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Young writer hopes to inspire other kids to ‘Write From the Heart’ By BRET LIEBENDORFER Columbus Kids
Leading by example is one ploy a Hilliard student hopes will encourage her peers to write.
Zoey Spokas, a student at Tharpe Sixth Grade School, has started a new project called “Write From the Heart” that combines snail mail with the World Wide Web. “I’ve always really liked writing stories, and I thought with the program I could get my
friends who aren’t into writing to see how exciting it can be,” she said. While still in the early stages, the program prompts children to send a mailing that includes a short story, pictures and a challenge for the recipient to write his or her own story and mail it to at least three friends. Complementing the process is an interactive website with a contest and tips on how to write a successful story. “I just want to see how far it will go,” she said. Zoey said, initially, she did not have the time or patience for writing, but her interest in the field took off a few years ago when she
began trading e-mail messages with friends in which one person would add onto an existing story. “I started coming up with some good ideas, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I came up with the whole story myself?’ ” she said. Zoey’s favorite genre is fiction – especially fantasy – and her stories include everything from magic to dragons and time travel. Her first story for the project is nearly finished, but Zoey said her main focus is on helping others. “Sometimes when (classmates) think of writing, they think of school, but with writing,
See YOUNG, Page 11
New Location Bruce Mirvis, MD, FAAP • Susan Hoskins, CNP
SNP photo by Bret Liebendorfer
Tharpe Sixth Grade School student Zoey Spokas started a combined online and snail-mail writing project, “Write From the Heart,” to exercise her talents and get her friends excited about writing.
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Be your own first Valentine, to be better balanced for your family I love my children. I really do. Yet through the years there have been plenty of times that I haven’t particularly liked them. This dichotomy is very striking when everywhere I look this week the world is swathed in red and pink and everything says “I love you.” Some days, depending on the age of the child and the weather outside (un- The Parent Guru ending snow and cold for instance), I have wanted to run away. I want peace and quiet. I don’t want to watch Sesame Street again. That’s when I know that life is out of balance. I’ve given so much that there isn’t anything else left in me to give. When those feelings strike (and they do, let’s be realistic), I need a break. Sometimes I run out the door as soon as my husband gets home to spend an hour or two in the library. Sometimes a friend can take them all for a little bit. Here’s what one mom shared with me about how she kept her balance and her sanity. She
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Rhonda Moskowitz
was a single mom working out of her home. There was a 20 minute gap of time between the end of her work day and the beginning of her mom day. It was vitally important to her that she use that time to recharge her batteries. The only space she could call her own was her bedroom, so she used it to create an oasis of calm. She got a comfy chair, fluffy pillows, and a stack of magazines. At the appointed time she would grab a big mug of tea, snuggle down in her chair surrounded by pillows, and leaf through magazines until her children got home. I found great wisdom in the small gift of kindness that she gave herself. She recognized that giving to herself was just as important, if not more important, than giving to her children. She modeled for them that motherhood is not about self-sacrifice. The real beneficiaries of her ‘me time’ were her children, because she had refueled and was better able to be the mother she wanted to be. This year for Valentines Day as you buy the cards and the candy for your family, stop for a minute and think about what you can do for the most important person on the list – you. Rhonda Moskowitz is The Parent Guru for Columbus Kids. A PCI-certified Parent Coach and Founder of Parent Coaching LLC, she has been working with families for more than 30 years. Read more at her website, practicalsolutionsparentcoaching.com.
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Worthington bee spells thousands of dollars for school ■ Wilson Hill’s spelling bee fundraiser brought in $4,700; top spellers move on to the city’s community bee. By PAMELA WILLIS Suburban News Publications
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Wilson Hill Elementary School’s stellar spellers raised more than $4,700 for their school by correctly spelling long lists of words and participating in the school spelling bee. The bee at the Worthington school was held Friday, Feb. 4. Principal Jamie Lusher said all students in the school participated in the spelling bee fundraiser. “Even if we didn’t raise a penny, the focus on building vocabulary and acquisition of vocabulary was a very meaningful learning opportunity for our entire school,” she said. Lusher said students studied grade-level word lists and took pledges from family and friends toward the number of words they would spell accurately. After all the students participated in class and grade-level spelling bees, the school had 40 finalists who scored a 49 or 50 out of 50 words. On Feb. 4, the school held a primary spelling bee for the finalists in grades 1-3 and
an intermediate spelling bee for grades 4-6. “The winner of our primary spelling bee was third-grader Phoebe Saboley, and the winner of our intermediate bee was fourthgrader Sylvia Strange,” Lusher said. “The top three finalists of each bee will represent Wilson Hill in the Worthington Community Spelling Bee on March 16.” The top three finalists of the primary spelling bee are Alia Sater, third grade; Vivian Strange, second grade; and Phoebe Saboley. Top three intermediate spelling bee finalists are Sylvia Strange; Alex Curran, fifth grade; and Jade Braden, sixth grade. The Worthington Community Spelling Bee is sponsored by Leadership Worthington and the Worthington Education Foundation. The youth team spelling bee begins at 5 p.m. March 16, with the adult team spelling bee beginning at 7 p.m. The bee will be held at Worthington Kilbourne High School, 1499 Hard Road. Lusher said all participants in the Wilson Hill spelling bee will receive a free ticket to the school’s PTO Movie Night, set for Feb. 18. Funds raised in the spelling bee will be used by the PTO to support Wilson Hill’s technology needs and for class and school supplies and resources, she said. Lusher said the spelling bee fundraiser was appreciated by everyone involved. “I loved this fundraiser because the prem-
SNP photo by Jeffry Konczal
Wilson Hill Elementary School third-grader Noah Brown mulls over the word “innocence” during the school’s spelling bee fundraiser Friday, Feb. 4. ise was academic and the money was directly Lusher said the spelling bee fundraiser was connected to students and their learning,” the brainstorm of two parent leaders. Lusher said. “Many parents shared their ex“Diane Sater and Patti Simmons were our parent leaders and this spelling bee was their citement that they could simply write a check, dream,” she said. “They were a fabulous help instead of buying an unwanted box of chocothrough the process.” lates or something else.”
