captainofthekids, Author at Family Fun📍Cincinnati & Beyond

September 12, 2020September 24, 2020

Bass Island and Near with the Family

Have a Sunday Funday – or any day, really – with the family! A family favorite of ours for outdoor Cincinnati family fun is the Newtown/Mariemont area of Cincinnati! This is a MUST VISIT for families with kids of ANY age. Check out the notes and adjustments I call out for toddlers and tweens.

Choose Your Favorites For Sunday [family] funday

Choose something active, something to explore, something to eat and even a sweet treat! All are within walking distance or a short drive from the Bass Island starting point (Newtown Rd just south of Wooster Pike).

Creekin’, River float, Canoe or Kayak
Golf, Driving Range or Putt Putt Golf
Bike ride or paved stroller walk
Burgers, shakes & playing in the sand
Sweet treats – candy & ice cream!

Creekin' + River Float + Kayak + More

The Avoca Trailhead (7949 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227) is a great place to park and start a short ‘float’ down the river in a tube. If the river water is high, the rapids can be fast, so I strongly suggest lifejackets for all! You can end just after you go under the bridge (Newtown Road) and play in the water there. Skip rocks, float in the small rapids (my kids call them ‘slides’) and relax in the river.

Have littles and want to skip the float part? Park at Bass Island (Newtown Rd south of Wooster Pike) and hike down the small trail. Go LEFT at the fork to the end – that is the least steep entrance into the riverbed.

Make sure you have water shoes! Bug spray, a bucket to collect rocks and lifejackets or floaties for the littles are also smart to have. We took pool floats and boogie boards are great too!

If you’re looking to canoe or kayak, here is a map of public canoe access on the little miami. I suggest ending at Bass Island so you can grab some burgers, beers and shakes at fifty west!

If you don’t have your own, here are some places to rent:

Scenic River Canoe Excursions
Fifty West Canoe & Kayak – closed this season.

River Dogs Paddlesports– closed this season.

Loveland Canoe & Kayak

Golf, Driving Range or Putt Putt Golf

Little Miami Golf Center (3811 Newtown Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244) has a awesome Par 3 and regulation course if your family enjoys golf. My kids prefer the driving range (heated during the winter) or the simple, throwback style putt putt golf course.

BIKE, Scooter or Walk the trail

Looking to take a long bike ride or walk? You can park at The Avoca Trailhead (7949 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227) and walk to The Birch in Terrace Park. This is about a 2.5 mile walk and is great for older kids, a day date or girlfriend adventure.

The Little Miami trail connects all the way to Springfield, Ohio – about 78 miles long. It’s great for family rides. We usually park at Bass Island (Newtown Rd south of Wooster Pike) and ride along the trail as far as we want and turn around. The trick is, there are plenty of competitive bike racers on the trail that come at a good clip, so make sure your kids know to stay to the right and listen for ‘passing on the left’ to avoid any issues. This is one of my favorite places to walk with the stroller because it’s flat, paved and the kids can play in the river or at fifty west afterward.

Great eats, sweet treats

Make sure you hit up fifty west for some burgers, shakes, handcrafted sodas and beers for the parents! There is a great sidewalk path from the little miami golf course to the little miami trail, right behind fifty west burger bar. If you golf, throw the little kids bikes or scooters in your car and scoot on over to fifty west for a little more adventure and fun.

ProTip, you can order take out (online!) if you’re super hungry and don’t want to wait! Or stay to enjoy the atmosphere, shakes and beers for the parents! There is a kids sand area for kids to play in but bring your own toys!

If you want to venture out a but for a treat, be sure to either visit the creamy whip place at the corner of Newtown Rd and 32, called Dairy Corner, or venture up into the Mariemont Strand and try all the candy classics like astronaut ice cream and unique ice creams from Groovy Gumball!

September 1, 2020September 24, 2020

Highfield Discovery Garden: Adventures with Toddlers

We love Highfield Discovery Garden! This unique park offers so many things to discover and is one of our favorite shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati.

BONUS: If you wanted to get some exercise first, there is a 1.0-mile paved trail in the Glenwood Gardens, before you enter the Highfield Discovery Garden. Bring your littles in a stroller and meet a friend to get some exercise before the garden opens at 10am.

