Caring for Your Heart at Any Age

WORDS BY RACHAEL DUPREE

When it comes to matters of the heart, the outlook for American women is rather grim. We’re talking about heart disease, not romance. The top threat to women’s health, heart disease claims the lives of one in three American women every year, with 90 percent of women having at least one risk factor for developing heart problems. To complicate matters, doctors are just beginning to uncover female-specific risk factors that have often been overlooked. As women, we’re often the caretakers of our families, and as a result, our own health can take a backseat. The good news is that no matter what your age, you can start making lifestyle modifications today to keep your heart healthy.

Heart disease now affects more young people than ever before thanks to the cultural epidemics of obesity and diabetes, but your 20s are a perfect time to start honing in on heart-protective habits. “The younger you start into a healthy lifestyle — staying active, healthy eating, not smoking — that will only percolate as you get older,” says Odayme Quesada, MD, a cardiologist and founder of the new Women’s Heart Center at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.

Learn to Cook: By cooking for yourself, you gain control of what goes into your meals, including more vegetables and lean proteins and less salt and sugar. Quesada recommends looking to the Mediterranean diet for guidance.

Find Exercises You Love: Use your freedom in this stage of life to explore different modes of exercise to make your recommended 150 minutes per week enjoyable. Join a flag-football team, drop in on a hot yoga class, or explore your town by bike.

Know Your Family History: If you don’t already know your parents’ and siblings’ heart history, now is the time to find out.

Emerging research shows that women in their child-bearing years have unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease, so if you haven’t already taken steps to developing a heart-healthy lifestyle, get in gear.

Monitor Your Pregnancy: Gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and pre-term labor increase your risk of heart disease later in life, says Quesada, so you may need regular blood-pressure monitoring or the intervention of a cardiologist if you develop these conditions. Plus, you’ll want to work with your doctor after pregnancy to manage resulting risk factors.

Relieve Your Stress: While the trials of motherhood make it tempting to reach for a glass of wine or binge on Netflix, this is the perfect time to pick up healthy stress-management practices, like meditation or journaling.

Exercise with Your Kids: Busy moms may need to adapt their exercise regime during these years, and that’s OK. Model an active lifestyle for your kids by taking them on a hike at the local metropark or having a dance party in the living room. Or if you need some alone time, sneak in a short high-intensity workout before you pick up the kids from soccer practice.

As women transition to menopause, heart-protective estrogen begins to drop in the body, leaving you at higher risk for heart disease. It’s important to be mindful in these health shifts as you move into your 40s, when early menopause can occur.

Start Annual Checkups: If you don’t already have annual well-visits with your doctor, start getting in the habit. “Knowing your numbers” (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and body mass index) will help identify risk factors and allow you to take necessary preventive measures, Quesada says.

Watch Your Weight: Keeping weight to a heart healthy level (less than 35 inches around the waist) can become more difficult after menopause, and maintaining a healthy diet and moving regularly throughout the day can help.

Avoid Estrogen Products: Synthetic estrogen used to help manage women’s transition to menopause can actually increase risk of heart attack and stroke, Quesada says. Keep use of these products to a minimum or avoid them altogether.

As you age, it’s important to stay on top of your health. Know your own body and research the symptoms of heart attack and stroke in women (visit heart.org for more info), so you can get the help when you need it.

Actively Manage Chronic Conditions: Keep on top of management practices recommended by your doctor for diabetes or high blood pressure to reduce the risk of heart problems.

Report Unusual Symptoms: If you notice something unusual to you, like sleep disturbances or shortness of breath, talk to your doctor as they may point to a larger problem. “Seek care even if you don’t have the classic symptoms,” Quesada says. “You may need a second opinion from someone who specializes in women’s heart diseases.”

Whatever your stage of life, it’s never too late to begin the journey toward a healthier lifestyle. You’ll reap the rewards no matter when you start, and your families will, too.

