Popular play destination Dig ‘N Play has moved to a new spot (which, parents! rejoice, boasts better parking!). Located at 4902 Union Centre Pavilion Drive in West Chester, the new location will offer up familiar family fun, including a brand new sand table (or two), a brand new structure, beautiful custom designed playhouses, and more. This play spot is a modern, chic destination designed with kids 7 and under AND their grown-ups in mind. Kids will love exploring the interactive play space and grown ups can enjoy good coffee or even a glass of wine. Dig ‘N Play will continue to host birthday parties, with three party rooms available at the new location. And follow along on Facebook to learn about all of the fun events will be hosted at this awesome location!

Visit dignplay.com or call 513-847-1055 to stay in-the-know about all things Dig ‘N Play.

Codeword: DigUpSomeFun

The post Dig ‘N Play Moves appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

For November Feedback, we asked and you answered: What are you grateful for in 2024?

“My kiddo is having a great first year in kindergarten!”
-Victoria S. 

“I am grateful for my family every day.” 
-Aaron F.

“I am grateful to have started a new awesome job after working retails for 23 years.”
-Clay C.

“Being alive!”
-Amy W. 

“I’m super grateful there was a special lady out there that donated her kidney to my uncle. She did not know him. She did this out of the kindness of her heart. Her generosity is giving him and us a precious gift, time. He’s on the road to recovery. We are so blessed.”
-Jennifer M.

“I am grateful for my daughters and being able to travel with them.”
-Lisa M. 

“Nature: You can appreciate the beauty of nature and treat it well.”
-Jessica S. 

“My fur babies!”
-Kim J. 

“I’m grateful for bringing my last little baby into the world! As a mother of five, it truly is an experience that I am cherishing and being grateful for.”
-Brooke F. 

“Local grandparents.”
-Tiffany M. 

“Having a successful vegetable garden! We had the most delicious sweet corn, actually had success with cantaloupe, and harvested 30 pumpkins!”
-Jennifer W.

“Good health.”
-Colleen K. 

“I am grateful for my health after the trials I have experienced this past year.”
-Brittany D. 

“I’m grateful to be in a position that we can financially afford for me to stay at home with our three kids.”
-Abby S. 

“My kids and their health.”
-Erin C. 

“My pets.”
-Gabrielle W.

“Getting to see my daughter grow into a young lady.”
-Kelly M. 

“My beautiful babies.”
-Elizabeth M. 

“Spending time with people who bring joy into our life!”
-Jana B. 

“I am grateful for my beautiful family. I am grateful for all the kind people in this world.”
-Colleen B. 

“Great teachers!”
-Julia G.

“Supportive community and co-workers!”
-Erin C.

“Grateful for my health and of course my family!”
-Jessica S.

“My amazing son and husband and my resilient mom!”
-Jennifer B. 

The post November Feedback appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

I learned a lot on this most recent trip to Michigan. I am not a patient person, I am not flexible, and I am not happy when I am late for something. The last one is my mom’s fault; we were never late for anything, always arriving early because you never know what can happen along the way. I never realized how bad my patience and flexibility were until now. 

After we got settled, I couldn’t sleep, thinking of how childish this behavior was. It wasn’t the pilot’s fault the plane engine broke. It wasn’t the stewardess’s fault either, but my inability to go with the flow just blew out the window. I try to teach my kids to go with the flow, and that things happen that you have no control over, but look at me, not setting a good example for my children. Am I so tightly wound up that I act like this when I am at home, and it hits me like a ton of bricks? I always act like this; no wonder my kids have my anxiety, I gave it to them! 

New goal: work on my anxiety and learn to go with the flow. I mean, I can preach it all I want, but I need to show it also. This is going to be a hard goal, but I’ve got to change the way my brain works, so that my children can learn to adapt and go with the flow as we always preach. I now understand why they have a hard time doing it!

The post Go with the Flow appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Strawberry Days

Of course, picking strawberries is not included in the price of Strawberry Days admission. Berries cost $4.99 a pound. And while advanced tickets are required, picking days are determined by the field and weather conditions. 
   Parents with Little can save on Tuesdays. When you book a Tuesday date, you can get a half-price toddler ticket with the purchase of your full-price adult ticket.

Strawberry Days: Food Truck & Music Schedule

Weekends will bring additional fun to the farm. Music and foot trucks will be onsite on Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day. Go here to see who is playing and what trucks will be available on specific weekends.