**Note: There is an admission charged, $5.25/person or buy a family annual pass to support the Great Parks.

The Magic Treehouse Playground

This is the main attraction! So much to discover in this treehouse playground. Try your hand at the matching game on the side in the green boxes or play hide & seek in the little nooks around the base of the treehouse. The structure and surroundings offer great shade!

The back of the treehouse has a ramp to enter so everyone can see the fun! This is also helpful for parents who want to join in the play but might not want duck down in the other parts of the treehouse.

The kids can scale the steps to the top and check out the a telescope lookout.

Magical Fun & Fairy Garden

Hunt fairies, have a tea party, explore the beautiful gardens and more!

There are adorable little gardens dispersed throughout the grounds to discover and explore. If you’re lucky, you’ll find some butterflies. We loved the mazes.

There’s a little tiny house, a la Alice in Wonderland, perfect for little ones to have a tea party. BYO tea as the dishes are not out, per covid precautions.

Trolley garden

All aboard! A mini train display runs throughout the Trolley Garden and kids can walk under the bridges and find all the trains! Kids can pretend they are the conductors and press the light up buttons in the train station to make it go.

During normal operation, the nature center hosts cute nature programs as well as hands on things for kids to do. Check the Great Parks website for a calendar of events here.

Stay for lunch. You can enjoy a snack or have packed lunch at the tables with umbrellas just past Nature’s Niche Gifts & Books where you purchase your ticket to enter the garden. The gift shop has some really cool, unique gifts, so be sure to take a look around. It’s air conditioned, so it’s a great place to cool off!

July 28, 2020March 3, 2021

Cincinnati Nature Center | Top 10 Things To Do

The Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods is such a treasure in our city. You can visit many times and never have the same experience twice! A yearly membership is a great investment that your family can use year-round because the center is open and there are even events during the winter. **NOTE: Make sure to check their website to see their policies on daily visit reservations and more.

Here are my top 10 favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center, in no particular order. Don’t try to do them all at once, though!

1. The Man Made Stream

This gem is inside the Nature PlayScape area, which is perfect for the littles. Even my 9 year old loves this spot. This man made stream offers mini waterfalls, a great creek stream and treasures to be found. Wear boots, water shoes or just let the kids play barefoot. Hunt for fossils, traverse down the rocks (a bit slippery) and look for creatures! There is no shade in this part, but there is a small canopy with bench nearby to watch them play.

2. The Nature PlayScape Area

The Nature PlayScape area is perfect for the littles to run and play. Kids who are just starting to walk will love this area – parents, you’ll love it too because it’s gated! Even my kids older kids (7 & 9) enjoy it, but eventually want to adventure further.

Inside the area includes:
* Little ‘trails’
* A mud pie zone (that you can easily avoid if you want)
* Benches to relax in the shade
* A cool area with logs and tree stumps to build with
*A small sand area
* Interactive maps and questions about nature, butterflies and more that you can assist with along the way

3. events in the playscape

They are often hosting really fun family friendly events in the Nature PlayScape. From nature storytime to crafty Tuesdays to nature painting and more. Heading there for an event is a great way to get familiar with the place! Check out the Calendar of Events in the PlayScape. Don’t forget to check out all the awesome events they host year round.

4. Mashburn Family Discovery Trail

We love to trek this trail starting near the parking lot of the playscape. The orange trail, the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail is a super easy, flat hike (more like a stroll, so even the new walkers can do it.) There are tons of treasures along this hike including Matt’s Pond, but be sure to hold little ones hands here because there are no railings around the deck! The trail loops around so your family will see many different things that I highlight below, including the Lotus Pond and the Log Cabin.

5. the Log Cabin & THe lotus pond

Follow the Orange trail (Mashburn Family Discovery Trail), a super easy, flat hike to find some great places to play and discover in nature including:
* Matt’s Pond
* An old log cabin. My kids could play house in this cabin for hours while I enjoy the rocking chair on the front porch.
* If you keep walking past the house and turn left, you will find the lotus pond. There are frogs for days here in this green, lilypad filled pond. And if you’re there late spring, you can’t miss them because they are loud. And I mean LOUD because it’s mating season. It’s really cool if you happen upon that timing.

6. Houses in the woods made from branches

Keep going past the Lotus Pond on the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail to find a collection of branches, sticks and tree stumps that have been made into ‘houses’. This area is nestled in the shade and really fun for kids to play and make believe in, especially if it’s hot. There’s usually an area where kids can rebuild the big houses or make teepee.