A Million Dreams Learning Center

New Learning Center now open in Milford, OH! Now Enrolling ages 6 weeks - School Age! We strive to provide an environment, staff, and programs that will enhance and encourage the million dreams of each child, family, and staff member. Through our classroom design, playground design and Christian curriculum, it is this Center’s desire to maintain a joy-filled, peaceful, creative environment for infants and children. We are committed to furnishing such an environment and adding a quality of childcare that is desirable and much needed in our community. • 541 Main Street, Milford OH 45150, Contact: Kate Jordan, Phone: (513) 831-5806, Email: info@amilliondreamslc.org,

The Campus at Kids First

We have FULL DAY Kindergarten! Located inside the nationally acclaimed Kids First Sports Center, The Campus offers the premier early learning experience for children ages 6 weeks through Kindergarten. As the only early learning center in the area that makes physical education a top priority, The Campus at Kids First gives your child an academic edge by integrating a world class physical education (including gymnastics, basketball, yoga and soccer!) curriculum in to the daily schedule, at NO additional cost! Our carefully selected and loving teachers utilize a relevance-based curriculum combined with child-directed play to make learning FUN and start each child on their journey to becoming a life-long learner. • 7900 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249, theCampusKF.com, Phone: (513) 629-KIDS, Email: info@theCampusKF.com

Chai Tots Early Childhood Center

Academic excellence via a unique blend of Jewish and Montessori education offering strong academics, stressing life skills, interpersonal relationship skills and nurturing a love for life-long learning. Individualized curriculum customized for each student, expansive naturally lit rooms, low student ratio. Specials include yoga, music, Hebrew, Spanish, dance, drama, art and Tae Kwon Do. Flexible schedules, before and aftercare, web cams and after-school enrichment available. Transportation available to/from Mason schools. Limited space - now enrolling! • 7587 Central Parke Blvd., Mason, OH 45040, Phone: (513) 234-0600, ChaiTots.com, Ages/ Grades: Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten (6 weeks-6 years), Enrollment: 60

Central Montessori Academy

Authentic Montessori environment, serving toddler through 6th grade. Small class sizes allow each student to progress at an individual pace. Part-time preschool and extended day are available. Our school is a place of discovery, curiosity, respect and enthusiasm. Come take a tour and see for yourself. • 1904 Springdale Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231, Contact: Kristin Patterson, Phone: 513-742-5800, Fax: 513-742-5870, Email: info@ centralmontessoriacademy.com, CentralMontessoriAcademy.com, Grades: Toddler-Grade 6, Enrollment: 100

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School

Children's Meeting House Montessori School has been proudly educating students from preschool through 6th grade using the principles of the Montessori philosophy since 1972. CMH offers a variety of preschool, enrichment and before/after school options to meet each family’s needs. Partner with our devoted staff of experienced and Montessori trained teachers throughout your child’s most developmental years. CMH – where learning happens, naturally. Find out more or schedule a tour on our website. • 927 O’Bannonville Rd, Loveland, OH 45140, Contact: Casey Reed, Director, Phone: 513-683-4757, Email: reed@ cmhschool.com, cmhschool.com, Grades: Preschool - 6th grade, Enrollment: 150

Little Sprouts Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten

Little Sprouts Montessori nurtures the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of children, helping them develop a lifetime love of learning. Our goal is to empower children to discover and hone their strengths as they explore the world. We recognize the importance of individualized education, and maintain a 1:6 ratio. • 7131 Plainfield Road, Deer Park, OH 45236, Contact: Christie Sawyer, Phone: 513-697-9021, Email: csawyer@ leavesoflearning.org, little-sprouts.org, Grades: Preschool & Kindergarten, Enrollment: Families choose mornings two to four days per week (T/TH and/or W/F), and/or afternoon sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.