Know Before You Go:

— Tickets are required for ages 2 and older. Children under 2 are free. 

— Picking pails are provided; no outside containers are permitted. 

— Fields may be muddy; wear boots or old shoes. It’s an approximate 500-ft walk to the strawberry field.

— Sometimes — especially later in the day — the field will be closed in order to let it rest.

Blooms & Berries is located at 9669 S. St. Rt. 48 in Loveland. Hours are Mon – Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The phone number is 513-697-9173.

Discover More Great Things to Do

The post Strawberry Days: Online Tickets Go Live May 6 appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show Supports Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank

The Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows are proud to support the local non profit, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank. This organization serves as a resource of information and a free diaper bank for low-income families in need. A portion of this year’s Avant-Garde event sales will be donated to the charity.

Admission to this year’s show is $3, children under 12 are free. The event will be held at the R.S.V.P Event Center, located at 453 Wards Corner Road in Loveland.

Keep up with the show on the Facebook Page and Instagram. Learn more at the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show site.

DISCOVER MORE THINGS TO DO HERE.

The post Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show Coming appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Heather and her son, Peter, were attending an autism preschool where he received occupational therapy. It’s quite common for kids to run toward the swing set during play time or recess and go soaring on their tummies because it’s just plain fun. Not many parents would think twice about it. In Haley’s son Peter’s case, that was his preference rather than sitting upright the “correct” way, and for kids who have autism, swinging is a big part of OT, she says.

“His therapists would comment about how he preferred to swing on his stomach because he had a weak core,” Haley says. “The ideal would be for him to be sitting upright to swing. At school during conferences, the teachers were telling me that Peter’s biggest obstacles to progress were motor planning issues and his general sense of body awareness. They also would comment that having a weak core made it hard for him to sit and pay attention in the classroom.”

It wasn’t then that she realized it was physical therapy that her son needed; it was the moment when she was filling out a questionnaire to prepare for a consultation with her doctor.

“The form asked, ‘Does your child have motor issues?’ Which I answered with a resounding, ‘Yes.’ Then it asked if your child is getting physical therapy for their motor issues. That’s when the light bulb went on,” she says.

Can Your Child Benefit From PT?

Having the “aha” moment that your child needs PT doesn’t exactly happen overnight. You may think that they are just being a kid or this too shall pass. So how do you know? One way is by paying attention to milestones that may not be met and asking your doctor, just to be safe. With some trial and error, there are ways to know if your kid is in need of a PT consultation.

Puja Gaitonde, physical therapist and founder of Big Blue Canopy, says you can detect if your child may need PT as early as babyhood.

“If the baby is having difficulty holding their head up it may indicate decreased tone, or if your child feels floppy when changing their diaper or carrying them,” she says. In older kids, low muscle tone or decreased core strength can be a tell-all, says Gaitonde. If you notice your big kid is leaning into the table or needing a backrest/slouching when sitting on a chair for tabletop activities, PT may be in the cards.

“Tone and strength both affect posture,” says Gaitonde. “These kiddos can benefit from strengthening exercises and stretches to help maintain a better posture and decrease the chance of pain or discomfort.” Some other signs to look out for according to Gaitonde include decreased coordination on the playground; inability to go up the steps without assistance; having challenges when participating in group/recreation sports, toe walking that is persistent past age 2 and repeated injuries.

“Most kids will avoid certain activities if they are challenging for them,” she continues. “If the kiddo consistently avoids certain activities it may be a good idea to get the underlying cause evaluated,” says Gaitonde. In Peter’s case, he needed help with core strength and participation in everyday activities. PT helped open the doors to new activities and possibilities for him.

“In physical therapy, they worked on strengthening Peter’s core in playful ways,” says Haley. “Now he sits upright when he swings.”

The best thing you can do as a parent is to encourage your child to overcome new obstacles, set up your home environment for success and praise even the smallest achievements.

Helpful Resources

BIG BLUE CANOPY | bigbluecanopy.com
Offers age-appropriate activity ideas and more.

CONNECTING FOR KIDS | connectingforkids.com
Education and support for families.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION | cdc.gov
Provides tools to help you navigate physical therapy, early intervention and more.

CINCINNATI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER | cincinnatichildrens.org
The Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OTPT) division offers specialized and personalized services.

The post Road to Physical Therapy appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

AWARD WINNERS!

Our readers have spoken! Here are the winners of the Best of Parenting Awards for 2023! Readers nominated hundreds of businesses and then also sent in thousands of votes. These are the READER’S results!

