captainofthekids, Author at Family Fun📍Cincinnati & Beyond

May 1, 2020August 12, 2020

Shark Week

The yearly celebration of Shark Week on Discovery Channel has popularized discovery and wonder about sharks with kids. Why not make a theme week out of it and explore these fun activities!

SHARK WEEK CRAFTS

I’m loving the zen doodle patterns my oldest did in school. We decided to zen doodle sharks today on this shark coloring page. If that’s not your jam, you can choose a craft that fits your child’s interest from one of the 25+ options below. Or do one craft a day and display your artwork around the TV while you watch the show!

25+ Shark Week Crafts and Activities for Kids

Grab these inexpensive shark fin ice cube trays, freeze blue kool-aid in them and serve them in water cups at meals for a little extra fun.

Be a hero and grab a Snuggie Tails Shark Blanket for them to use while watching the shows! A great reward for learning new things!

SHARK SNACKS

Everyone is happier when they are fueled, right? Check out these cute Shark Banana Pops from Food Network Kitchen! Just 5 ingredients and wooden pop sticks.

LIVE SHARK CAMS

Observe shark behavior by watching these LIVE SHARK CAMS:

SHArk SCHOOL

Learn about sharks from Outschool who is offering a 60 minute class for $15 taught via a video chat session.

Shark Stewards, a non-profit out of California, hosted weekly Facebook Live sessions called the Ocean Action Series that teaches about ways we can preserve and protect the sharks and the ocean.

SHArk Movies

If you dare, watch the classic, Jaws. Soul Surfer and Shark Tale are much more our families speed. 😉 Make a shark snack and curl up in your shark blanket as a family to watch the movie!

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April 28, 2020May 8, 2020

Family Yoga

Yoga for kids, toddler to tween, is something we all need to embrace and practice, but where should we start? From mommy & me yoga to tween yoga, here are my favorites.

Yoga For Kids 2 – 9 years old

YOGA WITH ADRIENNE is a go-to resource in the yoga world and she offers a few great options for kids. FREE YOGA FOR KIDS called Rainbow Yoga is great for kids any age. If you’re looking for something for kids age 6+, try her FREE KIDS YOGA VIDEO called Yoga in the Park.

For the younger kids, ages 2-9, try COSMIC KIDS YOGA. I like to call it ‘yoga stories’ because she keeps the kids attention by telling a story. Her adorable Australian accent takes you on journeys, including our favorites, POKEMON YOGA and FROZEN YOGA. Cosmic Kids Yoga is FREE on YouTube, or you can subscribe to the COSMIC KIDS APP

Try MINI BEAN YOGA for kids age 2-5. This does require parent supervision, so don’t expect to turn it on and clock out ;). But, it should capture their attention and burn some energy! Explore basic yoga postures in a fun, playful way and bring your home musical instruments to dial up the fun!

BEAN YOGA is great for kids age 6-9 and classes are donation-based. As with the other classes from Yogi Beans @ HOME, donations from $3 – $12 are suggested. Once you enroll, you get a ZOOM link to join the class.

Try this YOGA FOR KIDS BOOK on Amazon called ‘I am Yoga’. It’s a great introduction to yoga poses and the philosophy of yoga. It’s great for young readers. and my daughter used to ‘teach a yoga class’ to her stuffed animals using this book.

Gaia offers YOGA FOR KIDS with different themes like outer space and dino-mite yoga for younger kids. They also offer classes for older kids and tweens in a variety of different styles.

FAMILY YOGA

Yogi Beans @ HOME offers FAMILY YOGA twice a week via online classes for kids ages 4-10 years. This is a great option for trying yoga as a family because no experience is necessary. For real. Try basic yoga poses through fun yoga-themed adventures with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration via partner poses and group games. To register for a class, make an online donation (between $3 – $12) and you’ll get a zoom link to join.

YOGA FOR TWEENS

Yogi Beans’ offers TWEEN YOGA CLASSES for kids age 9-12 that explores poses a little more complicated and content way more ‘cool’ than your average kids yoga however, no prior yoga experience is required. In other words, this class is appropriate for those heading into their teen years, or that have the attitude of a teen;). To register for a class, make an online donation (between $3 – $12) and you’ll get a zoom link to join.