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Legos are building blocks to some serious competitions By MELISSA DILLEY Suburban News Publications
Building with Legos is a common childhood pastime, but taking those play times and being able to use them to build a reallife, functioning robot is something many youth only dream of. The robotics team at the Wellington School is doing just that. As many as 20 students have been working together for the last year to build robots
from Legos and other required parts and plan and attend tournaments to showcase their engineering and computer programming talents. The school also began offering a course in robotics this year to complement the team. All the robotics hype culminated last last month, when the school hosted its first robotics scrimmage. Teams from across Central Ohio met up to practice programming and test out their robots in anticipation of the state competition
SNP photo by Tim Johnson
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It's all thumbs up for Sitara Koneru (right) and robotics teammate Alex Vasko as the Wellington School seniors compete in a regional robotics scrimmage Jan. 29, at the school.
in the spring. The program began one year ago when students noticed a robotics-competition listing on physics teacher Matthew Spencer’s classroom notice board. Spencer said while it wasn’t a topic he was familiar with, robotics seemed like a program worth getting involved with and he wanted to gauge student interest. A few weeks later, a handful of students had inquired about the program and the team was created. Students said mostly everything they have done so far in the robot department is selftaught, but they enjoy experimenting with different outcomes. “Kids play with Legos and having them perform tasks with them is something they are familiar with,” Spencer said. “Once they get the information, they start to go off on leaps and bounds by themselves. There is no formal, ‘We’re going to walk you through this.’ They’re motivated to see how this works. They say, ‘We know what the goal is; let’s figure out how to get there.’ ” The club was such a hit with the students and administration that a robotics class was created for this year. The robots aren’t like those in Star Wars or Terminator, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be highly sophisticated. Robots built by the students typically run on four wheels
and this year’s contest premise was to build a robot that can search out bombs. To determine the effectiveness of the robots, teams lead their creations in competitions that require the piece of equipment to locate magnetic sensors and perform a variety of tasks. Team members design and build the robot for weeks before testing it out. Throughout competitions, the team tweaks its creation to best defeat the other teams. After some tournaments, reprogramming or even a complete rebuild are necessary to better suit the team in the next competition. After spending months working on a robot, some students can get discouraged when their vision doesn’t perform as planned. “I feel attached to (the robot); I put so much time into it,” said senior Trent Boyer. “It’s hard to not see it work the way I sometimes want it to. You get that sense of pride when you see it succeed and you get that sense of disappointment when you see it fail. Hopefully you don’t see too many of his failures.” Spencer said at least one student works every day after school on the robot and he is there to solely offer support. It’s important to ask students the open-ended questions they need to hear to arrive at the right conclu-
See LEGOS, Page 7
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
LEGOS sions themselves, not give them the answers, he said. Spencer said the trial and error aspects of the club are just another reason students learn so much. “It’s really a neat thing because it weaves together people’s ability to think strategically and to think in teams to solve problems,” he said. “We only had eight minutes to swap a motor and get it working again at the competition. They diagnose and solve the problem and fix it under stressful circumstances so it’s really cool to see the kids step up and do those challenges.” Students who work on engineering and computer programming aren’t the only ones involved with the team who are working hard on a daily basis. Boyer said the best part of the group is that it affords opportunities for students with any interest, which is why they pushed so hard for the class to become a reality so other students could see the opportunities. “It’s got great leadership opportunities,” he said. “You can take advantage of whatever you want to do from this club: engineering, certain mechanical aspects, any type of design or business and management. “You can organize events, plan fundraisers and teach kids how to build robots themselves. There are all kinds of opportunities for helping out the community, too.” Senior Jessie Fuller took the robotics tournament as her chance to plan an event that the school has never thrown before. Spencer said he had lots of compliments from out-of-town competitors about how organized the event was. She said although she didn’t create the robot, or compete in the competition, she was looking forward to it as much as the other robotics team members. “My favorite part was seeing the final outcome of the scrimmage, seeing the robot win in the final round and seeing the scrimmage actually work and finally come together,” Fuller said. “In the end, it all worked and it was worth all the hard work.” While these competitions are only considered scrimmages at this point in the season, senior Alex Vasco said there are other lessons to be learned. “It takes everything that we’ve been doing in a school it pulls it all together in a real-life experience,” he said. The scrimmage prepped the Wellington teams well for statewise competition, Fuller said. The FIRST Lego League Ohio State Championship was set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 12-13 at Wright State University in Dayton. Wellington’s Heavy Metal and Trash Torque teams were among the groups of Ohio students vying to qualify to compete in the 2011 World Festival April 27-30 in St. Louis.