A special thanks to all the businesses and services who help support Cincinnati Family and the parenting community – local parents everywhere appreciate your efforts! Thanks also to all of you — OUR READERS — who participated in our annual Best of Parenting Awards.

Winners are shown in RED.  Finalists are shown in BLACK and are listed below the winners.

BEST EATS

Best Family Restaurant

• Skyline Chili
• Chick-fil-A
• Silver Spring House Restaurant

Best Mexican Restaurant

• El Rancho Grande
• Acapulco
• Mazunte

Best Family-Friendly Brewery

• Fifty West Brewing
• Madtree Brewing
• Rhinegeist Brewery

Best Pizza

• Dewey’s
• LaRosa’s
• Two Cities
• NKY WINNER – Snappy Tomato

Best Ice Cream

• Graeter’s
• The Cone
• The Loveland Dairy Whip

Best Local Bakery (Tie)

• The BonBonerie • 3 Sweet Girls Cakery
• Busken Bakery

BEST PARTIES

Best Party Entertainer

• Gia’s Balloon Buddies
• Dino Buddies LLC
• Star Glazers

Best Away-From-Home Party

• Urban Air
• Castle Skateland
• Topgolf

Best Party Rental

• Bounce House Blitz
• A-1 Amusement Party Rental
• Cincinnati Bounce

BEST DESTINATIONS

Best Family Weekend Getaway

• Indianapolis Children’s Museum
• Columbus Zoo
• COSI

Best Vacation Destination

• Destin FL
• Disney World/Orlando FL
• Hilton Head SC

Best Sleep-Away Camp

• Falcon Camp
• YMCA Camp Campbell Gard
• YMCA Camp Kern
• NKY WINNER – YMCA Camp Ernst

Best Farm Outing

• Country Pumpkins
• Gorman Heritage Farm
• Niederman Family Farm

BEST OF OUR CITY

Best Local Day Camp

• YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
• Cincinnati Zoo
• Code Ninjas Green Township

Best Museum

• Cincinnati Museum Center
• Cincinnati Art Museum
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

Best Tourist Attraction

• Cincinnati Zoo
• King’s Island
• Smale Riverfront Park

Best Live Theater Venue

• Aronoff Center
• Children’s Theater of Cincinnati
• Cincinnati  Playhouse in the Park

Best Live Music Venue

• Riverbend Music Center
• Bogart’s
• Cincinnati Music Hall

BEST SHOPPING

Best Resale/Consignment

• Once Upon A Child
• Play It Again Sports
• Snooty Fox
• NKY WINNER – St. Vincent de Paul of NKY

Best Toy Store

• King Arthur’s Court
• Flying Pig Toys
• Puzzle Pieces

Best Furniture Store

• This and That Consignments
• Highley Vintage
• Newborn to Teen

Best Retail Shopping

• Kenwood Mall
• King Arthur’s Court
• Stoney’s Village Toy Shoppe

BEST APPEARANCE

Best Day Spa

• Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa
• Woodhouse Spa

Best Kids Photographer

• Miranda Hertel Photography
• Agnes Kindberg Photography
• Say Yes to Jess

BEST PARENTING RESOURCES

Best Child Care Center

• The Goddard School of Mason
• The Gardner School of Blue Ash
• Primrose School

Best Preschool

• The Summit Country Day School
• Children’s Meeting House
• Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

BEST PETS

Best Pet Boarding

• Red Dog Pet Resort and Spa
• Camp Bow Wow
• PetSuites

Best Veterinarian

• Mason Animal Hospital
• Cincinnati Animal Medical Center
• King’s Veterinary Hospital

BEST ENRICHMENT

Best Tutoring/Learning Service

• Mathnasium
• Code Ninjas of Anderson
• Kumon

Best Dance Studio

• Premier Tumbling and Dance
• Cincinnati Ballet
• Mason Dance Center

Best Gymnastics

• West Chester Academy
• Kids First
• Perfection Gymnastics

Best Cheerleading

• Queen City Storm Cheer and Dance
• Prestige Cheer Athletics
• TGC – The Gymnastics Center

Best Martial Arts

• Premier Martial Arts
• Buckner Martial Arts
• Cincinnati Quest Martial Arts

Best Music Instruction

• School of Rock
• Cincinnati Music Academy
• Cincinnati School of Music

Best Theater Class/Camp

• The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
• Acting Up!
• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Best Horseback Riding-Lessons