Mercy Montessori Center

Mercy Montessori is Cincinnati's first Catholic Montessori elementary school and provides students with a personalized education. Mercy offers a sliding scale tuition model, in-school swimming instruction starting at age three, and attracts students from over 60 zip codes. Mercy educates the whole child and develops a strong foundation for learning. • 2335 Grandview Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206, Contact: Amanda Grimm, Admissions Director, Phone: (513) 475-6700 ext. 210, Email: agrimm@ mercymontessori.org, mercymontessori.org, Grades: Preschool - 8th Grade, Enrollment: 296

The New School Montessori

Cincinnati's only school accredited by the American Montessori Society. Centrally located and surrounded by wooded play yards and gardens, students benefit from a nurturing environment where Montessoricredentialed staff support high academic and personal achievement. Full-day, half-day with healthy lunches included in tuition. ISACS and AMS accredited program. • 3 Burton Woods Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45229, Contact: Ceara Comstock, Phone: (513) 281-7999, Email: ceara.c@newschoolmontessori.com, newschool montessori.com, Grades: 3-year-olds through Grade 6, Enrollment: 144

Guardian Angels School

Guardian Angels School provides students in preschool through eighth grade with a faith-filled experience focused on academic excellence, whole child education, and attention to each child’s unique learning needs. As a school, we push all of our students to earn their HALO through being Honest, Accountable, and a Leader to Others. • 6539 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 45230, Contact: Mr. Corey Stoops, Principal, Phone: 513-624-3141, gaschool.org, Grades: Preschool - Grade 8

The Summit Country Day School

Founded in 1890, The Summit serves students from 18 months to Grade 12. Full- and half-day Montessori programs for ages 18 months-age 6 begin the academic journey followed by a college-preparatory program (Grades 1-12). The Summit educates students spiritually, academically, physically, socially and artistically while offering the academic excellence and one-on-one guidance of a top-tier Catholic independent school. • 2161 Grandin Road (Hyde Park), Cincinnati, OH 45208, Phone: 513-871-4700, ext. 261, Email: pearl_e@ summitcds.org, summitcds.org

Linden Grove School

Linden Grove School is a stateaccredited, non-public K-8 school offering a specialized learning environment for students with ASD and related learning needs. Our progressive education program integrates academics, social-emotional learning, and specialized therapies. We partner with families to create a respectful, rewarding and supportive environment, inspiring hope for all and providing each student with the opportunity for personal growth and independence. After-school programs and summer camp are also available for enrolled students. • 4122 Myrtle Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45236, lindengroveschool.org, Phone: (513) 984-2215, headofschool@lindengroveschool.org

Springer School and Center

For nearly 50 years, Springer School and Center has empowered students with learning disabilities to lead successful lives. Springer offers a day school for students ages 6-14 and outreach programs and learning disability resources for students, parents and teachers in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Springer Experience. Success Starts Here. • 2121 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208, Contact: Jill Wieging, Associate Admissions Director, Phone: 513 871-6080 ext. 211, Fax: 513871-6428, Email: jwieging@springer-ld.org, springer-LD.org, Grades: 1 through 8, Enrollment: 200

P.A.C.E. at National Louis University

P.A.C.E. at National Louis University (NLU) is a three-year post-secondary program designed for young adults with multiple intellectual, learning and developmental disabilities ready to thrive in the vibrant city of Chicago! We are one of the leading residential-based programs in the country that provides a unique real world arena for our students to put theory into practice every day. Instruction integrates employment preparation, independent living skills coaching, functional academic courses and social development into a curriculum that actively involves the student in the process and is directly linked to events and activities encountered in daily living. • Phone: (312) 261-3245, Email: epotter3@nl.edu, nl.edu/ paceatnlu; Virtual College Field Trip:

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO COVID-19, THESE EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK TO VERIFY EVENTS ARE STILL BEING HELD AS SCHEDULED BEFORE MAKING PLANS TO ATTEND BY CALLING OR VISITING THE BUSINESS OR EVENT WEBSITE.

