Favorite "Go To" Recipes of our Members!

The following recipes are some of our member's favorite "go to" recipes for the short notice entertaining we have all come up against. These recipes will help you pull together something quick and yummy, just in time!

Recipe #1

Chicken Dip:
1 can chicken breast
ranch dressing (as much as desired)

mash together with a fork, and serve with crackers. (ok, it may sound too easy, but this stuff is very good, and very addicting!!)

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Recipe #2

Vegetable Dip
There is a "Vegetable Dip" Knorr package that you can buy in the store that has a great spinach dip recipe on the back. I've made it many times, and it is ALWAYS a huge hit!!
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Recipe #4

Pasta Casserole
Ingredients:
Ground beef (or ground turkey)
2 cans of cream of mushroom
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 jar or less of Prego or some marinara sauce
1 box of penne, ziti or other pasta
Fresh tomatoes if you have them, sliced and diced (but not necessary)
spinach (frozen)

Brown the meat
Cook the pasta
Put it all in a casserole dish and cook for 30 minutes covered. Uncover and add cheese. Cook at 350 for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Lately I've been putting it all in a skillet instead of the oven so as not to heat the house. Or you could even put it in bowls and stick in microwave if you want to make a small meal while putting the rest in the fridge or freezer. Easy meal. I bring this one when friends have babies etc. They always love it.

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Recipe #4

Fruit Pizza
You need sugar cookie mix, cool whip, and any kind of fruit.
Roll the dough out on a cookie sheet and bake as directed. Let cool, top with cool whip and then add the fruit.

It's sooooooo easy and it only takes 20 min or so. People actually get upset when I don't make it.
(Variation -- instead of cool whip use 1 pkg. of cream cheese, and add 1/2 cup sugar. Dee-lish!)

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Recipe #5

Grilled baked potatoes
peel a potato slice it thick but not all the way through stuff the slices with small onion slices
smother in your favorite salad dressing-we used creamy Italian. Wrap in foil grill for about an hour

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Recipe #6

Pasta Salad
Cook Rotini, Penne or your fave pasta
Let it chill.
Add sliced green onions, cherry tomatoes (or sliced), feta cheese, desired amount of olive oil and salt to taste.
It's an easy recipe and great for Summer Picnics!!!

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Do you have a favorite picnic recipe? Please add it to the comments below or email mailto:ccolumbusmultiples@gmail.com. Thanks!

Saving Money Via Cloth Diapers

One Member Asked: We'd like to save money in the diaper department. How do we go about using cloth diapers? Where do we start?

Here are the answers we received from fellow members:

We use cloth diapers and have from the start. We use BG AIO 3.0 They are great. We still use disposables when we travel, but 88% of the time, we are cloth. People will scoff at your decision, but it really is a huge financial relief. It is an investment at first (we have 42 diapers), but lots of people got them for us as gifts, so that helps, too.

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I cloth diaper my twins. I also did it for cost reasons. I know that the prefolds are the most cost efficient, but it was too many steps for us. What we did was get the One Size Pocket diapers so that we won't need to buy different sizes as the babies grow. At first they are bulky, but the babies aren't mobile at that point anyway. I think most people like snaps better than velcro for several reasons. They look newer longer, and they are harder for babies to take off when they get to the age where they want to be naked.
For what it's worth, I like these brands in the following order:

1. Blueberry (expensive, but awesome. I got mine during a sale of last years colors/patterns so they were super cheap. Not sure I'd pay full price for them)
2. Haute Pockets (bulky, but they hold a lot)
3. Happy Heiney (only liked them once I figured out I needed to add a hemp or bamboo doubler to add more absorbency)
4. Bum Genius
5. Fuzzi Bunz
   

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We use cloth and I love it! First do some research and decide what kind of diapers u like- prefolds, all-in-ones, etc. I picked FuzziBunz because a good friend used them and highly recommended them. Plus I liked how they looked. If I had to do it all over again I would pick an AIO. I really like the FuzziBunz but I spend a lot of time assembling them.
Good luck!

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Mothering Magazine has a lot of great information on cloth diapering. They're online at http://www.mothering.com/. I think u can purchase a pamphlet for a couple bucks compiling all their info on diapering.

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I would recommend cloth diapers around 3 months. When they are really little, they poop 5-10 times/day. It is just too much work esp. w/ twins.

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Safemama.com has a great comparison/review of cloth diaper brands - check it out here.