January 14, 2018May 21, 2020

Outdoor Activities With Kids

Looking for some outdoor activities with kids in Cincinnati? Here are some of my favorites. These adventures will burn energy, make memories and help your family stay busy.

BEYOND HIKING WITH KIDS

Depending on your child’s ages, hiking might look more like a stroll with lots of stops. 😉 So, I like to have ideas of what to do once you find the right hiking spot. Speaking of the right spot, be sure to check out my favorite Cincinnati Hiking Trails with Kids.

The kids love to collect treasures as we hike and keep them in a kids gardening bag or look the part and hide treasures in the pockets of their hiking vests. But, as my oldest daughter and self-proclaimed nature expert says, nature stays in nature. So after we collect, we return before we leave. No one seems to fight me on this because I tell them BEFORE we collect and they make the connection that nature

Explore nature with various scavenger hunts. We love these:
NATURE COLOR WHEEL
NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT WITH PICTURES – good for non-readers
ALL ABOUT BIRDS SCAVENGER HUNT
LIFE AT THE POND SCAVENGER HUNT – good for non-readers
NATURE BINGO CARDS – good for non-readers

Don’t forget to bring a clipboard and pencil.

“Playing together in nature is as much about us as it is about the child. Children get to celebrate and be themselves, while we are reminded of our inner child – the essence of who we are.”

Nicolette Sowder

Adventure Beyond the Hike

There are plenty of outdoor adventures in Cincinnati worth exploring. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, you can choose your own adventure. My favorite outdoor adventures include:

The driving range to hit golf balls with the family.
Frisbee golf, also known as disc golf to some, is a great adventure to try as a family. Find a Disc Golf Course in Cincinnati.
Putt-putt golf courses at the local parks. They are nothing fancy, but a great way to work on your putting skills for the real course!
Fishing with the family is fun for ages 4+. I have found that kids younger than that don’t have much patience for it.
Paved trails in Cincinnati
Biking trails in Cincinnati

January 13, 2018May 8, 2020

Frisbee Golf with Kids

Have you ever played frisbee golf with kids? If you’re fancy, you call it disc golf ;). It’s surprisingly fun, but can be a bit frustrating unless you are willing to laugh and not take yourself too seriously.

Most Cincinnati courses are 9 holes and its just like regular golf except you throw your frisbee from a ‘tee area’ toward a basket. As is true with golf, don’t expect to get a hole in one. Throw the frisbee to get close to the basket, then try to land it in the basket. Tally the number of throws, lowest score wins. Check out the official rules for disc golf here.

Disc Golf Courses in Cincinnati

Want to try out disc golf with the family? BYOD – bring your own disc – and head to one of these courses in Cincinnati.

Johnson Hills Park – 7950 Bridle Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45244
Woodland Mound – 8250 Old Kellogg Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45255
Burnet Woods Disc Golf – 3251 Brookline Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Mt. Airy Forest Disc Golf Course – 4800 Lodge Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Winton Woods Disc Golf Course – 10248 Mc Kelvey Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231

Disc Golf Gear

Need gear? Buy the Disc Golf Set for Beginners before you invest in the fancy stuff. A regular old frisbee works too, but it’s easier to play if you have the right gear.

If you like frisbee golf, you may want to grab Kan Jam for backyard fun! It’s a similar concept and easy to store.

Need more outdoor adventure ideas? Check out my guide to outdoor activities with kids in Cincinnati.

January 12, 2018April 16, 2021

Hiking With Kids in Cincinnati

Kid friendly Hiking trails in cincinnati

You can find plenty of places to go hiking with kids in Cincinnati in many parks all over the city. While hiking with the younger kids might be more like creekin’ or hunting for nature treasures, here are my favorite places to hike with kids in Cincinnati. Be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.

Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's East Side

Ault Park – 5090 Observatory Ave, Mt. Lookout 45208
There are 9 hiking trails at Ault Park, but our favorites for smaller legs are The Kids Tree Trail (with Brook Trail added) and Tree Trail. The Kids Tree Trail is super easy and short, but you can add on the Brook Trail to make it more of an adventure including crossing a stream. Note, the start of the Brook Trail is pretty steep but it levels out after that. You’ll find a great path deep into the woods and a stream to cross before turning around. Tree Trail is 0.7 miles with access from the service road off Observatory Circle near Ault Pavilion. This is great for more of a true hike, but might still be tough for the little legs. So, bring a backpack for the little one if you have it.

California Woods – 5400 Kellogg Avenue California, OH 45228
A great place to go creekin’! Park in the lot near the main house/office and you can explore the expansive creek. There’s a spot to the right of the metal bridge that offers natural clay kids can find and sculpt with. Trails are great, but they can get pretty steep for little legs since it lies right by the river bed.

Withrow Nature Preserve – 7075 Five Mile Rd Anderson Township 45230
We love this trail because it’s a pretty flat loop with a short, steep start. This is a great trail for trail runs for tweens and adults. Tons of great uprooted trees and other unique discoveries. And a great place to bring the dogs for a hike!

Johnson Hills Park – 7950 Bridle Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
The full, wooded trail is 2.1 miles with some fairly steep parts, but my 4 year old had no problem. You can also take a shortcut on the trail and and just do one side or the other. We like to head to the right from the parking lot and do that loop part of the trail for a wooded, but less steep climb. Dogs are welcomed. You can find the Johnson Hills trail map here. Be sure to check out the photo scavenger hunt at Johnson Hills Park and other self guided activities for nature hunts without the big hikes. BONUS: They have a great disc golf course here that would be perfect after a hike!

Cincinnati Nature Center – 4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford, OH 45150
Rowe Woods at the Cincinnati Nature Center is an amazing place to hike and adventure with kids. There is an admission to enter ($9.00 Adults, $4.00 kids 4-12, Free for kids 3 & under, $2.00 Dogs. They sell yearly passes for very reasonable prices and they have some of the best nature events and kids camps in the entire city. For all the details, see my 10+ favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center.

French Park Short Loop Trail – 3012 Section Rd. Amberley Village 45237
1.2 miles along a creek, so bring the boots and find treasures to play with!

Avon Woods Nature Center and Preserve – 4235 Paddock Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45229
Great moderate hiking here with rolling hill trails and a stream.

Otto Armleder Park – 5057 Wooster Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45226
This is not your typical nature hike. There is a great paved path for walking or riding bikes that leads to the Armleder-Lunken Connector trail. That trail runs along the Little Miami river to Lunken trails for even more exploring. The path is flat for the little legs!

Woodland Mound Park – 8250 Old Kellogg Rd, Anderson Township
2 pretty easy nature trails which are both less than a mile. This would be fun to do before or after playing disc golf with the family.

Sharon Woods – 11450 Lebanon Road Sharonville, OH 45241
There is a great, flat hike out and back wooded trail called the Gorge Trail with places to sit and view the waterfall. At the end of the trail, you can climb down the steps at the dam for more fun and adventure. There is also a 2.6-mile paved trail around the lake called the shared use trail and a 1.0-mile fitness trail with exercise challenges along the way.

Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's West Side

Caldwell Nature Preserve – 430 West North Bend Rd Carthage 45216
3.5 miles of nature trails with a level-paved trail that makes it possible for wheelchair users to go into the woods. Also a great option for when we’ve seen alot of rain and you want to avoid the mud!

Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve – 3455 Poole Rd, Colerain Township, OH 45251
The Pin Oak trail is easy, less than a mile and offers the trifecta of trails. A wooded trail, open land to explore and a creek. Plenty to discover.

Mt. Airy Forest – 5083 Colerain Ave Westside 45223
3 great hiking trails for families but the main attraction is ‘everybody’s tree house’, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse.

Miami Whitewater Forest Trails – 10245 Winton Road Winton Woods 45231
There are 4 nature trails that are moderate level with all of them being 1.5 miles or less. The Oakleaf trails seems to be the most popular for families with a stroll past the river.

Creekin' Adventures with Kids in Cincinnati

If you’re looking for more creekin’ adventures or hunting for nature treasures be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.