THURS 01 Science Live! Mini Show Join one of our educators for some of our bite-sized science demonstrations! From fireballs to levitation, it's a grab bag of fun the whole family will enjoy. [Multiple dates] • Time: 11:30 am, Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, cincymuseum.org

Outdoor Storytime: Family Storytime at Wyoming Village Green Enjoy books, songs and activities, while building literacy skills for children of all ages. Family Storytime will be held off-sight from the Wyoming Library, outside, on The Village Green in Wyoming. Please bring a blanket or chair to sit on. Masks and physical distancing are required. • Time: 1:30-2:00 pm, Location: Wyoming Village Green, cincinnatilibrary.org

FRI 02 Barnyard Bonanza: Pen Pals What’s your favorite farm animal? This farmyard tour includes a variety of our livestock to help you decide! Moo! Registration required. Multiple dates. • Time: 9-9:44 am, Location: Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm, greatparks.org Maya: the Exhibition Through April 4. Last days! Immerse yourself in the genius of the Maya – early disrupters living in cities of stone carved into the rainforest. For the first time in the United States, the mysteries of the Maya come to life. With over 300 artifacts, discover how the Maya live on today – in their inventions that continue to shape our daily lives and in the millions who carry on the Maya tradition in language and lineage. • Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Time: 10am - 4pm, cincymuseum.org/maya

SAT 03 Egg Orienteering Following an easy map, kids will find several checkpoints. When finished, they will have a choice of candy or toy from a treasure chest. Registration required. • Time: 11 am-1 pm, Location: Voice of America MetroPark, reservations.

Artist Workshop Visitors of all ages are welcome to join this workshop led by a local artist. Learn about techniques and materials used by professional artists in these fun, educational and hands-on workshops. Children must be at least 6 years old to participate. Registration required. • Time: 1-3 pm, Location: Cincinnati Art Museum,

Kamikaze Fireflies International superstars of circus, comedy and physical theater, the Kamikaze Fireflies return to Hamilton for a special outdoor performance. With hoops of fire, knives of steel and outrageous plumage, the Kamikaze Fireflies are sure to delight and entertain audiences of all ages. • Time: 3-5 pm, Location: Pinball Garage, fittoncenter.

MON 05 Outdoor Explorers Outdoor play is vital to child development and well-being. Children will learn about nature and the outdoors. Activities include discovery, challenges and games. Ages 9-12. • Time: 4:30-6 pm, Location: Grant Park, cwpd.org

TUES 06-THURS 08 Spring

Break Horse Camp Topics covered include horse safety, breeds, grooming and riding. Suitable for beginners to advanced beginner level riders. Register online. • Time: 9 am-4 pm, Location: Winton Woods Riding Center, greatparks.org

Virtual Storytime: Movers & Shakers Shake it together with your child in this Zoom storytime, and sing, dance, and enjoy music, movement, and fun from the comfort of your home! Please register to receive an email invitation to this online event - only one registration is needed per family or group. • Location: Virtual, Time: 10-10:30 am,

FRI 09 Spring Celebration Through May 31. Celebrate spring with EnterTRAINment Junction. Purchase a Do-It-All ticket to visit the world’s largest train exhibit and A-Maze-N FunHouse, plus get another ticket to visit again another day. • Location: EnterTRAINment Junction, entertrainmentjunction.com *ONGOING

SAT 10 ANIMAL GAMES OBSTACLE COURSE Play and have fun in the park like an animal in our animal games obstacle course. Learn how animals get around and figure out how your moves compare to others. Registration required. • Time: 2-3:30 pm, Location: Huffman Park, reservations.yourmetroparks.net/

SUN 11 Ballet, Beatles and Bowling Hamilton’s very own Miami Valley Ballet Theater are trading out their ballet slippers for bowling shoes, for a very special performance featuring the music of the Beatles. • Time: 3-5 pm, Location: Pohlman Lanes, Hamilton, fittoncenter.org