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I bought a lot of cloth diapering gear before the twins came, but it ultimately didn't work out for us. Here's my advice based on my experience:

1 - make sure your caregiver (if you use one) is willing to use cloth and follow your laundry instructions 

2 - don't pre-buy a bunch of "one-size" diapers (I went with BumGenius) just yet. it will look bulky and ridiculous on a tiny baby. Those can wait until they're 6 months or so. Get something meant for really small babies. Bumgenius has an all-in-one that comes in XS.

3 - if you're open to it, consider ebay and craigslist. I sold mine that way (barely used) and it's a great way to save money

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I wanted to do cloth at first too but decided against it after doing research. They are VERY expensive and you have to keep buying larger sizes! It is not like years ago when they were much cheaper than disposables. You also have to figure in the cost of detergent & electricity.

 

Another factor is TIME. Such a precious commodity when you have twin babies! Here is an example of babies X2... we started out breast feeding, the babies had some trouble since they were preemies, so I had to pump & suplement w/ formula. 16 bottles a day + pump equipment to wash & sterilize! It was NUTS! Most days were so busy that I often didn't get a chance to pump until 6PM!

 

It was/is often overwhelming. The best advice I could give is to PRIORITIZE and give yourself LOTS of grace! Figure out what is most essential b/c that is about all you'll have time for!

 

If cost is the major determining factor there are lots of ways to cut costs. I bought in bulk from "diapers.com" for a while. "Diapers.com" has ways for you to earn credit toward diapers via referrals. Also contact diaper companies for twin deals and free coupons. I've also heard of "bulkdiapers.com". I have found diapers that I love that I can get more cost effectively from Target (their generic brand).

 

If you go the cloth route, try buying diapers second hand on-line also making your own detergent is very quick, easy & CHEAP!

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i am expecting twins in October and cloth diapered my 2 1/2 year old son from 6 months on and plan to do the same with the twins. There are so many options out there it is really hard to say what would be best for you and your family. The most economical way would be to use prefolds which are the kind your grandma used that are rectangular and have a thicker area in the middle and waterproof diaper covers. It's really easy, just fold the prefold into thirds and place it into the cover and then the cover goes on with velcro like a disposable would. You could do that for about $300 birth to potty training for the two of them. Of course there are many many other options out there as well, some that may be easier for you. Check out diaperpin.com for info and diaper brand reviews and diaperswappers.com is an online message board where you can ask question and buy/sell used diapers. I have gotten a lot off of diaper swappers and been very pleased.
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Any other advice/experience on the subject? Please let us know!

More on pool safety

Adding to our post yesterday on managing young twins at the pool, here is an expert interview that we found on the Multiples and More blog. This is more on pool safety overall and we felt it was worth sharing with all of our moms.

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Dr. Julie Gilchrist a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Injury Center’s Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention answered the following questions from the Multiples and More moderators.


What are some common mistakes parents make when it comes to pool safety?

Parents may mistakenly believe that supervision is enough to keep their young children out of a pool when they are not expected to be there. Parents may underestimate the mobility of their children. Barriers, such as four-sided pool fencing, can help prevent children from gaining unintended access to the pool area from the house without the caregivers’ awareness. Most young children who drowned in residential pools had been out of sight less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

Also, parents may think that they will hear if a child is having trouble in the water. But children most commonly drown quickly and quietly. Many drown in the midst of a pool party with many people around. If you are hosting a gathering where children may have access to the pool, designate one adult to have eyes on the pool activities at all times. Rotating the responsibility will ensure everyone can enjoy the other activities. Just make sure everyone knows who is the ‘water watcher’ – don’t assume!


I've heard of pool alarms (where it alerts parents that someone is in the pool), do you feel these are effective to preventing accidents?

The most effective means to reduce drowning in residential pools is to prevent access to the water by installing four-sided fences with self-closing, self-latching gates. If the house forms a side of the barrier, using a power safety cover over the pool will also prevent access to the water. Pool alarms which alert the home owner when someone enters the pool can be an additional layer of protection but is not a substitute for physical barriers such as fencing and weight-bearing safety covers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission evaluated some pool alarms and their report is available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/alarm.pdf.