7. Classes for tots to tweens

The Covid concerns have canceled a lot of things, including some of the nature programming. But, under normal circumstances, there are weekly classes, year-round, for kids ages 1-13! Check out their schedules to see if openings are available. Also, did you know they host an accredited nature preschool? It’s a really cool hands on learning experience. Their yearly open house is usually in late January or early February if you or someone you know may be interested in learning more!

8. Hiking and creekin' on the Geology & Discovery trails

There are some really awesome hiking trails at the Cincinnati Nature Center and there’s something for everyone. If you have tots who just want a nature stroll, try the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail as I mention above.

Check out the trail map here (image below) and trail descriptions to find out which best suits your mood and skill level. My favorite trails are the pink (Wildflower) and the purple trail called The Geology Trail. They are family favorites and has a pretty easy decent into the creek. Bring water shoes or old gym shoes you don’t care get wet. Tons of fossil hunting and treasures to find in the creek.

9. feeding the fish and turtles at POWEL Crosley Lake

Feeding the fish & turtles at Powel Crosley Lake is a perfect break from hiking. We like to do the purple trail and then come back up to the Rowe Woods Visitors Center to purchase the brown bags of fish food – just from the cashier there. Bonus, there is a SUPER cute gift shop here with a range of gifts for kids and adults that are unique and not something you can find elsewhere.

The turtles and fish LOVE to be fed and get super close. Be diligent with the little ones as there is no railing on the walkway. I always make my kids sit before giving them the fish food, and then of course obsessively watch them to make sure they don’t fall in ;)! Is my mom anxiety showing?! 😉

10. Adult EVENTS You WILL LOVE

There are tons of cool events for adults to enjoy the nature center. The annual event, Hoots & Hops, is a great date night or GNO option. There are food samples from local restaurants in the lodge, plus food trucks and local brews to sample along the trails. It’s a super casual event and a great way to get to see more of the nature center, without your kids! Plus, they often host events like trail yoga, nature photography walks and more!

If you love to get out and explore and want more ideas, try my favorite shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati or hiking adventures!

July 26, 2020July 26, 2020

10 Shaded Playgrounds in Cincinnati

We LOVE parks with great playgrounds. But shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati are my FAVORITE because we can all hang longer, even on super hot days! Check out one of these places next time you’re sick of the pool but it’s too hot to do much! Bonus, there are also a few places with a splash park where you can cool off after you play!

1. Land of Make Believe at Lunken Airport

4750 Playfield Lane, Columbia Tusculum
If you’re looking for some great shade, this is a great place to check out! There are trees and lots of shade, multiple playground areas, swings, monkey bars, slides, covered picnic tables, benches, and a great tall fence surrounding it making it safe for kids of all ages to roam without you worrying about them running off.

This park costs $1/person, ages 2-12, to enter as you pass through the front air-conditioned building which has clean bathrooms – always a PLUS – and concession snacks and drinks!

Nearby: bring a picnic or enjoy takeout or patio seating at the Sky Galley Restaurant to watch the planes come in at Lunken Airport!

2. Cincinnati Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford
Sure, this isn’t your typical playground, but this place is perfect for shade! No swings or slide, but lots of options for play. Check out the playscape for the younger kids, but expect them to get dirty! Check out my post on the Top 10 Things to Do at Cincinnati Nature Center.

3. Blue Ash Nature Park

4343 Cooper Road, Blue Ash
This park is behind the Blue Ash Recreation Center. There are 2 playgrounds as you walk through the mulch nature trail. Bring one of the nature hunt ideas on this blog post to do as you walk.
If you keep walking beyond the picnic shelters and amphitheater, you will find a shaded play area perfect for little ones and a dinosaur themed play structure! Blue Ash Nature Park has separate structures for different ages. There are several playgrounds & a ropes course.

4. Highfield Discovery Garden

10397 Springfield Pike Evendale
Tons of shade options at this unique park! Whether it’s playing in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style house, on the giant magic tree structure or hunting for fairies, there are some great options for shade.

Highfield Discovery Garden (admission fee is $5/adult, $4/kiddos 2-12) at Glenwood Gardens is where nature and fun intersect. They have a kid friendly tree house called the Discovery Tree in the middle of the park where they can climb and explore. They also have the most adorable little gardens dispersed throughout. My kids LOVED the water pump to fill watering cans to water the garden.