MON 12 Family Field Trip: Busy Spring Birds With a naturalist, discover the activities that keep birds busy as they arrive back in Cincinnati after migrating for the winter, and how those that stayed for the winter are changing their agendas as the days grow warmer. Registration required. • Time: 9:30-11:30 am, Location: Rowe Woods,

TUES 13 Zoo Blooms Through April 30. Every spring, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden becomes the Cincinnati Botanical Garden & Zoo when it transforms into a magnificent explosion of color! Dubbed “Tulip Mania,” Zoo Blooms also features more than one million daffodils, hyacinths, flowering trees, shrubs and other spring bulbs exploding with color. • Location: Cincinnati Zoo, cincinnatizoo.org *ONGOING

WEDS 14 Virtual Storytime: Family Tune in for a Virtual Family Storytime with Miss Mary! The entire family is welcome to enjoy books, songs, and activities, while building literacy skills. • Location: Virtual, Time: 10-10:30 am,

Virtual CAC Homeschool Art-2-Go Join the Contemporary Arts Center for a virtual workshop designed specifically for homeschool families. All kits are inspired by contemporary artists and CAC exhibitions. Families can create on their own or follow along virtually with CAC instructors. Kits will be available for pick up after the first of each month at the Symmes Township Library. Sign up now to reserve your free kit! Sign ups Required, for children in grades K - 5. • Location: Virtual, Time: 1-2:00 pm, cincinnatilibrary.org

THURS 15 Mom and Me Stroller Hikes Bring your little ones out on a walk through the parks. Explore nature and learn about trees, flowers, birds and more. Registration required. • Time: 10-11 am, Location: Cincinnati Parks,

Greene Grasshoppers : Earth Day Celebration This program covers kindergarteners through 9 year olds. This month, we'll learn how to help restore our Earth as we go through station based crafts, activities and games focused on caring for our planet. Registration required. • Time: 6-8 pm, Location: James Ranch Park,

SAT 17 Wild About Spring Wildflowers One of the best surprises you can find on a spring hike is a new pop of bright color! We’ll be searching for plenty of colorful spring wildflowers. Registration required. • Time: 10:30 am-12 pm, Location: Indian Creek MetroPark,

Wildflower Walk Come walk the trails at LaBoiteaux Woods to see the April array of wildflowers to be found here. Naturalist led hike on rugged trails, sturdy shoes highly suggested. Cameras and kids welcome, please no dogs. Online registration for this event is required by April 14. Please register here: https://explorenature.regfox. com/wildflowerwalklab. All outdoors. • Location: LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center, Time: 10-11:30am,

MON 19 Outdoor Explorers Outdoor play is vital to child development and well-being. Children will learn about nature and the outdoors. Activities include discovery, challenges and games. Ages 9-12. • Time: 4:30-6pm, Location: Grant Park, cwpd.org

Earth Day Celebration Earth Day and Arbor Day are quickly approaching. Pick up a kit full of easy crafts and activities you can do to celebrate the Earth! Each kit will also include one small sapling you can plant to give back to our planet. Register online. • Time: 8am, Location: CentervilleWashington Park District Headquarters, cwpd.org

TUES 20 Nature Tots Come catch your breath while enjoying some quality time with your little one. You will both get a taste of nature through naturalist-led stories, games, animal encounters and more in a safe and relaxing atmosphere. New theme each week. Online registration is required. • Time: 9:30-11am, Location: LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center, cincinnatiparks.com

Tot Tuesdays Museum activities and crafts just for your little ones, offered both in person and virtually. Free for members. This month’s theme: Rain • Time: 10:30-11:30 am, Location: BehringerCrawford Museum, Covington, bcmuseum.org

Virtual Class: Yoga for Kids Calm your thoughts, sharpen mental muscles, and strengthen the body with yoga to promote whole health in individuals. Students work to develop a deep understanding of how the physical body, thoughts, and emotions can be nurtured through exercises for the body, mind, and spirit. During the class, children will also learn a variety of tools to foster healthy growth, including yoga poses, and relaxation techniques. Recommended for children ages 5-12. Presented by Skool Aid. • Location: Virtual, Time: 4-5:00 pm, cincinnatilibrary.org

