this one can help. Keep an eye on their platform and consider reaching out to your charity of choice to ask them if they’ll make the new donation method an option for you. Perhaps in the future, there will be ways to support charities using Bitcoin, the same way local Cincinnati craft show events have supported initiatives like the Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank.

Giving is getting with the times

The world doesn’t work the way it used to when donation boxes in churches and community gathering points were all the rage. Today, most people spend way more time with their noses glued to their screens, working, potentially killing their brains on TikTok and reading articles just like this one. This means charities need to make some forward-thinking changes to reach the givers and continue their vital work supporting Cincinnati communities.

Welcoming donations of Bitcoin or other such currencies is just one way to encourage new, hip generations to continue sharing what they have to spare with the needy in every way possible. There are other digital philanthropic trends also shaking up the established scene:

• Social Media Fundraising: If you’ve ever seen a friend or family member ask their followers to donate to a cause on Facebook for their birthday, you’ll have seen this trend in action. Social media platforms have made spreading the word of a worthy cause an absolute breeze.
• Mobile Giving: Instantly transferring a small donation with the casual swipe of a smartphone is making the act of giving more accessible to everyone, and especially those of us who stumble across a worthy cause while browsing online.
• Recurring Donations: Some charities have taken notes from streaming and subscription sites. It’s quite trendy now to set up a recurring payment with your charity of choice.

Gearing up the next generation of givers

Raising good, charitable members of Cincinnati means staying up-to-date with how donations in the future might look. If you’re curious about Bitcoin donations, consider exploring this new trend with your kids. Ask them which initiatives they think they’d like to donate to as they get older, and think about whether or not your curiosity about crypto donations could be a jumping-off point to discuss the value of giving back to local communities.

The post Cincinnati Charities Now Accepting Bitcoin appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

At Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), every student is valued, supported, empowered and prepared to reach their fullest potential. From neighborhood schools, magnet schools and Montessori programs to high schools of choice, CPS offers top-tier academic, arts, music and athletic programs for students and families spanning from PreK to 12th grade. CPS is committed to developing the whole child, ensuring students thrive and graduate prepared to enroll in college, enlist in the military or become gainfully employed. Register today for the 2024- 2025 school year! To learn more, visit cps-k12.org/enroll or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance.

Here are a few standout schools for your child to enroll in today! 

Rockdale Academy: Nurturing Future Leaders

Rockdale Academy, an Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) 2024 Hall of Fame school, is at the forefront of innovative education. Situated in the vibrant Avondale neighborhood, Rockdale Academy is dedicated to teaching the whole child through new and creative approaches to learning. The school’s curriculum integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) with hands-on experiences that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills. One standout feature is the outdoor urban learning garden, where students can explore nature and grow crops, blending environmental education with practical skills. The academy’s holistic approach ensures that students are not only academically prepared, but also socially and emotionally supported. Enroll your child at Rockdale Academy and experience a transformative education that prepares them for a successful future.

Bond Hill Academy: A Community of Learners

Bond Hill Academy is more than just a school; it’s a community where students, teachers and families work together to create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. Situated in the heart of Bond Hill, this academy prides itself on its strong sense of community and commitment to student achievement. For the upcoming school year, Bond Hill Academy will receive a community makeover, including an upgraded playground, renovated outdoor classroom, new STEM/STEAM lab, murals and other exciting projects for the pre-K through 6th grade facility. Bond Hill Academy offers a rigorous academic program that challenges students to reach their highest potential. The school’s emphasis on literacy and numeracy ensures a solid foundation for all students, while its enrichment programs in arts, music and technology provide a well-rounded education. Bond Hill Academy also prioritizes social-emotional learning, equipping students with the skills to navigate life’s challenges confidently. 

Hays-Porter School: Building Bright Futures

Hays-Porter School is dedicated to building bright futures for its students through a comprehensive and engaging educational experience. Located in the West End, Hays-Porter School emphasizes academic excellence, character development and community involvement. The school’s curriculum is designed to inspire a love of learning and to develop critical thinking skills that will serve students throughout their lives. Hays-Porter School offers a variety of programs, including arts education and athletics, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their passions. The school’s supportive and caring environment encourages students to take risks, learn from their experiences and strive for their personal best. Enroll your child at Hays-Porter School and watch them flourish in a setting that celebrates diversity, promotes academic achievement and prepares them for a successful future.

At Cincinnati Public Schools, we believe in the potential of every student. Our commitment to providing a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment ensures that each child is prepared to succeed in school and beyond. Whether you choose Rockdale Academy, Bond Hill Academy, Hays-Porter School or another CPS school, you can be confident that your child will receive an education that values their unique strengths and prepares them for a bright future. Enroll now for the 2024-2025 school year and join a community dedicated to excellence in education.

To learn more about these schools and enroll, visit: https://www.cps-k12.org/our-district/enrollment or call 513-363-0123 for enrollment assistance.

