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By LucyB
| Thursday, August 28, 2008, 01:58 AM
Last spring, I took my 2-year-old to check out a church-based preschool that is literally right around the corner. He immediately fell in love with the idea that he could go to school too, just like big brother and big sis.
I know what you’re thinking: “Two is too young for school!” But through having older siblings, he’s gotten a big dose of socialization already. (For the record, my older two didn’t start preschool till the age of 4, each logging two years before kindergarten.)
Besides, it’s only two days a week for a few hours at a time, and only six children in the class. That’s better than a lot of day care situations.
He was ready to start school the day we walked in! On our initial visit, he immediately dug into the tubs of toys, testing out each one systematically like there’d be some kind of prize if he got through them all before mommy said it was time to go. He warmed to his teacher, whom I already knew from the community — her oldest is the same age as my daughter. She’s relaxed and engaging, the perfect combo for a preschool teacher.
So … every day from then on, he has begged to go to school. And after a long summer, during which we frequently saw his teacher at the neighborhood pool (prompting a fresh round of his pleas), his school days are finally here!
“Cool,” as he calls it, starts next week, but we’ve already dipped our toes into the transitional waters.
We’ve talked to our son about who will pick him up after school, what activities they’ll do, where he’ll go to the bathroom when he’s there (which is most likely in his diaper! because he’s still not trained — drat).
We went to the school’s open house tonight: A room full of excitable preschoolers, pesky siblings and anxious parents presented an ever-louder challenge for Teacher, but she handled it with aplomb. Church leaders greeted us at the door, and even offered us homegrown tomatoes and peppers as we left. What a nice touch!
Even more intriguing: Yesterday, his teacher stopped by our place for a home visit!
A few days before, I talked about the upcoming visit with my tot, explaining that he’d get a chance to show Teacher some of his toys and play with her. He matter-of-factly announced that he’d tackle her when she came, and would show her his toy guns. Great, I thought, getting more nervous by the moment.
I had never had such an encounter, and come the appointed time, mommy was way more nervous than child. I made coffee, plated some leftover lemon bars, even sorted out the living room toy pile, which is no easy task.
But my apprehension was all for naught. The 30-minute drop-in entailed me chatting and filling out paperwork while my son fluttered around, obviously trying to win Teacher’s affections. And I believe he succeeded.
Finding a good fit with a preschool and figuring out what age is best to start is highly subjective, but I think we’ve made the right decision. He’ll be thrilled to start, and I’ll be thrilled to send him. I don’t anticipate tears on either side.
Watching children make their way through life’s tests is fascinating. It’s like good reality TV!
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By LucyB
| Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 01:22 AM
Because our recent trip to France left us watching our pennies, I’ve been looking for ways to save money on those increasingly expensive school supplies.
Here’s what I did to trim the cost of sending the kids back to school this year:
1. School kits: To buy or not to buy? School supply kits are a great PTO fundraiser, but does the cost outweigh the convenience? You decide. I bought the kits a few years back and kept a list of the contents and the price. The next year, I priced those same items at a discount store and found that I would have saved about $15 on two boxes had I purchased the items myself. I can’t seem to justify the expense, mainly because I love a good bargain.
2. Have your supply lists in hand. This ensures that you won’t overbuy. After years of purchasing boxes of tricked-out markers and crayons for my elementary-age kids, I was surprised to learn that they weren’t requirements for my fifth-grader this year. Teachers usually supply these lists on your school Web sites or in newsletters well in advance. I always tack a copy to my fridge and tuck an extra copy in my minivan’s visor for quick reference while we’re out shopping.
3. Hit the dollar store! This year I found about 75 percent of my seventh- and fifth-grader’s supplies at Dollar Tree. For about $50, we filled our cart with binders (seen later for $2.97 and up at Wal-Mart), 8-tab dividers (also seen for $3 elsewhere), loose-leaf paper, Sharpies (this is cheap, folks!), erasers, pencils, pens, tissues, disinfectant wipes, Ziploc baggies, index cards, combination locks, you name it. And guess what — everything cost $1! One dollar. 100 cents. It might as well be free!