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Big birthday parties at home: Seven ways to make them easy
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There’s nothing better than a great birthday party for your child in your own home, sharing the child’s milestone with family, food and fun. But sometimes the thought of hosting a load of guests - extra kids, family and special friends – can be overwhelming. You’ve worked long hours, and there is a pile of laundry in the bedroom and a stack of dishes in the sink. Who has time to get everything ready? Well, hosting a sizeable birthday party doesn’t have to be that hard, as long as you keep it simple. Here are seven tips to keep the special day casual, fun and memorable. 1. Keep the meal simple. Serve grilled hamburgers, chicken, or a “make-ahead” main entree - and don’t discount the deli. Sandwiches, roasted chickens, or other prepared foods are always a simple way to make your gathering a success. 2. Make the party a potluck. People love to share their favorite foods, and that means not much cooking to do. Suggest they bring along a salad, casserole or dessert. A few calls to coordinate the contributions can make for a wonderful spread. 3. Avoid dirty dishes. Use paper plates to cut down the clean-up. For the kids, add more life with fun birthday-themed disposable plates. 4. Keep a few staples in your pantry. Pret-
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zels, chips, canned dips and beverages can provide a snack for a last-minute get-together without having to go to the grocery store the same day. 5. Be sure to use disposable tableware, too. This is a sure way to prevent running out of forks, knives and spoons, and you won’t have to worry about broken glasses with plastic cups for drinks. If there will be lots of little ones, keep a marker handy to place each’s name on their cups to keep them straight. 6. Ask a guest or two to help you and your spouse out by bringing their digital cameras along. It’s tough to record the candles being blown out or the gift opening and participate
See EASY, Page 11
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
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Peyton Hull, 10, of Worthington smiles while sledding down High Banks Metro Park’s sledding hill.
Winter weather and snow days add up to fun on local slopes for area kids
Kyle Macatangay, 9, catches some air before plunging down the hill at Hilliard Municipal Park.
Friends Perry Doran (right) and Parker Smith, both 10, enjoy a day off of school sledding near the New Albany County Club.
Chong Song-Jiun, 10, of Worthington plunges down the slope at Antrim park.
Photos by Jeffry Konczal and Dan Trittschuh
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
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OMG! Just when did we start talking like txt msgs? By JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press
“ILY!” Susan Maushart’s 16-year-old daughter often calls out over her shoulder as she leaves the house. Sure, actual words would be better. But Mom knows not to complain. “A mother of teenagers is pathetically grateful for an ‘I love you’ no matter what form it takes,” she observes. Then there are the various forms of “LOL” that her teens use in regular parlance – it’s become a conjugable verb by now. Acronyms have been around for years. But with the advent of text and Twitterlanguage, it certainly feels like we’re speaking in groups of capital letters a lot more. It’s a question that intrigues linguists and other language aficionados – even though they’ll tell you they have ab-
YOUNG Continued from Page 3 it doesn’t have to be like that,” Zoey said. “You can write about whatever you like.” Promoting writing is something Zoey said she could see herself doing as a career. “When I get older I’d like to have a business like a writers workshop where I could teach others how to write,” she said. Zoey’s grandmother, Barb Spitzer, a retired teacher from Tremont Elementary School in Upper Arlington, is excited about Zoey’s love for writing. “You can’t help but think it’s wonderful when your granddaughter shares an interest in creativity,” she said. For more information, visit the web site Zoey created at author12.webs.com.