Enjoy tea in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ tiny house perfect for little ones. Or hunt for fairies and wizards in the Fairy and Wizard Garden.

5. Juilfs Park

8249 Clough Pike, Anderson

With a shaded canopy playground for the little ones, 3 & under, and a full shaded sand area, there is tons to do here! Bring sand toys because it will be hard to keep the kids away from the giant sand area.

There is a super cute farm themed splash pad that is surprisingly shaded. Plus, the bathrooms are directly behind that area for easy changing. The larger play structure has some shaded areas, but its mostly in full sun. The swings are also in full sun.

Bonus fun, bring the scooters or the kids bikes. They can ride the paved path while you get a little exercise. At the start of the trail, there is a small little ‘gas station’ for kids to pretend to gas up their bike and make believe! There are also plenty of shelters around to enjoy a picnic lunch!

6. Swaim Park

Corner of Cooper and Zig Zag Roads, Montgomery

There is a decent amount of nature shade from trees on the playground area.

There is a tot lot, perfect for little ones plus a school age playground. Bonus, this park has a short paved trail for Bikes & Scooters.

7. Alms Park

710 Tusculum Avenue, Mt Lookout
This playground provides a great shaded place to play. Don’t forget to check out the long concrete slide and the amazing “castle” with views to the river & a birds-eye view of the planes take off at Lunken airport.

Sit on the long, serpentine wall to watch the planes come in at Lunken while enjoying a picnic! There is no shade in the viewing area.

8. Dogwood Park

3721 Pleasant Street, Mariemont
The Tot Lot has great shade provided by the surrounding trees. And a major bonus, the park is fenced in! Even the swings offer some shade!

Covering over 20 acres, Dogwood Park contains ball fields, playground equipment, nature trails, the swimming pool, and a memorial to the Native Americans who once occupied the area.

9. Cottell Park

5847 Irwin Simpson Rd, Mason
The playground has plenty of shaded canopies and is entertaining for all ages. There is a designated spot for toddlers. You can walk along the paved paths or run their energy out in the wide-open spaces around the park. Bonus, if you time it right, you might see the gorgeous sunflowers in bloom across the street!

10. Washington Park

1230 Elm St, OTR
The playground area of Washington Park is fenced-in and great for all ages. There is a castle-like play structure, a few swings and some outdoor musical toys to explore. There is a small sand area there also. There is natural shade in most parts of the park provided by the mature trees. Bring suits if you want the kids to play in the interactive fountain in the main area of the park.

June 9, 2020July 7, 2020

Best Places To Go Fishing With Kids In Cincinnati

With years of expertise from the fishing captain, Papa Jake, we’ve gathered the best places to go fishing with kids in Cincinnati.

Need kids fishing tips? Want to know the basics and where to find lessons? Check out my Fishing With Kids post.

Here’s hoping your kids catch a bigger fish than that one when you go fishing with kids! I’m kidding, that’s the bait!

Choosing The Right Place To Fish in Cincinnati

Don’t forget, you need a fishing license before you go fishing with kids in Cincinnati! You may purchase them at most local sporting goods stores or if you’re in Ohio, get an Ohio fishing license here.

Choosing a lake may depend on what you have and need. I’ve divided up the options by one stop shop with everything you need and places that are great to fish but BYOB(bait!)

Plus, there are a ton of great fishing activities for kids run through the Great Parks like tournaments and competitions.

One Stop Shop Fishing in Cincinnati

Lake Isabella – a great place to fish for families! During a normal fishing season, they hold tournaments for kids – complete with trophies and all! And there is often live music and grill outs on Friday nights. It’s a ton of fun for all!

You will need a fishing ticket ($3 for kids, $12.50 for adults) and state license – see above to get one. They have a bait shop to purchase gear and bait. You can fish on the bank or you can rent a boat during a normal season. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department so the odds for catching something are good!.

Miami Whitewater Forest – You can rent boats or bring your own canoes and kayaks. You can also buy bait or tackle at the boathouse. If you don’t want to go in a boat, bank fishing is also available. Don’t forget to get a fishing license before you go!