4. Hit the Internet. My seventh-grader needed a graphic calculator for math class (don’t ask me why), and I was shocked, shocked when I heard from other parents that they can cost up to $130. Yikes! But after a little online research, I found a deal at Staples.com that included a sale price and a $15 rebate that brought it down to $89.99. Bravo, me. We also needed a Latin dictionary and found a ‘like new’ copy on Amazon.com for under $4. It arrived a few short days later and I’m happy to say my son has already started reading it. (Weird, huh?) It’s in excellent shape, and the time and gas money I saved by not having to drive to the bookstore was well worth the few dollars in shipping fees.
5. The backpack dilemma. These can be quite pricey. Watch for sales, and buy off-season if you can. For my preschooler, I found a Spider-Man pack with an attached wallet or soft-sider lunchbox for under $13 at Kohl’s. My daughter had been yearning for a Vera Bradley backpack, so I took advantage of an outlet sale last spring and found one for half price. I hid it away and later gave it to her for her summer birthday, thereby killing two birds with one stone. Once kids get older, they might not clamor for a new pack every year. My thrifty 12-year-old decided he’d recycle last year’s bag. Bravo, him.
Happy bargain hunting!
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By Michelle
| Friday, August 15, 2008, 12:16 PM
Summer’s almost over. Don’t let a moment go by wasted. Here are five ideas for fun for the kids (and even the whole family) this week:
1. Cool off at The Greene on Aug. 16: Want to cool off without going to the pool? Check out The Water Show at The Greene Town Center on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. See water disappear, reappear and magically move from one place to another. Don’t forget to bring your child’s swimsuit (but there is a dry zone for anyone who doesn’t want to get wet). And while you’re there, shop, dine or see a movie.
2. Munch on sweet corn, more at Fairborn fest Aug. 16-17: What kid doesn’t love corn on the cob? Munch to your heart’s delight at the Fairborn Sweetcorn Festival Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16-17. Once the kids are filled up on corn, check out entertainment ranging from pony rides, train rides and an inflatable gym. Parking and admission are free. The fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
3. Family Day at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Saturday, Aug. 16: Participate in hands-on activities, including building and flying egg carton gliders in the Modern Flight Gallery (between 1:30-3 p.m.). Sit under the wings of airplanes and listen to stories about aviation during storytime (begins at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.) in the Early Years Gallery. Check out the museum’s exhibits while you’re there. No advanced reservations are necessary and all activities are free. For more information, call (937) 255-4646.
4. Family Food Challenge, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7-8:30 p.m.: Eating healthy can be fun. Check out the Family Food Challenge in the Springboro Community Room at the Dorothy Lane Market in Springboro, 740 N. Main Street. Leah Sabato, a clinical dietitian at The Children’s Medical Center in Dayton, will lead a class on healthy eating. In this class, families will go on a scavenger hunt through the store for healthy breakfast and lunch options. No charge but registration is suggested, as seating is limited. To register, contact Kathy Stone (937) 748-6800 (kstone@dorothylane.com) or Joy Kemp (937) 434-1294 (joy@dorothylane.com).
5. Visit the Darke County Fair through Aug. 23: Want to find out if The Great Darke County Fair lives up to its reputation as one of the best county fairs in Ohio? The fair runs through Saturday, Aug. 23. You definitely don’t have to be a 4-Her to enjoy this fair. From deep-fried treats, to carnival games, to rides, dog shows and more animals than you can imagine, there’s more than enough fun to please the whole family. Check the fair Web site, www.darkecountyfair.com.
Have more ideas? Share them here.
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By Michelle
| Thursday, August 14, 2008, 12:45 PM
I have a confession.
Not only did I go to The Wiggles concert. I clapped and sang along with just about all of the Wiggles songs.
Go ahead. Call me a dork. I don’t mind.
I’ve always heard The Wiggles really know how to put on a good show. And the foursome from Down Under certainly met and even exceeded my expectations during their “Pop Go The Wiggles Live” tour, which stopped at Columbus’ Nationwide Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Talk about a kid-friendly show. When my dad and I arrived at our seats with my 4-year-old daughter and 11-month-old son in tow, we found a sticker/activity book rolled up in the cupholders perfect for pre-show entertainment. This is just one example of a really nice touch that shows The Wiggles really go out of the way to please their audience.
Once the show started, there was never a dull moment — from the Big Red Car, to inflatable fruit salad, to monkeys dangling from vines, to Humpty Dumpty (this time in the form of Purple Wiggle Jeff) falling off a wall, to Wiggles cast members running through the audience giving high-fives and collecting roses for Dorothy the Dinosaur and bones for Wags the Dog.