solutely no concrete research on it. “It’s fascinating,” said Scott Kiesling, a socio-linguist and professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “What’s interesting to me as a linguist is figuring out which words get picked up, and why. What is it that makes OMG and … LOL so useful that they spread from the written to the spoken form?” One possibility, Kiesling proposes, is that some of these acronyms actually become a whole new thought, expressing something different than the words that form them. For example: “You wouldn’t say, ‘OMG, that person just jumped off a cliff,”’ he explains. “But you’d say, ‘OMG, do you see those red pants that person is wearing?”’ If only Maushart could keep up with all
EASY Continued from Page 8 in them with your child at the same time. Your helpers can share their photos or videos of the party with you afterward. 7. Get everyone in the household to pitch in with a “No Help, No Party!” attitude. Have the kids help prepare beforehand by putting away their toys and putting out the food, then have them pitch in during the party by tossing empty plates in the trash. Don’t exclude Birthday Boy or Birthday Girl! Helping out will truly make them feel like hosts of the gathering. Having a grand birthday party for your child in the home doesn’t have to be a chore. With an attitude of “easy does it” and everyone pitching in, you’ll help make a lasting family memory without stressing out – and be ready to do it again next year! –NewsUSA
“People often think the language they learned was perfect. But innovation is generally enriching. It’s fascinating, if you don’t pull your hair out over it.” the other acronyms used by her kids (they are 20, 17 and 16). They’ve graduated from the simple LOL and LOLOL to LMAO – literally, laughing so hard that part of your body comes off (for extra credit, use LMAOOTF – it means it’s all happening on the floor.) Her youngest, Sussy, 16, seems particularly advanced. These days, she has started saying “K-Dot.” Translation: OK, but with a finality to it, as in, end of discussion, “K” followed by a period, ergo: “K-Dot.” Not avant-garde enough for you? Try this: Sussy also is known to SPEAK a question mark when asking a question. As in: “Do you really want me to do that, question mark?” All this delights Robert Lane Greene, author of the upcoming book “You Are What You Speak” and a self-described linguistics nut. Greene doesn’t buy in to the concern that kids are destroying our language.
“People often think the language they learned was perfect,” he said. “But innovation is generally enriching. It’s fascinating, if you don’t pull your hair out over it.” So just how new is the use of acronyms? Did this all come from Internet speak, testing and the like? “Americans have always liked abbreviations,” said linguistics professor and author Deborah Tanner, author of several popular books on language. “That certainly predates the Internet.” In fact, acronyms date back to ancient times, Greene points out – the Romans and the Greeks used them. In the United States, they came into prominence in the early 20th century with the New Deal, the series of economic programs passed during the first term of Franklin D. Roosevelt – who, of course, became known by his three initials. They are widely used in the military and today’s government bureaucracy. People who think acronyms are new may be suffering from what linguists call a “recency illusion” – the illusion that something is new merely because one has just noticed it. But one thing that does seem genuinely new, Greene said, “is that these three-letter phrases from the Internet and twitterspeak are being spoken out loud.”
See OMG, Page 12
Ouch My Head! Almost nothing beats the thrill of careening down a snowy slope on a brand new sled. Despite the excitement, our responsibility as parents is to find appropriate places to sled, away from roads or other moving vehicles, and as much as possible away from trees, fences, creeks, or other natural hazards. Once you have found that perfect hill, don't neglect some simple safety measures. Talk to your child about "ditching" off the sled, and practice this before heading down a steep hill. Then have your child wear their helmet over a hat, so you protect that most important part of the body.
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
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Try the family meeting process; done right, it works wonders In the course of the family life cycle, many parents think about having family meetings. Some actually attempt them. However, few successfully create the family meeting process for two very significant reasons. First of all, most parents are not clear about how to do them and second, they don’t understand their purpose. Unfor- Family Matters tunately, many parents decide that they are going to have a family meeting when: ■ Something is wrong and there is a crisis;
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■ They are tired of the way their kids are behaving; or ■ They are angry about what has been going on at home and have decided that the family meeting is the antidote to the anger. It is very important that the reader know that these are not the times to start the family meeting process and that beginning the family meeting process must be done in a positive way, in a safe environment, and where everyone feels good about developing an opportunity to really work together. The last thing families need to do is start a family meeting when there is a crisis. This gives the family meeting a negative stigma and it certainly does not create safety. Why family meetings? Family meetings can be incredibly helpful opportunities for: ■ children and families to learn to connect more intimately; ■ children and families to learn to talk about difficult subjects; ■ parents to learn to create a deeper level of dialogue with their children; ■ creating opportunities for issues to be raised and dealt with together by the family group, as opposed to separately with parents and a child or just the parents. Family Matters really encourages parents who are interested in the family meeting process to begin to use that vehicle as a way to build more intimacy, solve problems, talk about family issues, explore new ways of doing things together, make decisions, and use this as an opportunity to create a format for family discussion, dialogue, and decision-making. We want to stress again that starting on a negative note is a very poor idea. Family meetings should be an ongoing process, held on a regular basis and with the purpose of the meeting clear to everyone.