WEDS 21 Dragons Love Tacos April 16-May 16. A Virtual Off the Hill Production, presented by Playhouse in the Park! Do you know what dragons really love? Tacos, of course! Chicken tacos, beef tacos, big tacos and tiny tacos. As a boy and his dog watch a television show about dragons, they unexpectedly get caught up in the “Dos and Don’ts” of what to feed them. But if they accidentally eat spicy salsa, watch out! Recommended for ages 3 and up. • Location: Virtual, cincyplay.com/productions/ dragons-love-tacos *ONGOING

FRI 23 Free Hike Fridays Watch spring unfold in the park as we walk a trail each week in search of sights, sounds and smells of spring. Programs are free but limited, preregistration is required here: https://explorenature.regfox.com/ freehikesfridayapril. • Location: California Woods Nature Preserve, Time: 10-11:30am, cincinnatiparks.

FRI 23-SUN 25 Cinderella

Dayton Ballet dons its glass slipper and takes another giant step forward in reviving live dance with one of the most popular and most widely performed classical ballets of all time — Cinderella! • Time: See website, Location: Victoria Theatre, daytonperformingarts.org

SAT 24-SUN 25 Springtyme Faire Craft Show 100+ booths of artists, crafters, direct sellers, farmers, jewelry, home improvement, authors, canvas purses, plants and much more. • Time: See website, Location: Champaign County Fairgrounds,

SAT 24 Wild About Spring Wildflowers One of the best surprises you can find on a spring hike is a new pop of bright color! We’ll be searching for plenty of colorful spring wildflowers. Registration required. • Time: 10:30 am-12 pm, Location: Governor Bebb MetroPark,

Heroines of Our History Celebrate some of the extraordinary women in Southwest Ohio who made history! Meet reenactors in historical clothing. This event will include hands-on activities. Attendees can also enjoy an exhibit on award winning photographer, Nancy Ford Cones. Kids 5 and under are FREE. • Time: 11 am-5 pm, Location: Heritage Village Museum, heritagevillagecincinnati.org

Earth Day Tree Planning Join us this Earth Day as we dig into three Great Parks locations in an effort to plant more trees! At Withrow Nature Preserve, we’ll plant trees and shrubs to replace the area where a former cabin was recently removed, with funding from One Tree Planted. Physical distancing, mask wearing and sanitation recommendations will be followed as appropriate during this event. Withrow Nature Preserve/Trout Lily Trailhead (Free, register by 4/22) • Location: Withrow Nature Preserve, Time: 9am - 12pm, greatparks.org/calendar# FREE MON 26 Outdoor Explorers Outdoor play is vital to child development and well-being. Children will learn about nature and the outdoors. Activities include discovery, challenges and games. Ages 9-12. • Time: 4:30-6pm, Location: Grant Park, cwpd.org

Outdoor Family Storytime Bring the entire family to enjoy books, songs, and activities, while building literacy skills. For all ages. Our storytimes will be held outside*, so please bring a blanket or chair to sit in. Masks will be required for parents/caregivers. Physical distancing will be observed. • Time: 10:30-11:00 am, Location: Sharonville Branch Library, cincinnatilibrary.org

FRI 30 Earth Month: Tree Planting and Care Help the Park District plant trees for Arbor Day! We will teach families how to plant and care for very young trees. Families will get to take home a tree to plant in their own yard! All ages. Staggered start times. • Time: 6-8 pm, Location: Bill Yeck Park, cwpd.org

Zoo Blooms Through April 30. Every spring, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden becomes the Cincinnati Botanical Garden & Zoo when it transforms into a magnificent explosion of color! Dubbed “Tulip Mania,” Zoo Blooms also features more than one million daffodils, hyacinths, flowering trees, shrubs and other spring bulbs exploding with color. • Location: Cincinnati Zoo,