Just about every song was interactive in some way — from encouraging the kids to clap, point their fingers and do the twist, count to nine, mash bananas or wake up the very sleepy Jeff. Mind you, neither of my children like to sit still (especially my daughter), and they both were completely mesmerized.
The Wiggles really do have a way with children. I’ve taken my kids to a lot of kiddie shows including Barney, Elmo, Disney on Ice and The Doodlebops, and none compare to the Wiggles concert experience. The Wiggles’ really know how to relate to and engage children, and I suspect their background in early childhood education is a big reason why.
They just have such a youthful energy, and it’s infectious. Most of the moms, dads and grandparents in the audience (even the ones who initially looked annoyed to be there) found themselves singing and clapping along.
I also was really impressed by the newest Wiggle, Sam Moran. Though Sam has been part of the group since 2006 after founding member Greg Page retired from the group due to a chronic illness, unless you buy every new DVD or go to a lot of Wiggles shows, most of your Wiggles exposure is to the repeats on the Disney Channel still featuring Greg as the Yellow Wiggle.
Sam is really an incredible performer. He has a beautiful voice, especially evident on ballads like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” He even does an almost dead-on Barry Gibb falsetto during the group’s “Saturday Night Fever” inspired set.
I was also impressed by the cast’s energy … all those flips and acrobatics by the Wiggly dancers (including some by The Wiggles themselves) were tiring to watch.
I have only one complaint — and that’s to Nationwide Arena. Next time, you might want to think about opening more concession stands. The lines were ridiculously long and very slow moving. Not good in general, but really not good when you’re dealing with hungry children who don’t care much for standing in line. I stood in line for almost a half-hour for a bucket of popcorn and a soda. And I had to repeat my simple order three times, and the employee still got it wrong. But I digress …
Before the show, we were lucky to have the opportunity to attend a Meet and Greet. Though the group of about 50 people in the room only had a few minutes to say hello to the cast and snap a few shots before the concert, The Wiggles really went out of their way to make their fans feel welcome and make the most out of those few minutes.
I will never forget the look of pure joy on my daughter’s face when The Wiggles walked in the room, nor the look on the faces of parents of some children with disabilities and illnesses as they watched their babies meet their idols.
We definitely got more than our money’s worth out of this concert.
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By Michelle
| Monday, August 11, 2008, 02:25 PM
Are your toddlers or preschoolers bouncing off the walls yet?
I know mine is. It’s almost time for the Wiggly concert in Columbus on Aug. 13. This will be my family’s first Wiggly concert experience. From what I’m told by friends and acquaintances who’ve been to a Wiggles live show, it should be really fun for the kids. My daughter was awestruck by Barney and the Doodlebops when they they visited the Dayton area not too long ago; I imagine the Wiggles experience will be the same.
I had the chance to interview Purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt by phone recently for an article leading up to the concert. I have to say, what a nice, friendly guy.
Jeff talked about the new tour, life as a Wiggle in general and how the group has changed with new member Sam. I also got to ask Jeff a few questions on behalf of local kids, which he was more than happy to answer. He seemed to genuinely enjoy their questions.
Before you head to the show, check out our Q&A with Jeff Fatt from the Wiggles and our Wiggly concert survival guide for parents at 937moms.com.
If you do go, please come back to our blog and share your experiences. Was it worth the drive to Columbus? What was your child’s favorite part of the show?
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By LucyB
| Thursday, August 7, 2008, 11:15 PM
(This entry is alternately titled, “Mom caves.”)
On our recent trip to France, I got tripped up by a boy and his gun.
Much to my 12-year-old son’s frustration, I have previously discouraged him from buying an airsoft gun. I even blogged about it last year. (Click here to read my musings and the thoughtful reader comments that followed.)
I tried to quench his desire to discharge a weapon by having him head to the paintball range with his dad. He’s been there three or four times so far and loved every minute. He even found a way to turn his newfound hobby into a science fair project, demonstrating the effect barrel length has on a paintball gun’s accuracy. (The project actually turned out quite well and earned him top marks.) On one trip he took along two friends to celebrate his 12th birthday. He got a paintball gun as a present from one of his buddies. It was the highlight of his life up to that point.
It’s a year later. I’m older and he’s wiser. This summer he acquired his first cell phone and his first airsoft gun, both major coups on his part.