The post Cincinnati Public Schools Spotlight appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Recapturing Play for Moms, by Alli Patterson, for Crossroads Church

Moms, you are not the party planner for your kids.

It bothers me that most moms I know plan and prep play and entertainment in the lives of our children, and then stand on the sidelines and watch. Somewhere in the modern job description of “mom,” we’ve decided it’s mom’s job to stage the fun instead of to have the fun. This dynamic is numbing and stifling real joy in the lives of mothers. And it’s time for a change.

Today we put real, genuine play and pleasure for moms back on the top of the priority list. And guess what? It’ll actually bring more genuine joy to your kids as well.

When I had four little kids at home I ran around town weekly hitting up spots for play and fun throughout the year; indoor playgrounds, toy train stations, outdoor parks, water splash pads, craft events, trampoline parks, storytimes, mall rides, amusement parks even some random place called “Totter’s Otterville” that I never quite understood. Every single one of these places was about play, joy and/or fun for my kids.

Then one day I got tired of it all. I was standing there—yet again—watching my kids play on the indoor playground. I got fed up, tired of being the planner, bored and disinterested in small talk with moms I’d never see again. OK, let’s be honest, I’m always disinterested in small talk. So, I suddenly jumped on a moving, twirling thing-y (the official name of the object in the picture) that a big kid was spinning around. I momentarily forgot about the motion sickness that had set in after having all these babies. And even though I just about threw up after I got off, that moment started my journey of actually having the fun instead of watching the fun.

I tried to remember what I even liked to do for fun. I had to remember again that I love to be in the woods. I always end up climbing on trees, rocks, etc. while I hike. I love to ride bikes. I like boats, paddleboards, and jet skis. I actually think reading is fun. I like to throw balls and play four square. I have fun baking (who doesn’t like licking the batter?!) and giving away some of what I make. I tried to recall fun and memory of the first time I played Ultimate Frisbee came to mind. I had to reach in there pretty far: there were shamefully few of those memories for years.

Slowly, I began to take notice of what brought me life, joy, laughter, and fun; the things that awakened play in me. Then I just started to bring my kids along.

As soon as everyone was three years old, we canoed (that’s the rule on the river near us). I traded our passes to a little amusement park near us for passes to the Nature Center that was 15 minutes further away. Because, motion sickness, remember?! Near water, I’ll prioritize budget for renting water toys, because there’s nothing like the feel of a jet ski. If the kids want me to come outside, I suggest four square. In the winter, we baked once a week and took some to neighbors. As they’ve gotten older, I get tickets to shows I want to see and take one of them with me or we make it a family thing. Instead of cartoons that I can’t stand, I introduced them to British period drama—though I only won over one kid out of four! Do they always love what I love? Nope. But there’s plenty of time to have fun separately too.

I also started saying no to all the kid places where I ended up standing around, watching, and calling it fun. Or if I said yes (because my kids like trampolines but I pee my pants) at a time for when I could read a book or take a friend to chat with while they play. I’d clearly explain to my kids that I’m going to use the time for that. I tell them I’m happy they’re having fun, but this isn’t fun for mom. And we’re all on the same page.

Before planning anything to do with the kids, I started asking myself one simple question:

“Does this sound fun to me?”

Of course, I would hear a voice in my head tell me that I was selfish. Then that voice told me that my kids needed what entertained them. Sometimes that voice would say the extra bother wasn’t worth it. It told me my kids were missing out. But none of these are true.

Real play and joy for mom preserves it for the entire household. Yes, there are times when we all have different definitions of fun. Knowing what mom (and dad) think is fun is critical to knowing what to prioritize doing as a family. Then you can throw them in the car with your neighbor or let them go with a friend to the other stuff! We have learned to prioritize what mom and dad enjoy doing because it overflows from us and impacts the whole family. Did you catch that word? Overflow. That’s how my kids get the most joy. It comes best from what’s within me. This is the same principle I see many places in the Bible but is evident in one simple verse:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

The God of hope gives hope, and we overflow with his hope. This principle of overflow is true for joy, play, and pleasure too. The God of joy gives joy, and we overflow with his joy. The God of pleasure gives pleasure and we overflow with his pleasure. He gives. We receive. We seek Him for genuine play, pleasure, and joy, and he is happy to give it. We were created to receive from a God who knows who we are. He knows how he made us and what we like. He knows how to awaken play and fun in the life of anyone—even moms who have been party planners so long they can’t remember what they like anymore. Ask him! He gave you life to enjoy his overflow.

Recapture your joy!
Check out one of these fun local
Things to Do!!!

The post Recapturing Play for Moms | Crossroads Church appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Kids have a million opportunities these days. So, how do you decide what’s best for your kid to do?

I’m grateful we live in a time and place where my kids can explore talents and curiosities early in their life. That’s a gift. But we need some wisdom to know which ones are worth it.