Beginning the process The way to begin the family meeting process is by having the parents prepare the family by talking about why they want to do it, when they want to do it, a little bit about what they are going to do, and what they are going to be accomplishing in these meetings. The children are going to say: “Oooohhhh! This is stupid!” “I don’t want to do this!” “We don’t need this!” “What are we doing this for?” Yet another parental idea, but despite the resistance, many children have told me (after they have grown up) how much they really enjoyed and appreciated the family meetings – even though they complained vociferously while they were younger. The most important thing parents need to understand – besides starting on a positive note and being clear about the purpose – is the importance of modeling. The way to engage children in an open dialogue is to show them how by doing it yourself, not by pumping them or turning into CIA agents. Many parents wanted to use the family meetings as a way to get material out of their children. Of course, that doesn’t work. The way to encourage your children to really talk openly about problems or things the family is concerned about is by showing them how to do that yourself. At the first meeting: ■ Be open. ■ Bring up issues that are concerning you, the parents. ■ Share your feelings and thoughts and concentrate on talking about what you think, as opposed to pumping your children for information. ■ As the meeting goes on, look for opportunities to engage the rest of the family in the dialogue and gently and with respect, encourage them to communicate, as opposed to ordering them, structuring it, or forcing communication. So, if you are going to use the family meeting to help make group decisions, talk about things the family might do together. Explore how we can be better as a family, to provide a forum for a family member to talk about a difficult subject,
or just generally create a framework for all of your family to be together and spend time in a constructive way. We encourage you to think about the final things about the family meeting process. Remember: ■ You want to do this on a regular basis. ■ You want to include everyone in every meeting, if possible. ■ You want to, as parents, model the kind of openness and behavior you are trying to engender in the family. ■ You want to be respectful and understand that it is difficult for children to open up. Go slow and provide them opportunities to do it. ■ You want to make sure that you don’t start the family meetings as a problemsolver to deal with difficult situations. We encourage readers of Family Matters to try the family meeting process. Many families, who have tried it on the basis that we describe here, have found it to be a wonderful experience. Norman Shub, certified teacher and psychotherapist and author, is the longtime director of training at the Gestalt Institute of Central Ohio, 100 Outerbelt Street, Columbus 43213, gestaltassoc.com.
OMG Continued from Page 11 And so, maybe you CAN blame the kids for that. However, Greene notes, “People have been complaining about what the kids are doing to the language since ancient times, and Latin. Language is always changing. It’s a fact of life.” And besides, young people are always on a search for the next new thing. And so this whole spoken-acronym thing may be a fad, destined for the linguistic garbage heap in a matter of a few years. Remember the word “groovy”? “One generation’s teenage slang,” Greene said, “is the next generation’s “OMG Dad, I can’t believe you said ‘groovy.’”
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March warms up with plenty of great family activities March 3-6 – Arnold Sports Festival, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, 9 a.m..6 p.m., $10, arnoldexpo.com: The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest multi-sports festival in the nation. The event annually hosts 17,000 athletes competing in 37 events and 11 Olympic sports. The three-day Arnold Fitness Expo located within the Greater Columbus Convention Center welcomes 650 exhibitors offering a street of shops with the latest in fitness apparel, equipment, training tools, and supplements. Visitors gather to see professional athletes, NFL stars, and elite fitness celebrities. Many youth fitness and sports are showcased at the expo, including cheerleading, dance, fencing, gymnastics and martial arts. March 3-6 – Worthington Community Theatre: The Curious Savage, McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, 8-9 p.m. $10, 614-4310329, worthingtonarts.org: In this warm-hearted comedy, widow Ethel Savage hides ten million dollars in negotiable bonds. In order to get their hands on the money, her children admit her to a sanitarium. There, she meets various social misfits who seem saner than her “normal” family, who put the fun back in dysfunctional! Will kindness and decency prevail? March 4-6 – Charlotte’s Web, 55 E. State St., Columbus, various times, $10, 614-464-9400, phoenix4kids.org: Fern can't bear the thought that the runt of a litter of pigs will be destroyed, and she begs her father to let her keep the scrawny piglet as a pet. She gets her wish and names the pig Wilbur, who turns out to be "Some Pig!" After Wilbur grows up and faces the likely prospect of becoming bacon, he is saved again, but this time by an unlikely friend, a crafty spider named Charlotte. She comes to his rescue by writing words in her web which reveal just how special this pig really is. Charlotte's sacrifice for friendship has warmed the hearts of audiences for generations, and it will warm yours! March 5 – Ohio Indoor Kart Series, 717 E. 17th Ave.,Columbus, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $6, 614-644-3247, ohiostatefair.com: Indoor professional go-kart racing on a one-10th-mile concrete oval track located inside the O’Neill Building. Fun for the entire family. March 5-6 – The Great Train Expo at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus,10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 614-644-3247, trainexpoinc.com: Come see operating model railroads and hundreds of tables (300 plus) of train and toy merchandise with ALL sizes and scales.