The cell phone came after much discussion about responsibility and maturity. But the airsoft gun came on the scene in an unexpected way: It was a prize my son won at a carnival booth at the St. Jean de Luz Festival after he plunked down his 5 euros, picked up a pellet gun and proceeded to pick off five moving balloon targets with four shots.
I hate guns, but I have to admit that I felt an odd pride witnessing his marksmanship. I even let out a yelp of glee when one of his shots popped two balloons at once.
I think I was just caught up in the moment. Or maybe it was the sangria I had quaffed at a sidewalk cafe. But when his eyes pleaded with me as he asked if he could choose a small airsoft pistol as his prize, I impulsively said yes, provided that he’d leave it in France when our vacation was over.
He agreed, and spent the next three days happily shooting into the trees behind our youth hostel (and yes, I made him retrieve and properly dispose of all the little plastic pellets!).
On the fourth day, the pistol broke (yay!), so he went back to the carnival and continued his winning ways. As a matter of fact, he did so well that he won a larger gun this time, one that looked like a big scary rifle. The horror.
This time I thought I’d outsmart him: I’d let Homeland Security agents do my dirty work. When it came time to pack for home, I magnanimously said, “You can try to bring it home, but I’m sure it won’t get passed the airport screeners.”
He stuffed it into his checked bag along with its box declaring it a “toy” and hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.
Wouldn’t you know it, that thing arrived in Dayton intact.
(Meanwhile, I watched a trained beagle alert at a Detroit baggage carousel and sniff out another traveler’s smuggled wedges of French cheese, which were quickly and quietly confiscated. Bummer, dude.)
So now, despite my efforts at sabotage, my son has his airsoft. But many safety rules go with it. He must wear goggles, never aim at a person or animal, never shoot at a plastic target (ricochet risk, you know), and never, ever shoot it within city limits. Which limits him to shooting it when we visit his cousin’s rural Indiana home. Which is OK with me.
Oh, yeah: And the airsoft gun is kept separate from its ammo, and stored well out of sight of Little Brother. That’s the most important rule of all. One gun nut in the family is enough, thank you.
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By Michelle
| Thursday, August 7, 2008, 06:00 PM
Don’t waste what’s left of this summer. Check out these five ideas for fun with the little ones.
1. Breakfast with the Chinasaurs, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Saturday, Aug. 9, 9-11 a.m.: Members are invited to flaunt their best “dino” attire and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. Explore “Chinasaurs: Dinosaur Discoveries from China,” enjoy special presentations by wildlife and paleontology experts, and participate in a dinosaur costume contest, games and more. Members’ guests may attend for an additional $5 per guest. For reservations, call (937) 275.7431, ext. 144.
2. 2008 Stillwater Riverfest, Saturday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Enjoy live music, food, water-based activities and games for all ages while learning how to help take care of our local rivers and streams at the 2008 Stillwater Riverfest at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Specific activities include seining for fish, a miniature boat building competition and race, as well as demonstrations of fly-fishing and canoe and kayak safety. For those not interested in getting wet, there will be children’s crafts and games, visits with live animals who live in a river habitat and wetland and wildflower walks. The event is free.
3. “Momtopia MOOnday,” Dayton Mall Center Court near Macy’s, Monday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m.: Children can play, sing and dance to the tunes of Mr. Cowpie and his Party Animals, and moms can socialize and get a mini-makeover during Momtopia Monday.
Other events include character appearances, a fashion show and prize giveaways. For more information, visit www.DaytonMall.com/Momtopia
4. Washington Twp. Firefighters Association’s 60th annual Ice Cream Social, 163 Maple Ave., Centerville, Sunday, Aug. 10, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Kids can be firefighters for the day with special games and families can feast on firehouse-cooked food including barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and more. Raffle prizes include a $500 gas gift card, a $200 Kroger gift card and a digital camera. And of course, there will be ice cream.
5. Back-to-school Jam, 1-4 p.m. Aug. 9, Wesleyan MetroPark, 1441 Wesleyan Road, Dayton: Kick off the new school year at this festival. Play nature games, build nature crafts, play in inflatables, munch on food and more. The Glen Helen Raptor Center and Battson Wildlife Education will be bringing birds of prey and animals from around the world to show, and Mead will be giving away free school supplies. Free. Call (937) 277-4178 for more information or visit www.metroparks.org
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