• Winton Woods
• JET  Education Center

BEST HEALTH & FITNESS

Best Pediatrician

• Children’s Medical Center
• Anderson Hills Pediatrics
• Montgomery Pediatrics

Best Pediatric Dentist

• Village Pediatric Dentistry
• Loveland Pediatric Dentistry
• Sea of Smiles
• NKY WINNER – Union Pediatric Dentistry

Best Orthodontist

• Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates Orthodontics
• Johnson Orthodontics
• Struckhoff Orthodontics

Best Hospital

• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
• The Christ Hospital
• Mercy Health

Best Place to Have a Baby

• Good Samaritan Hospital
• Bethesda North
• The Christ Hospital
• NKY WINNER – St. Elizabeth Hospital

Best OB/GYN

• Hilltop OB/GYN
• Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates
• Seven Hills Women’s Health Center

Best Family Fitness Center

• YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
• Mason Community Center
• TriHealth Fitness and Health Pavilion

Best Pediatric Therapy

• ABC Pediatric Therapy
• Big Blue Canopy
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
• NKY WINNER – KTL Therapy

The post Best of Parenting Awards 2023: THE WINNERS! appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Fall Fun on the Farms

BLOOMS & BERRIES
Open daily through Oct. 31 — closes at 3 p.m. 
9669 OH-48, Loveland, OH; 513-697-9173

Fall on the Farm is back! Between corn and straw mazes; their ginormous pumpkin bounce pad; hayride, petting zoo; and U-pick pumpkins, the kids will have all of the fall fun they need, and that’s just the beginning! Toddler Tuesday is back for ages 2 – 4, and parents can enjoy the Beer Garden plus lots more.

BURWINKEL FARMS
Open daily through Oct. 31
4359 Hamilton Cleves Road, Ross, OH; 513-738-1145 

Go on a fun-filled Halloween scavenger hunt, meet friendly farm animals, pick a pumpkin, take a selfie in front of the sunflowers, navigate through a corn maze, journey out on a hayride and more!

NELTNERS FARM FALL FEST
Sat & Sun 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through Oct. 31
6922 Four Mile Road, Melbourne, KY; 859-496-7535 

Horse drawn wagon rides, a 3-acre corn maze, a unique model train display, a toddler corn maze, kids corn play pit, petting zoo, music on the weekends, plus, adults can enjoy some wine tasting and home-cooked food!

SHAW FARMS MARKET
Daily in October from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
1737 Ohio 131, Milford, OH; 513-575-2022 

Whether you decide to hop on a fun hayride around the farm or take a scenic ride in a nostalgic horse-drawn hayride, you will have a blast! Next, explore a corn maze, pedal karts, a large interactive playground and kick back on the weekends with a bluegrass band!

Discover More Things to Do for Your Fall!

The post Last Chance for Fall Fun on the Farms! appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Boo!seum Happenings

IN THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:

ON SATURDAYS

10:30 a.m.: Monster Mash Dance Party in Corbett Theater
This spooky, fun dance party is sure to be a graveyard smash.

Noon: Children’s Costume Parade starting in Animal Spot
Show off your costume as we parade around The Children’s Museum!

1 p.m.: Monster Mash Dance Party in Corbett Theater
This spooky, fun dance party is sure to be a graveyard smash.

2 p.m.: Children’s Costume Parade starting in Animal Spot
Show off your costume as we parade around The Children’s Museum!

3 to 5 p.m.: Halloween Activity in KidSPACE
Drop into KidSPACE for some spooky, creative activities.

ON SUNDAYS

10:30 a.m.: Autumn Songs and Stories in Corbett Theater
Join us as we play, dance, sing and listen to a fall story!

Noon: Children’s Costume Parade starting in Animal Spot
Show off your costume as we parade around The Children’s Museum!

1 p.m.: Monster Mash Dance Party in Corbett Theater
This spooky, fun dance party is sure to be a graveyard smash.

2 p.m.: Children’s Costume Parade starting in Animal Spot
Show off your costume as we parade around The Children’s Museum!

3 to 5 p.m.: Halloween Activity in KidSPACE
Drop into KidSPACE for some spooky, creative activities.

IN THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE:

ON SATURDAYS

10:30 a.m.: Meet Bats at The Cave
Meet creepy, crawly critters in the Museum of Natural History & Science!

11:30 a.m.: Science Experiments at the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage
From boo bubbles to levitating pumpkins, join one of our resident Mad Scientists for a hair-raising Science Stage Show experience!