Numerous activities for children will be available such as: Toy train play area; Model railroad layouts they can operate; Workshops on model railroading; Lots of layouts featuring different scales. March 6 – Family Fun Activities: Mardi Gras hat & mask making at the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus,11 a.m.-2 p.m. $6 614-645-8733, fpconservatory.org: Visit between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy hands-on crafts free with Conservatory admission. March 7 – Preschool Open Gym Mingo Park, 500 E. Lincoln Ave., Delaware, 10 a.m.-noon, $2, 740-203-1450, delawareohio.net/Departments/ Parks_Recreation/default.aspx: Join us for fun and play using a variety of motor skill equipment. Play with your child on gym mats, toss beanbags, play catch and enjoy other activities together. March 9 – Wacky Wednesday-St. Patrick’s Day 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard 10:30-11:30 a.m., $1, 614-876-9554, wtwp.com/parks: Don’t forget to wear your green! Make a craft and see if the leprechaun left any gold behind. March 11 – International Performing Arts for Families: Baobab 1871 N. High St. The Ohio State University, Columbus, 7-8 p.m., $6, 614292-3535, wexarts.org: The striking masks and puppetry of this tale based on West African storytelling traditions captivate the young and the young at heart. Baobab tells of a baobab tree that stands watch over a drought-stricken village and of a little boy who goes on a quest filled with challenges and excitement. This show also features incredible live music played on traditional African instruments. For ages 4 and up. March 12 – Family Fun Activities: Butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $6, 614-645-8733, fpconservatory.org: Visit between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy hands-on crafts free with Conservatory admission. March 12 – International Performing Arts for Families: Baobab 1871 N. High St. The Ohio State University, Columbus, 2-3 p.m., $6, 614-2923535, wexarts.org: The striking masks and puppetry of this tale based on West African storytelling traditions captivate the young and the young at heart. Baobab tells of a baobab tree that stands watch over a drought-stricken village and of a little boy who goes on a quest filled with challenges and excitement. This show also features incredible live music played on traditional African instruments. For ages 4 and up. March 12 – Maple Tapping Festival & Pancake
SNP file photo
Twin 2-year-old brothers Jason (left) and Justin Datemasch of Grove City get a close look at model trains going by at the 2010 Grain Train Expo at the the Ohio Expo Center. The family friendly event returns this year March 5-6.
SNP file photo
Curly locks are the order of the day for members of the Regan Academy of Irish Dance as they ride in the 2010 Shamrock Club of Columbus St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The 2011 parade steps at 11:45 a.m. March 17 (the Shamrock Club’s parade always is on the 17th, the actual St. Patrick’s Day) followed by Irish Family Reunion from noon-7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St. Breakfast, 1507 E. Main St., Lancaster 8 a.m.noon, $4, 740-6876651,www.lancasterparks.com. March 12 – PBJ & Jazz: Liquid Crystal Project 939 N. High St.,Columbus 11 a.m.-noon, $5, 614294-5200, jazzartsgroup.org: PBJ & Jazz concerts are 1-hour long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families. Featuring some of Columbus’ finest musicians and ensembles, PBJ & Jazz concerts are hosted by former Columbus Music Hall owner and retired music educator Rebecca Ogden and are a great introduction to live music for the youngest audience member. March 12 – Sensory Night Hike 3200 Indian Village Drive,Upper Arlington, 7-8:30 p.m., $3, 614-645-3380, recparks.columbus.gov/outdoors/IndianVillage: Nocturnal animals survive using their senses. Come see if you could survive at night by testing your senses in the dark on the trails of Indian Village. March 12 – Little Acorns Club: Tree-mendous Trees 3200 Indian Village Drive,Upper Arlington,10-11 a.m. Free, 614-645-3380 http://recparks.columbus.gov/outdoors/IndianVillage/index. asp: Join us as we discover the largest plant at Indian Village! Trees provide shelter, food, and other materials for wildlife. We’ll take a hike to meet our leafy friends and learn about the life cycle of a tree through a story and craft. March 12 – Dublin’s 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Dublin, 11 a.m., free, 614-4104400, dublin.oh.us/events. March 13 – Family Concerts Columbus Metro Library, Main Branch,Columbus 2-3 p.m., free, 614-464-0066, promusicacolumbus.org. Join ProMusica for concerts that pair music with literacy. ProMusica offers family-friendly concerts throughout the season at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. These fun concerts focus on major elements and particular themes of music and offer a display of corresponding books and stories for everyone to enjoy. March 13 – Fable Writing Workshop Celebration 77 Jefferson Ave., Columbus 5-6:30 p.m.,
See ACTIVITIES, Page 14
TAKE THE FAMILY 3 sure shots for fun in March
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Arnold Sports Festival – An incredible array of youth fitness and sports are showcased at The Ahh-nold, including cheerleading, dance, fencing, gymnastics, martial arts and more. The action will keep the kids fascinated as Mom and Dad get in a little crowd watching at the fitness extravaganza right here in Columbus – a truly world class event. March 3-6.
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Shamrock Club of Columbus St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Family Reunion – The nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade held on actual St. Patty’s Day is here in Columbus. Check out the parade that begins on High Street at Nationwide Boulevard and heads south to Broad and west to Veterans Memorial, and make sure to check out the Irish Family Reunion at Vets at the parade’s conclusion: It features a great children’s activities area. March 17.