Sharon Woods Park – a great option for fishing with the family. The boathouse rents row, pedal and pontoon boats and kayaks. Personal canoes, kayaks are permitted. Fishing is available from boats or the fishing pier.
There are also tons of other activities there, so make a day of it with my guide to Sharon Woods Park for families.

Winton Woods – the boathouse offers row, pedal, motor and pontoon boats; kayaks; and canoes for rental. You can also bring your own canoes and kayaks. Bank fishing is also available. You can also purchase bait and tackle at the boathouse. Don’t forget your fishing license!

BYOB (Bait) Fishing in Cincinnati

There are also great options to fishing, but you have to bring your own bait. Most stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop have a variety of bait. Chances are, the closest gas station to the lake has bait available!

Other options include:
Baehr’s bait and tackle shop in north Cincinnati
Latonia Bait & Tackle – in NKY

BOYBait to these great places:

Lake Barber – a great fishing lake in Newtown with a paved path around the lake great for walking and bike/scooter riding. Bring the scooters or a nature scavenger hunt (see Outdoor Activities With Kids for info). You will need to bring everything (including a fishing license) because there is no fishing support there. You fish from the bank for free in a natural lake that is not stocked. Don’t forget to see my Fishing With Kids post to make sure you have all the right gear.

Woodland Mound – A small lake with bank fishing only. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department, so while fishing is a sport of chance and skill, your odds of getting a bite are better here. Note, you need to bring all your bait and gear as there is not boathouse. Great Parks parking permits are usually required and available to purchase at entry. There is also a boat launch ramp available if Ohio River conditions allow. Grab your bait at Shell (4525 Kellogg Ave) or Marathon (6790 Kellogg Rd)

Little Miami River at Bass Island – fishing on the bank of the river (this is a great creeking spot too). The parking lot is just past the Little Miami Golf Center. You can also bring your own Canoe or kayak. Speaking of this place, check out my golfing with the kids blog for information on their great putt putt golf course (kids 4+), Par 3 course and driving range.

Fernbank Park – You can fish from the banks of the Ohio River. BYOeverything and don’t forget your fishing license! There is a great flat path here if you want to bring scooters or bikes to ride when the kids want to take a break! And, there is a playground nearby for the really short attention spans.

Triple Creek pond – The park offers a nice neighborhood fishing pond where you get to keep the fish and no fishing license is required.

East Fork State Park – A huge lake with boat access and bank fishing. You will need a state fishing license and will have to pay for access into the park. I have a ton of information on my blog post about spending a day (or weekend) at East Fork with the family.

May 26, 2020July 6, 2020

Outdoor Movie Projector For Under $150

Getting a outdoor movie projector is a great great way to have adventure in your own backyard. Here’s how to host outdoor movie nights with the family for $150 or less.

Buying an Outdoor Projector

The more lumens, the brighter the picture, but don’t expect it to work outside during the day no matter how bright it is. There are several options out there, but after my research, I landed on this option for an outdoor movie projector. It checked the box on affordability, quality, positive reviews and easy to use.

The best part is it has a USB spot to connect our Chromecast, which expanded our movie choices to anything digital. Using the chromecast app, we can stream Disney+, Hulu and more. If you want a boost on sound, grab a headphone to headphone cable and plug into a home speaker.

Buying an Outdoor Movie Screen

You can use your garage door if it’s a light color or even a white sheet. Grey actually works best because it helps fill in the darker parts of the movie.

We scored an awesome screen that is very portable for only $15. It’s actually a pop up tent shade wall that doubles as a portable movie screen. It connects to a pop up tent, which makes it feel even more theatre like, and it’s perfect for camping.

CREATE an AWESOME Movie theatre scene

Make sure you have comfy chairs, like the anywhere chair from Pottery Barn. For the real littles, decorate an amazon box like a car and make it a drive-in movie! We did a dive-in move with our inflatable pool. It was so fun!

Really want to be a hero? Make real movie tickets for the kids on canva with this free template. While you wait for it to get dark, the kids can ‘sell these’.

Move treats are a must! Homemade popcorn in popcorn bags or popcorn buckets from the dollar store are fun. Did you know they deliver? These are great for a movie-themed birthday! If you don’t have popcorn bags, decorate a red solo cup with stripes or just decorate brown paper bag.

If you’re local to Cincinnati, RJ distillery is offering free to-go popcorn for a limited time.