Dragons Love Tacos April 16-May 16. A Virtual Off the Hill Production, presented by Playhouse in the Park! Do you know what dragons really love? Tacos, of course! Chicken tacos, beef tacos, big tacos and tiny tacos. As a boy and his dog watch a television show about dragons, they unexpectedly get caught up in the “Dos and Don’ts” of what to feed them. But if they accidentally eat spicy salsa, watch out! Recommended for ages 3 and up. • Location: Virtual, cincyplay.com/productions/dragons-lovetacos

SPACE: A Journey to Our Future Through May 2. This highly interactive exhibition ignites the desire for space exploration and discovery, sparking imaginations, and inspiring new generations of explorers to dream of the possibilities that lie ahead. Highlights include touching actual rocks from the lunar surface and the red planet, exploring a Mars Base Camp while walking through a full-size habitat and work pod, taking a spin on a centrifuge, and looking far into the future of our exploration of the universe. • Location: National Air Force Museum,

Thursdays through Mondays, Through April 25. Beloved artist Charley Harper (1922-2007) saw the natural world around him with empathy and whimsy. He revealed the natural world through geometric reduction and imagined the similarities between human and wild animal behaviors in witty prose. Each painting had an accompanying short story that provided insight into the whimsy with which he viewed the natural world – and the environmental issues facing it. Explore 30 of Harper’s iconic works from the collections of Cincinnati Museum Center and select donors in Inspired by Nature: The Art and Activism of Charley Harper. • Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, Times: 10am - 4:00 pm, cincymuseum.

Spring Celebration Through May 31. Celebrate spring with EnterTRAINment Junction. Purchase a Do-It-All ticket to visit the world’s largest train exhibit and A-Maze-N FunHouse, plus get another ticket to visit again another day. • Location: EnterTRAINment Junction, entertrainmentjunction.com

Storywalk at California Woods Through May. Visit the Ridge Loop trail through the months of April and May, and enjoy Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms, written by Julia Rawlinson on the StoryWalk trail. • Location: California Woods Nature Preserve, cincinnatiparks.com

Backyard Wildnerness Explore the unexpected wonders of nature that are right under our noses. Peer inside wildlife dens, crawl along the forest floor and swim along the pond bottom as you meet the creatures who call them home in breathtaking and intimate detail. Spanning a full year of seasons, Backyard Wilderness reveals the wild that surrounds even our suburban homes and that Wi-Fi is not the only connection that matters. All of this right in our own backyards. You just need to step outside. • Location: Cincinnati Museum Center,'s Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, cincymuseum.org/

Dora and Diego—Let's Explore! Through July 25. Come on! ¡Vámanos! Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego—Let’s Explore! takes you on an active adventure in the enchanting world of Dora the Explorer, her animal-rescuing cousin Diego, and their friends. • Location: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, childrensmuseum.org

Barbie: You Can Be Anything Through 2021. From career dolls to real-world role models, Barbie has been inspiring girls since 1959 — and she isn't done yet! The exhibit showcases the iconic Barbie doll and encourages the kind of imaginative play that teaches us that no matter what, we can all make the world a better place by doing work that excites us, challenges us and brings us fulfillment. • Location: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis,

READING IS FUNNY

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AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

FIND A RAINBOW DAY

CARAMEL DAY WORLD TABLE TENNIS

DAY BEAVER DAY

ZOO LOVERS

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SIBLING DAY

PET DAY

PINATA DAY

LICORICE DAY

SCRABBLE DAY LOOK UP AT THE SKY DAY ASL DAY

BICYCLE DAY VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION DAY

KINDERGARTEN DAY

EARTH DAY

EGGS BENEDICT DAY

WORLD BOOK NIGHT HAIKU POETRY

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SENSE OF SMELL

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WORLD PENGUIN

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PRETZEL

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TELL A STORY

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SUPERHERO DAY

ZIPPER

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HAIRBALL AWARENESS DAY