At what age would you recommend a child to take swim lessons?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC both believe that all children should learn to be safe in and around the water. Swimming is more than just a recreational activity (although it is an exceptional form of exercise); it is a valuable, potentially lifesaving skill. Recent studies suggest that formal swimming lessons may be beneficial even among preschool aged children. We suggest that parents consider the child’s potential exposure to water (i.e., whether they ever have access to pools, ponds, or other water hazards) and developmental readiness for lessons in consultation with their pediatrician to determine the appropriate time to start lessons. However, even with swim lessons, we caution parents to resist any false sense of security. No child is drown proof. Every child regardless of swim training should be appropriately protected from unintended access to the water with four-sided isolation pool fencing and additional adjunctive barriers as appropriate (door locks/alarms, pool alarms or weight bearing pool covers).
Additionally, when in the water, all children should be appropriately supervised at all times regardless of their participation in swimming classes.


Besides fences and swim lessons, what other tips do you have to keep the pool safe?

I encourage parents and caregivers to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could make a difference in someone's life.
What tips do you have for pool safety at a community pool, or a friend/family home?
In any venue, even if there is a lifeguard, children should be supervised by a parent or caregiver. In crowded pools, lifeguards often don’t see a child in trouble until another patron alerts them. Parents should carefully watch their children at any aquatic venue they visit.

Additionally, parents should be aware of some preventable health risks associated with aquatic activities.

1. Recreational water illness - ingesting contaminated pool water from ill children or young children not yet toilet trained; prevention includes appropriate chemicals to treat and behavior to prevent contamination.
2. Water intoxication - ingestion of large amounts of water by very young children can dilute the blood and lead to seizures; do not forcibly dunk children and watch for excessive swallowing of water.
3. Hypothermia – reduction of body temperature in cool water; very young children may not be able to maintain their body temperature in water below 90 degrees. Body heat dissipates 30 times faster in water than air and small children have a large body surface area relative to their mass and are affected more quickly.
4. Psychological stress from negative experiences in or around the water; these can lead to a life-long fear or avoidance of the water.

Managing young twins at the pool

The pools are opening for the season - summer is here! With that, comes some concerns about safety and managing young children around water, especially twins. Below is advice given to a club mom by other CMOTC moms on managing young twins and an older child at the pool.

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Question from CMOTC mom:

I have 18 month old twins. Summer is coming and I would really like to be able to take them swimming during the day. We have a pool available to us that is at 0 depth which is great. However, with my 6 year old swimming around also, my head would need another set of eyes for sure. I am just worried a lot about swimming with my new walkers near water. Well truthfully many places scare me with my new walkers but especially water! Anyway, I am thinking of doing swim vests? Pricey?? Worth it?? Other suggestions?? So is this possible to do alone?? Has anyone given this a go??

Advice from CMOTC moms:

This will be my first year swimming with my 18 month twins and 2 1/2 year old! I purchased two baby boats. The vests help when they are learning to swim but don't fully support them enough to keep them floating. One boat I found @ Once Upon A Child for $10. The other I
found on craigslist for $5. Just make sure they are wide around so they won't tip over. Good luck!

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We used Spring Floats with ours a lot. They really seemed to like them. Here is what they look like: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Spring-Float-Canopy-Swimways/dp/B000C9DYPM
I know you can find them around cheaper than this though. I think I found them at Kohl's, Target and Meijer. They work well because they get most of their bodies in the water and there is also a canopy (which can be removed) to keep some direct sun off of them. They are easy for you to maneuver too :)

Good luck! I was scared to take mine near water by myself too once they
were walking but this helped!

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We bought swim vest's at Costco, they were coast guard approved and kept them floating just in case. The vest's are for jetski's, or at least that's how they were marketed on the packaging. We then bought them the next size up, this year they will be four and we have signed them up for swim class. Before that it's best to get them use to the water, try to show them some of the basics, splashing their face so they won't be afraid, and yes sometimes letting them (when supervised) swim without it so they realize they are not super baby compared to the water. Also consider getting a mother's helper too, someone young will have fun playing with your 6 year old.

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I don't have any major revelations to share with you but I do want to let you know I did this a few times last summer with my four boys so it is manageable. Last year my boys were 6, 3, and the twins were 20 months. We get a membership to Mingo pool in Delaware (where we live) so I never felt like I had to go and stay all day to make it worth our money. When we'd leave the house, I'd tell my 6 and 3 yr old that we were probably going to only stay for 2 rest periods (~1.5 hrs) and that my older son was not allowed to swim in the deeper pools. Mingo Pool has a 0 depth pool too but it joins into three other swim areas the deepest being ~ 4ft. He was allowed in that part b/c he knows how to swim enough to get around and I felt comfortable that I was able to keep an eye on him. Then they have a separate lap pool and a separate diving well. If one of his friends were there, I would let him go in the lap pool if they stayed together. My 3 year old was pretty good about sticking close to me or within the areas I could see him and where he could reach the bottom. He seemed to know his swimming limitations better than the twins. So, I just stuck around with the twins. We brought a few toys to sit and play with in a shallow area.