S’mores on the fire pit are always a great option. We LOVE these telescoping sticks for s’mores. Looking to explore s’more? (see what I did there? 😉 Check out these different variations of s’mores with various candy and cookies! Speaking of fire pits, are you a fan of the solo stove? It’s ALL the rage because the put off less smoke but great fires for roasting!

As always, candy from the Dollar Store is always a great options. They have a huge variety of candy boxes so kids can make and visit the ‘concession’ stand to shop for their movie treats!

Grab juice boxes for the kids and parents, BYOB 😉

May 21, 2020May 10, 2021

At The Beach With Kids

The BEST Beach Games and Essentials for a Beach Trip with Kids

The beach is a great place to go with kids. Having the right beach essentials sets your vacation up for success. Here are my favorite beach games and essentials.

Best Beach Wagons

Beach wagons are key for transporting things, but make sure you get one with sturdy wheels or it might not make it through the sand. Here are 3 solid options at fair prices. You can often rent them, but sometimes it’s more economical to buy them and use them for baseball games, etc.

A great all around wagon for sporting events or the beach. The wheels are mid-level sturdy and will do the trick, but I wouldn’t advise for repeat beach use.

The TWO giant wheels together at the front are perfect for dragging across the sandy beach. This is our go-to.

A great beach or sports option. The wheels are larger which is better for tougher terrain and the folding tray is perfect for snacks and drinks for the kids.

Sand Toys For Kids

Here are some of my favorite shovels and buckets for kids and fun sand toys. I like to carry our sand toys in a mesh backpack like this. The toys are lightweight and if it’s a backpack, one of this kids can carry them.

We love the letters because even my older kids will write secret messages to me in the sand with these letters.

Water Shoes For Kids

Water shoes are a lifesaver for us on the beach because we avoid the hot sand under their flip flops. These are my favorite brands because the sand doesn’t get in too easily and they stay on your feet. The iplay brand is great for toddler feet!

Infants and Toddlers at the Beach

Looking for quick and easy entertainment and containment for babies who sit up on their own to toddlers? The baby pool or collapsible dog pool is a great trick for the beach. Fill with a very small amount of water and some water toys and they will have fun splashing around!

Shade at the Beach

Shade! It’s so important if you plan to spend some time at the beach. This ZiggyShade and Sun Ninja options are amazing. So much more lightweight than a traditional popup tent and the same amount of shade. It’s quick and easy to set up and worth the investment. A single umbrella doesn’t offer as much shade, but is a great option for a small family.

Beach games for the family

We love to toss a baseball on the beach, but golf is also really fun and easy to tote there. Try a set of kids plastic clubs and the weighted regular golf balls. Dig out holes in the sand to put into!

We are a participant in an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. The cost of the product for you is the same, but we appreciate the small kickback we get when you click and purchase our suggested products!

May 21, 2020June 10, 2020

Fishing With Kids

Looking for a great outdoor kids activity to do during socially distancing? Try fishing with kids! It’s an outdoor adventure for kids of all ages that the whole family can enjoy. Yes, it’s a slow-paced, but I have some tips to make it enjoyable for all. Looking for a spot? Check out the best places to fish with kids in Cincinnati.

What to bring fishing with kids

Papa Jake is our go-to fishing expert with over 50 years experience fishing and most of the tips below are from him. I’ll go into more detail, but you need a:
– tackle box (see below for what’s needed inside)
– fishing poles
– proper bait
– a fishing license (see below for how to get one)
– camp chairs for the kids
– plus a few other tricks

Camp chairs for kids are key because fishing requires ALOT of waiting. Speaking of waiting, bring lollipops. It gives them something to do as they sit there and watch the line for a bite.

Bubble machines keep the littles entertained. Just make sure you’re not on a dock chasing the bubbles because that’s a good way to end up in the lake.

Other musts for our family:
– sunscreen
– sunglasses or a hat
– a fishing vest to look the part – which can also be used for ALL your outdoor adventures.
– snacks, hand sanitzer and drinks are also necessary.

Best Bait for fishing with kids

Looking for the best bait for fishing in a lake? Fishing bait is a key to catching fish, obviously.

Sometimes the bait is the most fun part of fishing for kids! Seriously, my girls played with the bucket of minnows for 75% of the time. And it was fun to see that the youngest one was the first to ‘catch’ a minnow in the bucket and had no fear holding it. She held it a little too long…oops!

