This article appears in our April 2016 issue of Cincinnati Parent Magazine. Flip through it here or pick up a copy today at your local Whole Foods or Kroger store, YMCA, public library or bookstore.
Are sports not really your kid’s thing? No worries – plenty of fun activities exist in the Cincinnati area for those whose interests and talents lie elsewhere. Here are few ideas your child can get excited about.
Photography Class
Got a camera-crazy kid at home? Dodd Camera is a great place to “develop” that passion. Students can register for one-on-one tutoring lessons or join one of the group sessions, including Sports and Action or Portrait Photography. Get the details at www.doddcamera.com.
Theatre Class
Has your child caught the acting bug? Budding thespians desperately in need of a stage will surely enjoy acting classes at The Children’s Theatre of Mason. Young actors, ages 5-7, will learn about acting through improvisation and games. Other classes offered include Beginning Acting, Intermediate Acting, and How to be Triple Threat. Register at www.childrenstheatreofmason.com. The Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg also offers both vocal and theatre classes for kids too. Visit www.cpamburg.com for more information.
LEGO Club
For kids with a good dose of imagination and a love for all things LEGO, the LEGO Club Makerspace at the Norwood Library is a cool place to build. Young LEGO fans work together to design their very own creations. For teens, LEGO Mindstorms is a Deer Park Library program that allows kids ages 12 to 18 to create and program robots with LEGO Mindstorms kits. Registration is necessary for this event, so le-go and visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org to find out more!
Yoga with Pooja
A healthy alternative to a competitive sport is the calming art of yoga. Kids First Sports Center offers Kid Yoga with Pooja, classes that nurture a whole child approach, focusing on physical, psychological and social development. Yoga can help students with flexibility and gross and fine motor development, while also teaching relaxation techniques. Choose from a variety of options, including Mommy and Baby, Little Yogis and Tweens and Teens Yoga. Namaste your way to www.KidsFirstSports.com.
Book Club
Give those bibliophiles a place to listen to their favorite story or share their latest fiction adventure with Book Buddies at the Corryville Library. Kids grades K-6 are invited to read along with Miss Megan. Tales to Tails is another book club at the Main Library where kids can read aloud to a certified therapy dog. And for the avid teen reader, Between the Pages Book Club, at the Wyoming Library branch provides a hangout for young adults to read some of the newest YA literature. For dates and times, check out www.cincinnatilibrary.org.
Fossils and Geology Class
For the rock collector and fossil enthusiast, the Caldwell Nature Center’s Fossils and Geology Class is the perfect place to explore a rockin’ hobby. Preschool through 8th grade students are invited to learn about fossils as they take an exploratory creek hike in search of some local remnants. Grades 1 and older will also check out geologic processes, including rock formations and soil types that have shaped Cincinnati’s past and present. Rock on and learn more at www.cincinnatiparks.com.
Volunteer at the Farm
Get your nature lover to Gorman Heritage Farm to take advantage of educational and social volunteer opportunities for all ages. This working farm, located minutes from downtown Cincinnati, offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a family farm in its natural setting. Children under the age of 16 are asked to be accompanied by an adult when volunteering. Visit www.gormanfarm.org to learn about their different volunteer opportunities.
Leaders Club
Have a natural born leader? The Leaders Club at the YMCA is a great place to polish those skills. This program helps to motivate tweens and teens to become responsible community servants. Leaders-in-training learn about effective communication, group dynamics of leadership, confidence building and more. The Leaders Club meets at both the M.E. Lyons and R.C. Durr locations. For more information, check out www.cincinnatiymca.org.
Help your child find an interest that suits them – and you may find a new one too! Have fun exploring the many fun, exciting and creative endeavors just waiting to be discovered.
Lauren Lawson is a freelance writer passionate about all things parent-related. A transplant from Buffalo, New York, she now happily resides in the Cincinnati area with her husband and two young boys.
Watch for more of Lauren’s work in upcoming issues of Indy’s Child Parenting, Cincinnati Parent and Dayton Parent Magazines.