They loved using paint brushes (the big ones you use to paint walls with) to "brush" the sidewalk with water and I'd throw one or two of those squishy water balls around the pool for them to get and bring back. Mingo also has a little water slide in the shallow pool (~1 - 2ft water) and
fountains along the pool entry so they kept busy with those as well.

I will admit I was usually ready to nap along with them when we got home but we all love the pool so I didn't want to just sit at home every summer day wishing we were there. We had a "blow-up" rectangular pool set up in our backyard too so if they wanted to swim more or I didn't have the energy to take them to Mingo, they could just play in there. We did also skip the day trip and go in the evenings quite a bit when my husband could come along and help supervise. There were also certain days or hours that daycare centers or summer camps were there and I tried to avoid those times. It was much easier to keep everyone in check without the extra crowds.

Regarding the vests, I believe our pool has a restriction against flotation devices which is why I didn't use them. If I could have, I probably would have invested in them just so I would feel a little less stressed if one of them wandered into the deeper water. Hope this helps and feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

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What worked for me was a one piece suite that had a floatation ring around the middle. When they jumped in the ring would move to under the armpits as the material was stretch fabric. It kept the kids afloat if they wandered or jumped in the deep end. My twins had no fear of water. We used them probably for 3 years so for us it was a wise investment. It was really worth the money to keep sanity. My kids were slow growers so they lasted a long time. I find the life vests were too bulky for the kids to move around much. While what we used was not approved for boating it did keep them floating and got them swimming.

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The only recommendations I have is that for the twins to get the life jackets with "pillows" on the back of the neck because it is said that young children will give up as far as holding their heads up, and the "pillows" will do that for them if they get in a serious situation. I learned this from my sister who does fund-raisers for parents trying to get the word out on how on water safety (after their son died). But, also, don't get the kind with removable internal pads. They come out too easily.

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Any other advice on swim gear and managing kids at the pool? Please share!

Teeth!

CMOTC mom Kathleen P. shares this great resource she found on preparing your child for the dentist, teaching them how to brush their teeth properly, children's books about dental care and website resources. Also included is a very interesting timeline on teeth.

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Preparing your Child for an Oral Checkup

The dental office might seem like a frightening place to most children, but with the help of the following tips, both children and parents can enjoy the trip to the dental hygienist and Dentist.

• Take the child with you when you have your routine cleaning, so that they may see exactly what occurs at the appointment.


• Schedule visits to the dental hygienist at a time when your child is likely to be well rested and cooperative.


• Never mention the words “hurt” or “pain” around your child when discussing an oral health visit. Saying “it won’t hurt” instills the possibility of pain into your child’s thought process.


• Do not discuss your own negative experiences in your child’s hearing range.


• Allow and encourage your child to discuss any fear he or she might have about oral health visits.

For more information about proper oral health care, as well as brushing and-flossing instructions, please talk to your registered dental hygienist; visit the ADHA Web site, at http://www.adha.org/.


Brushing teeth

Daily brushing keeps the teeth clean, stimulates the gums and keeps the gums firm. Children should brush their teeth immediately after eating, to remove food particles. If a person cannot brush his teeth after eating, they should rinse their mouth thoroughly with water. Cavities are holes caused by decay in teeth. Teeth tend to decay on surfaces that touch because it is difficult to clean between teeth with a toothbrush. Thin, strong thread called dental floss is used to clean between the teeth.

Describing to a child how to brush:

1. Hold the brush with the bristles pointing toward the gums.


2. Move the brush so it sweeps over the gums and teeth toward the biting surfaces.


3. Brush the teeth of each jaw separately - the upper teeth downward, the lower teeth upward.


4. Use a scrubbing circular motion to clean the chewing surfaces.


5. Brush the inner as well as out surfaces.


6. Brush each area at least 10 times.

Websites resources:
http://www.oralb.com/
http://www.colgate.com/
http://www.ada.org/
Kid's Health website - kid's pages on dental care
Teeth brushing behavior charts

Books for Children About Dental Care

A Visit to the Dentist (Little Bill) by Eleanor Fremont, Andy Mastrocinque (Illustrator)