Noon: Meet a Snake at The Cave
Meet creepy, crawly critters in the Museum of Natural History & Science!

2:30 p.m.: Science Experiments at the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage
From boo bubbles to levitating pumpkins, join one of our resident Mad Scientists for a hair-raising Science Stage Show experience!

ON SUNDAYS

11:30 a.m.: Science Experiments at the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage
From boo bubbles to levitating pumpkins, join one of our resident Mad Scientists for a hair-raising Science Stage Show experience!

2:30 p.m.: Science Experiments at the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage
From boo bubbles to levitating pumpkins, join one of our resident Mad Scientists for a hair-raising Science Stage Show experience!

IN THE CINCINNATI HISTORY MUSEUM:

ON SATURDAYS

10 to 11 a.m.: Halloween Prints in History in the Making Classroom
Join us in our History in the Making classroom to learn about some historical printmaking methods and help us make some Halloween printed art that’s yours to keep!

ON SUNDAYS

10 to 11:30 a.m.: Halloween Prints in History in the Making Classroom
Join us in our History in the Making classroom to learn about some historical printmaking methods and help us make some Halloween printed art that’s yours to keep!

2 to 4 p.m. Halloween Prints in History in the Making Classroom
Join us in our History in the Making classroom to learn about some historical printmaking methods and help us make some Halloween printed art that’s yours to keep!

All activities are included with Museum Admission and free for CMC Members. Head to the box office to get your $3 off if you wear a costume! 

DISCOVER OUR PARENTING STORIES!

The post Boo!seum Programming at CMC on Weekends appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

How Do I Get My Toddler to Nap?

Cranky Could Mean Overstimulated

“I have a 3-year-old. He grew out of naps at 14 months. Once they grow out of naps it’s better to find them activities to keep them busy in the say so they are more tired at bedtime. Sleeping too much in the day can make it harder to wind down at bedtime or even get a good night’s sleep. If a child is too cranky in the day, they could be overstimulated, not necessarily tired. They could just have a little quiet time for themselves.” — C.J. Jennings

Make it Visit with ‘Lovey’ Time

“I finally figured it out with the third child. I got my child to leave his ‘lovey’ in bed (in the morning), with a wave or see you later. Then I made a big deal about seeing Lovey at nap time. I was surprised by how well that worked! No arguments or tantrums, just a visit with Lovey!” — Terri Tegenkamp-Beiter

Grab a Power Nap, Too

“Just lay there with them. I am happy to model napping for mine. He fights it, but once he sees that I’m not engaging, he usually goes to bed. Some days, I have to be more firm than others, but that is expected. Of course, I know that’s not an option for all families with different schedules, jobs, daycare, etc. But if you’re a SAHM, just take a nap with them. Set a timer for yourself and sneak out when it goes off. I love my 30-minute power naps!” — Jessica Stiver

Car Naps, Anyone?

“Car naps. And I LOVE early bedtimes. But that gets harder with older siblings having afternoon and evening activities … so car naps!”
— Nicola Qureshi

Just Quiet Time

“We did ‘quiet’ time. You don’t have to sleep, but you have to lay in your bed, look at books or even watch “Curious George” quietly. Many times he fell asleep. Sometimes he didn’t, but we got some time.” — Carrie Wheat

Just Don’t Nap. Make it up at bedtime.

“I don’t want my 2-year-old to nap. She wakes up between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and take a two-hour nap midday and want to stay up until 10 or 11. Some nights it’s really hard to get her into bedtime mode.” — Nicole Gregory-Allen

CINCINNATI SLEEP COACHES

Cradle Cincinnati

Little Ones
Certified Sleep Consultant Anna Clifford offers sleep solutions for babies and toddlers. Free consult available.

Live Love Sleep’s Short Naps Master Class
A brief course (available for $27) on how you can get your baby/toddler to take longer, more predictable daytime naps.

Pediatric Sleep Council
Located at babysleep.com, get free sleep advice from the Pediatric Sleep Council which is staffed by medical doctors and psychologists.

Sleep and Sensibility
Certified Sleep Consultant Karolyn Kritikos provides customized infant and child sleep plans. Free assessments available.

Well-Rested Mama
Certified Sleep Consultant Cara Walker provides sleep plans for babies and toddlers. Free consult available.

Discover More Great Parenting Stories!

The post Mom Talk: How to Get Your Toddler to Nap appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.