Every parent knows a lot of clubs, classes, camps, and competitions turn out to be a complete waste of time, money, or both! And worse yet, our kids are maxed out, spending every hour of most days obligated or scheduled into some kind of activity or sport that is supposed to be “good for them.”

I’ve discovered a way to help you see ahead to the potential impact of any commitment. Before you make a call on the next season of activities, use the tool below.

The message from every sports team, scout troop, student council, art class, or music lesson is that it’s good for their health, well-being, or future happiness. I learned ages ago that’s not always true.

Four games into the first season of kid-pitch baseball (just think how few strikes and hits we saw!), watching my kid lay in the grass in the outfield, I started saying no. Then I went a little far with the no’s and missed some good opportunities because I hated the memories of sitting somewhere furious with myself for what turned out to be a TOTAL waste of time. (For me, too many no’s are still better than too many yes’s!)

Deciding on kids’ activity participation is certainly, in part, a live-and-learn kind of thing. It’s some imperfect mixture of:

1. Knowing your kid
2. Asking the right questions
3. Paying attention to what season your family is in
4. And texting your friends with older kids before you say yes

But I recently created a little tool that might help start some of the right conversations with your family and kids as you make tough calls about your yes’s and no’s. It’s a little nerdy, I admit. But it is guaranteed to at least start an open exchange.

I created it when, a few months ago, I told my son “no” to an activity he wanted to do. I knew I was right. Sometimes moms just know in their “knower.” And I knew.

But this particular child is very analytical. He’s old enough to have thought things through and expect a real response. If I want to keep connecting with him, I knew it had to go beyond “because we said so.” I want to maintain a respectful relationship with my kids, so I decided to try to quantify my gut instinct. And that’s where this little tool was born.

The idea came to me when I was praying about saying “no” to him. (Yep, sometimes prayer is where those light bulbs go on!) I was a little nervous he was going to take my answer badly, and I was asking God for the wisdom to communicate well with him, to try to help him understand my reasoning. I said, “help me speak his language.” This kid’s language is numbers, reason, logic, analytics. Suddenly I got an idea. Like a true nerd, I got out my spreadsheet and built this little calculation to try to help him understand the swirl of things underneath our “no.”

As you look at this, the five things listed are our values when we make decisions about activities for our kids. No, we aren’t perfect at applying these, but it helps to write them down. Steal mine or use your own set. These five things were the hard-to-explain discernment I realized was underneath my “no.”

My husband, my son, and I all did this separately about the same activity and then compared our answers and discussed. It was so helpful for understanding one another! It was so good for him to see that his Dad and I don’t think exactly the same even when we agree on the final call. He felt respected. I understood where he was coming from, and we agreed on some things for the future. We went way further than “because I said so,” and it preserved a lot of relationship. Even though in the end, the answer was no.

Here it is. I hope it helps you too. (And it’s more fun on a spreadsheet that will calculate for you!)

Instructions
1: For each activity, choose a number between -5 and +5 for the 5 categories listed, using the following scale

• -5 = No: Not good for them; potential harm
• 0 = No impact: N/A or Neutral/balanced
• +5 = YES: Very helpful; Big benefit

2: Multiply your raw score by a number from 1-5 that represents the amount of time or investment necessary to participate.

• 1 = Low investment (Half hour once a week or less, at home)
• 5 = High investment (Multiple hours nearly every day, requires driving)

3: Compare your ‘overall impact’ scores. Discuss.

Activity Name

1. There’s a great role model (or Christ-like leader)
2. The kids/community are a good influence (encouraging Jesus-like values & integrity)
3. My kid loves to do it! Level of his/her personal enjoyment
4. My kids shows potential here: Gift/talent development can occur
5. Supports a stated goal( or our best understanding of God’s direction in your life)

Raw Score =
X by Time Multiplier
TOTAL SCORE =

A (made up) Example: Piano lessons Role model: 2
Kids influence: 0
Enjoyment: -4
Potential: 3
Goal: 0
Raw score = 1 (all the above added together)
X Time multiplier 2 (45 min for weekly lesson)
Total Impact Score = 2

What I see here: Looks like the piano lessons aren’t going to have a big impact on your life so it’s a relatively low overall investment. With this low impact score, given the kid hates it, I’d drop this from the calendar even though they show promise and wait to see if they ask to do it in the future. Might be a “try again another time” kinda thing.

A (made up) example; Basketball training
Role model: -1
Kids influence: 0
Enjoyment: 5
Potential: 3
Goal: 0
Raw score = 7 (all the above added together)

X Time multiplier 4 (3 times a week for one hour, 30 min away)
Total Impact Score = 28

What I see here: The kid loves it and shows some real potential. Looks like the coach is a little negative so that’s something to keep a sharp eye on – maybe agree to find a new coach for next session if you move forward. Given the time involved it’ll have a huge impact on both the kid and the calendar. Big win for his/her joy but big hit to mom/dad’s drive time. I’d probably lean towards a yes if we could pull it off in the family schedule or try to recruit a friend to share driving.

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