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The Great Train Expo – Sure to bring out the train-lover in adults and children, the GTE. Come see operating model railroads and more than 300 tables of of train and toy merchandise. Activities for kids at the free event include a toy train play area, model railroad layouts children can operate and workshops on model railroading. March 5-6.
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
ColumbusLocalKids.com
Cancer Support Community Central Ohio announces events Cancer does not discriminate. Families face many complex issues when one of their loved ones has cancer. Cancer affects the entire family. Anyone diagnosed with cancer faces tremendous physical, emotional, and practical challenges. Cancer is not just a medical condition; it affects all aspects of a person's life. Family members, caregivers, and friends are often uncertain about how to respond to and assist a person with cancer. Cancer Support Community Central Ohio addresses these needs. Cancer Support Community Central Ohio programs and services are always provided at no cost and offered at more than 10 off-site neighborhood locations including the West Side Health and Wellness Center Greater Hilltop. Community partnerships with the Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program help provide the funding to expand our programming into more Central Ohio neighborhoods so no one faces cancer alone. What's Happening? Please RSVP if you plan to attend a program by calling 614-791-9510. Evidenced-based educational, support, and healthy lifestyle services to the West Side community, provided at no
cost. Please join us: ■ Feb. 26: Creative Family Connections, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the YMCA of
Central Ohio/Hilltop Branch. A fun and creative event helping families express their feelings and connect to one another. ■ Feb. 28: Stretch Away Stress, 3-4 p.m. at the West Side Family Health and Wellness Center. Healthy family yoga. Join us at the Cancer Support Community Central Ohio facility, 10330 Sawmill Parkway in Powell ■ March 14: St. Patrick Day Fun! Our Wellness Kitchen will turn green for St. Patty's Day! Join Chef A for Family
Fun in the Kitchen, 5-6:30 p.m. Save the date ■ March 26: Papier-mache masks – Creative Family Connections, hands on family fun, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the YMCA of Central Ohio Hilltop. ■ April 11: The FUN is RISING! Family Fun in the Kitchen is turning up the heat and making bread. 5-6:30 p.m. For more information on upcoming Family and Children's programs and the Cancer Support Community Central Ohio visit cancersupportohio.org.
Dining out? Find a restaurant offering family meal deals Parents looking for bargains on dining out can check out these Central Ohio restaurants offering meal deals for children – list provided by KidsMealDeals.com Gooseneck Tavern, 9721 Sawmill Road, Powell 43065, 614-336-1111: Sunday & Monday: FREE Kids Meal for children 12 and under with the purchase of each regular priced adult meal. Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, 1481 Polaris Parkway, Columbus 43240, 614-4300572: Kids Eat FREE every Monday from 5-7pm: Buy one adult entree, and get one free kids meal. Valid on kids meals only. No coupon required. Bucci’s Pizzeria, 4333 Cosgray Road, Hilliard 43026, 614-850-1900: Monday is “Family
Night” at Bucci’s Pizzeria. FREE small cheese pizza with the purchase of a large pizza. You MUST mention this offer at the time of order. Champps Americana, 161 E. Campus View Blvd., Columbus 43235, 614-781-1000: All day Tuesday: Kids Eat FREE! Get 2 FREE kids meals for children 12 and under with the purchase of each adult entree. LouiE’s Grill, 4453 Cemetary Road, Hilliard 43026, 614-771-5606: Monday & Tuesday: One FREE kids meal for children under 12 with the purchase of each adult entree. Dinein only. Cannot be combined with any other offer, coupon, discount or promotion. Skyline Chili, 6111 Busch Boulevard, Columbus 43229, 614-848-3855: Wednesdays 5-9pm one free kids meal with purchase of an
adult meal. Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders, 4926 Morse Road, Columbus 43230, 614-855-5858: KIDS EAT FREE on Wednesdays! (dine-in only; limit 2 per adult) Chick-fil-A, 1988 Hilliard Rome Road, Hilliard 43026, 614-771-9650: Thursday from 5 to 8 pm - Free 4 Pack Kids Meal with each Combo purchase. Golden Corral, 4750 E. Main St., Whitehall 43213, 614-864-3700: All day - every day, Children 3 and under eat FREE from the buffet with the purchase of an adult meal. Steak ‘n Shake, 5995 Sawmill Road, Columbus 43017, 614-889-0203: Kids Eat Free all weekend - One free kid’s plate for every $8 spent. Dine-In only.