Brush Your Teeth Please by Leslie McGuire, Jean Pidgeon (Illustrator)

Dear Tooth Fairy by Alan Durant, Vanessa Cabban (Illustrator)

How Many Teeth? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Paul Showers, True Kelley (Illustrator)

Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate

Open Wide : Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller

The Night Before the Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad Books) by Natasha Wing, Barbara Johansen Newman (Illustrator)

The Story of the Tooth Fairy by Tom Paxton, Robert Sauber

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

What Do the Fairies Do With All Those Teeth? by Michel Luppens, Phillipe Beha (Illustrator)

Teeth: the early years

In utero: First Trimester At around 6or 7 weeks the Fetus forms a band of tissue called the dental lamina, which leads to tooth buds.

Second Trimester By week 20, the baby teeth buds are in place, and a second set of buds-gums are so firm they deliver a sort of bite-lite.

At birth: Each tooth is formed, though they remain underground. Still, one in every 2,000 babies is born with a tooth showing, call a natal tooth.

6 to 8 months The first tooth: It’s nearly always a bottom tooth from one (the lower central incisor). Baby teeth are also call deciduous teeth because they fall out.

8-12 months The top front teeth (upper central incisors) join the party. On average, a girl’s teeth appear sooner than a boy’s teeth.

9-13 months No w come the top lateral incisors (which bookend the two front teeth).

10-16 months The bottom lateral incisors crop up. You child has a heedful of eight teeth.

13-19 months The first molars grow in, on top and bottom.

16-22 months The pointer canine teeth surface, and the baby vampire jokes begin.

25-33 months The biggest baby teeth, the second molars, rise way in the back, and the full quota of 20 baby teeth is reached.

3 years First trip to Dentist for cleaning and check up. Sometimes it’s best to find a pediatric dentist.

4 years They’re all in and the gaps in their teeth help the adult teeth grow in evenly.

6-7 years The first tooth falls out. It’s usually the lower central incisor, the fist to appear in babyhood. Baby teeth don’t actually fall out, they are pushed out. The adult tooth below presses so hard on the baby tooth above that the baby tooth’s roots dissolve and its crown has nothing to tie it down. Fairies everywhere flex their wings.

7-8 years Baby teeth begin their departure in a mostly first hire/first fired order, starting in the middle and edging out to the nearest neighbors.

9-13 years As baby teeth go, in comes comically large replacements. Eight brand new ones, (premolars and second premolars) take up all the extra room in you big kid’s mouth.

14-23 years Not it’s a 28-tooth holding pattern until you child hits their early 20s and their third molars, a.k.a. wisdom teeth, come in.

The epic journey from 20 baby teeth to 32 adult teeth is over.

Ways for families to connect with nature...

It has been said that our children are the first generation in America's history to grow up indoors, in most cases due to them not living in areas with ready access to the natural environment. This lack of nature has been dubbed "nature deficit disorder." Whether it's the lack of easy access to nature or our hurried over-booked lifestyles or even all the electronic devices that provoke such interest, children today are lacking the opportunities to explore the outdoor world, observe birds, insects and animals in their natural habitats, or just watch clouds float through the treetops.

With summer almost here and the end of school near, it is the perfect opportunity to unplug from everything scheduled and electronic and plug into nature. Here are some ideas of great things to do!

Fun projects to do with your children:

Create a bird nest helper (found on zrecommends.com) using scraps of various items which our feathered friends can use to build their nests.

Materials you need:

• Any combination of the following: scraps of fabric, yarn, string and ribbon cut into short strips (3-4 inches in length should be safe), dried grass, Spanish moss, dog or human hair, pine needles, feathers and thin twigs.
• A mesh bag from oranges (or something similar).

Cut the bag on the sides to allow easy access for the birds. Stuff whatever materials from the above list into the bag and hang on a tree. Viola - instant nesting materials for local birds!

Make Pine cone Bird Feeder.

Materials you need:

• Pine cones (big ones work best) - you and your children can go on a fun mission to find pine cones in your backyard or local park (creating a double bonus on connecting with nature).
• Peanut butter *
• Birdseed
• String
• Optional - High-energy bird foods such as dried fruit (cut in small pieces), chopped nuts, sunflower seeds or millet

Set out parchment paper or a plate to work on - it's a messy fun project. Put birdseed (if you are using any of the optional ingredients, put these in as well) in a large bowl or pie pan. Tie the string onto the the larger end of the pine cone. Spread peanut butter on the pine cone. Roll peanut butter covered pine cone in the birdseed until well covered. Suspend from a tree branch where you can watch the birds.