Minnows, wax worms and nightcrawler worms are best. If you can’t find that, hot dogs work too! Parents, bait the hook for your kids. No one needs an ER visit!
** Pro Tip: if you leave a hook on the fishing pole, push the hook into a wine cork so no one gets hurt!

Best Fishing poles and equipment for kids

New to fishing? Have a 4 or 5 year old who wants to cast by themselves, but needs help? This pole has a casting button which is helpful for the ‘I do it myself’ kind of kids. Just give them space and stay away from the hook!

This is a great option for a beginner who is too old for the ‘kid rod’. The reel is great for ease of use.

A tackle box with hooks, bobbers and fishing line is essential. It’s always good to have a small pair of scissors for when the lines get tangled and a needle nose pliers for the hooks when you snag a fish!

This rod is a family favorite! There’s no reel so you just bait the hook and drop it in the water. It’s good for the new fisherman.

Fishing lessons for kids

No clue where to start? Try a fishing lesson from Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s. There are fishing classes for kids and fishing seminars for 2 select weekends at Bass Pro Shop each year, usually the first weekends of June. Bass Pro Shop has a FREE catch and release pond event with fishing pros there to give you tips and crafts for kids to pique their interests.

Fishing not your thing? There are tons of other Outdoor Activities With Kids to be had as a family. Give Disc Golf a try!

May 6, 2020May 10, 2021

17 Best Podcasts for Kids

Y’all, podcasts aren’t just for adults. There is some great content out there directly created for kids. We listen on long road trips to pass the time or a random Tuesday when I’ve had enough of the Kidz Bop Hits.

Speaking of Kidz Bop, have you seen their dance breaks on my post on awesome celebrity virtual dance parties?

Also, did you know you can ask Alexa to play a podcast for you? Try it! Here are the captain family favorites!

Podcasts for Kids

The Big Fib– one’s a liar, the other one’s telling the truth. Each week, a kid interviews two experts on a topic and has to determine, through a series of questions, which is the expert and which one is a liar.

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids explores stories of science fun for the whole family. Check out The Science of Smell and other fun topics related to science discovery.

Wow in the World is made from NPR and each episode is based on facts and questions from science and technology that intrigues kids! They have a cute feature called Two Whats!? And A Wow!

The Past and The Curious is a history podcast for kids, but parents, you might learn something too. History was NOT my favorite school subject, so, yeah, I’m learning too.

Brains On! is all about the science questions curious kids have! We loved the episode, Flush! Where does our poo and pee go?, because ‘poo’ is a favorite subject in this house ;)! There are tons of other topics, including Bigfoot, Unicorns and Dragons: Making Sense of Myths.

If you like that, you’ll probably like the Smash Boom Best podcast, also produced by Brains On crew. It’s a debate show for kids & families during which they take two cool things, smash them together and let’s you decide which is best. Alien vs Robots. Sharks vs Skunks. Chocolate vs Cheese. How do you ever decide?

This podcast reminds me of one my sons favorite book series called Who Would Win? This series explores battles between 2 things to see who would win! Grab a copy or a set if your kids likes the podcast.

But Why is a show for kids, led by kids. Kids ask the questions which fuel the subject matter for the shows as they answer the questions! A few favorites, Do Animals Get Married?, ‘Are Llamas Ticklish?’ and What Is Electricity?

Story Pirates is such a fun listen. Hosted by actors, comedians, improvisers and musicians, they adapt stories submitted by kids into sketch comedy and musical theater. We’re big fans in this house!

Red School Bus is a clean comedy podcast from Father/Son duo sharing hilarious real-life stories. Kids can submit their own real-life stories and hear it ‘on air’ when they read the story.

Noodle Loaf is an interactive music podcast created by a dad and music-ed specialist that will get your kids dancing, laughing, singing and having fun. Check out more fun with their videos on their YouTube Channel.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is an awesome fairy tale podcast for kids about extraordinary women in history from all over the world. Just like the book (<–link), that explores women who have done amazing things, this story podcast dives deeper into the lives of these bad*$ women!