ACTIVITIES Continued from Page 13 free, 614-464-1032, thurberhouse.org. March 14 – Preschool Open Gym Mingo Park, 500 E. Lincoln Ave., Delaware 10 a.m.-noon. $2 740-203-1450, delawareohio.net/Departments/ Parks_Recreation/default.aspx. Join us for fun and play using a variety of motor skill equipment. Play with your child on gym mats, toss beanbags, play catch and enjoy other activities together. March 15 – Nature Club, 1507 E. Main St., Lancaster 6-7:30 p.m., $3.50, 740-6876651,www.lancasterparks.com. An exciting evening for elementary age youth the enjoy hikes, crafts, and games related to nature. A different topic each evening led by trained outdoor educators. March 17 – Shamrock Club of Columbus St. Patrick’s Day Parade, at 11:45 a.m. Thursday March 17 in Downtown Columbus; followed by Irish Family Reunion at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St. noon-7 p.m., shamrockclubof columbus.com. March 19 – Saturdays in the Park, 1507 E. Main St., Lancaster, 10-11:30 a.m., $3.50, 740687-6651 http://www.lancasterparks.com: Families with children ages 3-12 are welcome to join us for this NEW program. Preschool children and their adult caregiver will stay together for all activities. Elementary age children will have separate age appropriate activities. Program topics for each month are nature oriented and can include a hike and related activities. March 19 – Half-Pint Hullabaloo: A Festival for Pre-Schoolers, Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville 9:30 a.m.-noon, $3 614-901-6500, westerville.org/CityDepartments/ ParksRecreation/tabid/309/Default.aspx If keeping your little ones entertained while keeping your budget under control is a challenge, then round up the kids and bring them to the Half-Pint Hullabaloo. Parents and children ages 1 through 5 are invited to this annual award-winning event. Partici-
pate in exciting activities that cost little or nothing to create. March 19 – African Mask Making Workshop, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave.,Columbus 10 a.m.-noon, $15 614-645-KING, kingartscomplex.com: Artist and Education Director Todd Camp explore the meaning and the beauty of regional African masks through a slide show and discussion. Participants will be presented with a variety of recycled materials including: plastics, wood scraps, beads, fabric, and paint from which to choose. Everyone will take home a wonderful creation and new insight on African masks. This fun filled workshop is for 3rd-6th graders. March 21 – Preschool Open Gym Mingo Park, 500 E. Lincoln Ave., Delaware,10 a.m.-noon, $2 740-2031450, delawareohio.net/Departments/ Parks_Recreation/default.aspx. Join us for fun and play using a variety of motor skill equipment. Play with your child on gym mats, toss beanbags, play catch and enjoy other activities together. March 24 – Kids Only Zone! Mexican Night at the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus 6-8 p.m., $25, 614-645-8733. fpconservatory.org. March 24-27 – 61st Annual Aladdin Temple Shrine Circus, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 3-9 p.m., $5, 614-644-3247, aladdinshrine.com/circus.htm March 26 – Last Saturday Demo with Visiting Artists! 1341-B Norton Ave., Grandview Heights 4-6 p.m., free, 614291-4250, glassaxis.org. Watch as a professional artist makes their personal best. See the step by step process it takes to create an artwork and get a chance to ask questions during this in depth look at glass and the finesse it takes to create it.
SNP file photo
Crowds of people watch the youth martial arts competition during the 2010 Arnold Sports Classic Classic. The 2011 Classic, set for March 3-6, again will include the three-day Arnold Fitness Expo located within the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Many youth fitness and sports are showcased at the expo, including cheerleading, dance, fencing, gymnastics and martial arts.
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
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C lassified D irectory Place Your Classified Ad by Phone 614-785-1200; By Mail P.O. Box 29912, Columbus, OH 43229 By Fax 614-785-1881; By E-mail SNPClass@ColumbusMediaEnterprises.com
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Easy Access from Downtown 322 Stewart Ave • Columbus, OH 43206 • (614) 444-4216 www.stpaulcares.org
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The district is accepting applications for the following position: CUSTODIAN One full-time evening position for 8 hours per day. Previous custodial experience is required and must include verifiable references. Full benefits plus sick leave. High School diploma/GED is required. An Ohio and FBI background check is required. Deadline to apply is March 2, 2011 Applications for this classified position are on our website: www.grandviewschools.org
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Exc. Refs. (614)792-6681
ABC’S 123’S Join our group,PT/FT ages 6 mos. & up, structured play, arts & crafts, preschool activities, Polaris area Call (614)396-8044
Child Care in my home. F/T, $80/wk., P/T $25wk., Infants up, Refs. avail., Lunch, snacks. 614-948-5691
FULL TIME CHILDCARE in my Gahanna home. Hot meals & snacks in a loving environ. In/outdoor activities. 14 years exp. CPR certified. Pls. call Teresa 614-475-4757
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ATTENTION KIDS! Do You Want A 2 Hour Per Week Job? SNP is looking for kids that can deliver newspapers after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday! • Deliver the award winning SNP Newspapers to houses in your neighborhood! • Newspapers and inserts are delivered to carriers’ houses every week. • Carriers’ must be able to deliver their route(s) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Instruction Instruction MUSIC LESSONS In YOUR HOME 614-847-1212 Convenient Scheduling Experienced, Background Checked Teachers Your Children will learn on their own instrument, in the comfort of their own home.
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If you’re between the ages of 9 and 15, please contact Circulation Manager Tom Banik at tbanik@ColumbusMediaEnterprises.com or by phone, 614-410-0460. Please include your name, phone number and home address with zip code.
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March 2011 | Columbus Kids
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