This would be a perfect project to do outside, since it's so messy, and get some more outdoor time. Also, keep a bird book (like the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds) inside so you and your children can look up the birds you see eating from your feeder.

* During the colder months, you can also use a mixture of vegetable shortening and oatmeal or corn meal

Create a wildlife friendly garden with your children in your backyard. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) tells you how and even has a certified wildlife habitat program allowing you to certify your back yard! Check it out here.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt together. Check out the scavenger hunt list that NWF created here.

20 Ways for Families to Connect with Nature from Family Connections On-line (special thanks to CMOTC MOM Mary Lynn P. for sharing this great reference with us):

• Go outdoors! Walk, run or hike in Central Ohio's beautiful parks and preserves. Walk together as a family on full moon nights and listen to the sounds of birds, insects and other nighttime sounds.
• Plant native plants, especially the kind that bees, butterflies and birds like.
• Build a birdhouse or bat house.
• Put out a bowl of water for a birdbath, and change the water regularly.
• Make a leaf collection.
• Camp in the backyard. Make or buy a tent and leave it up all summer.
• Become a “cloudspotter.” Learn about all the types of clouds and what they mean for our weather.
• Get outside every day – rain or shine. Jumping in puddles is important work.
• Plant a food garden. Don't have space in your yard for a garden? Use big pots to plant tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, herbs, zucinni, pumpkin, squash, etc. - most things can grow just well in a pot.
• Read books outside. The light is good, and you will breathe fresh air!
• Collect stones. Young children are eager to find interesting stones and fossils.
• Start a nature club, and plan outings, campouts and nature walks together.
• Identify unused areas or lots in your neighborhood that can be used safely as a wilderness area or adventure playground.
• Use recycled materials – cardboard boxes, tins, buckets or bottles, or blocks, boards, milk crates, lengths of bamboo and logs for outdoor construction play.
• Grow pumpkins and gourds and plant bulbs near play areas. Children are fascinated by the wonderful and unexpected surprise of blossoms and fruit.
• Set up obstacle courses to jump over, go around and under. Roll down hills.
• Learn to identify birds, insects, trees and plants in Central Ohio. Keep a nature journal of all you have spotted.
• Vacation at State Parks, go tent camping or rent a cabin.
• Check out natural history guides from the library. They have them for young children, too.
• Join groups like Campfire USA, Scouts, Sierra Club, Audubon and others that promote caring for the environment and wildlife. Check into making your backyard a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Great book for parents:

Richard Louv's book titled Last Child in the Woods that talks about the now dubbed "nature deficit disorder," how it came about, why it's important and what you can do to reconnect.

On his website, he lists a few of the nature actives for children and families that were in his book. You can look at that list here.

CMOTC MOMs - what's your family's favorite way to connect with nature? Please share!

More Fun With Kids!

The Works- http://www.attheworks.org/
This is similar to Cosi but on a much smaller scale. The cool thing about The Works is that a family membership is only $60. With this membership you are able to get into Cosi and thousands of other science museums around the country and several other countries. We have used it for ones in Cleveland, Nashville, Dayton and Helena, Montana. We have paid for the membership several times over with getting in free at all the different museums.

Columbus Metro Library-
The downtown branch has several great activities through the summer.

Alum Creek State Park
Many great areas to go exploring, fishing, boat rentals and the beach. I have found that this beach gets a little crowded for us, but we have usually been there on the weekend. It may not be bad during the week.

Columbus Museum of Art -
Admission is free on Thursdays.

Discover Ohio- http://www.discoverohio.com/
The website is filled with lots to things to do. For instance I found that this weekend in Cincinnati there is an exhibit on butterflies of Japan down in Cincinnati. They will also send you a free packet with tons of info and maps.

Rising Park -Lancaster, OH
We go here often. My parents moved down here about 2 years ago. The city has completely redone the playground and it is wonderful and picnic areas. My boys could play here for hours. There is also a pond for fishing, tennis courts, basketball, and horse shoes. And don't forget about the hike to the top of Mount Pleasant. Just a word of advice. This hike is really steep and there are very limited hand rails when you get to the top. So please watch your children very closely.

Thanks to CMOTC mom Mahala for sharing these fun summertime activities with us!