PODCASTS FOR LITTLE KIDS

Highlights Hangout is a monthly podcast that brings Highlights Magazine to life in a whole new way. This is good for the little kids. They have the kids talk on the podcast, which is super exciting for other kids to hear. It plants a little bit of excitement in their brain, like maybe they can be famous too 😉

StoryNory Podcast explores classic fairytales in a silly and engaging way, perfect for the little kids!

Podcast stories and audible Books

Longer car ride? Remember the days of books on tape from the library? Yikes, I’m showing my age! Try an Audible book from Amazon, they’re even better. Have the Harry Potter series read to your entire family.

The Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl – think of this as a DJ for kids that parents want to hang with. Looking for a playlist of music that both kids and parents will enjoy? These eclectic 2 hour shows offer fun songs that kids and parents enjoy! Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child is another good one like this!

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian – Start at episode 1 and venture along with Finn, his friends and their pet robots solve the mysteries in the universe. This is great for 15-20 min breaks of fun, or binge-listen on a long road trip.

Don’t want to listen to the podcast WITH them? Grab some cute unicorn headphones like these!

Or some basic kids headphones to keep in your car and a headphone splitter if you have more than one kid listening. Then, crank up your tunes and cruise.

May 4, 2020May 8, 2020

Virtual Dance Parties With The Family

Dancing With The Stars... In My Living room

Oh hey, I danced with tWitch and Allison in my living room last week. NBD, right? They’re hosting virtual dance parties online along with several other celebrities. Want to have a family dance party with celebrities in YOUR living room? Check this out for all the best options.

Dance with Twitch and Allison

Get your dance on with tWitch and Allison ! They teamed up with the American Heart Association to do the #MoveMore dance challenge happening for a limited time 3 times a week, LIVE on their Instagram pages! Their music is awesome and the moves are easy, but fun. Think jazzercise, but it has to be cool if tWitch is doing it. If you don’t catch it live, no worries. All past BOSS FAMILY WORKOUTS videos are on the Official Boss Fam YouTube Channel. so you can go back and dance with them anytime.

KIDZ BOP DAILY DANCE BREAKS

There are tons of options on the Kidz Bop YouTube Channel. Currently, we like trying the Kidz Bop Daily Dance Break because they are just a few minutes and offer either dance alongs or freestyle moves. There is also a Kidz Bop Fitness playlist with tons of great options to get moving. If you’re not familiar, Kidz Bop kids sing current popular songs with the bad words removed ;). Alexa has had a workout at our house playing Kidz Bop Old Town Road on repeat…

So You Think You Can Dance, with mark

Dance Party with Mark Kanemura from So You Think You Can Dance happens at 5pm EST daily on Instagram! Bring a scarf to dance with and prepare to be fabulous! He usually has a spectacular outfit reveal at the top of the show 😉 And parents, you will connect with his music choices. Lots of rainbows and fabulousness! Remember this dance with Mark & Sasha from his season of SYTYCD? Yowzer!

Is your kickline game strong?

Join a LIVE DANCE CLASS from The Rockettes on Instagram every Thursday 12 pm EST. Seriously, the kicks are no joke! Also, for the more seasoned dancers, there are quick Dance Tutorials from famous Rockettes dances they have performed in their shows at Radio City Music Hall!

JoJo Siwa and her Bows...

I don’t get it. But, my kids truly enjoy her songs. So, they won on this one. We watched the JoJo Siwa Backyard Concert, which was only about 4 mins long! She built a stage in her backyard, so she seems committed to do more!

take your moves to the next level

Looking for some fun, unique ways to get exercise and learn legit dance moves? Try the 2020 Dance Experience from the CLI Experience with famous dance choreographers! It’s 8 weeks of training with 5+ days of dance each week. There are tons of styles of dance to choose from.

Or, if you’re just looking for something to do for the day or week, you can choose an Outschool online dance class with your favorite theme. Choose from options like dance to the Decendants, The Greatest Showman, a Frozen-themed ballet and tons more!

GoNoodle: Not Famous, but My Kids think they are

When your littles (3-9 years) are climbing the walls, GoNoodle. Seriously, just do it. It’s like magic for my kids in school and they love it. Our favorite is the Milkshake song with Koo Koo Kangaroo. Sorry, not sorry, this will be stuck in your head! But there are tons of choices like Zumba for Kids. Each video is only 3-4 mins so you can go down a wormhole for awhile on this one!

What’s your go-to dance style? Hip hop? Contemporary? Kicklines? The Sprinkler?