Northeast Ohio Parent | October 2023

18

HALLOWEEN —ING

It’s time to celebrate the spooky season. Find costumes for all abilities and those who are on a budget, treats and more! Also, check out Halloween events happening starting on pg. 26.

14 School Open Houses

6 Editor’s Note

Every Kid is Different

8

Worth Noting

Why siblings are loud together, plus reading room, what’s streaming and craft corner.

10 Ages & Stages

What you need to know about your toddler’s motor skills development.

12 Education

Here’s 10 language, Math, and reading apps to help support your child’s educational needs.

49 Calendar

This month, whether indoors or outdoors, find family-friendly happenings in the region, including Parent & Me events.

58 Dad Matters

Help for your child’s princess obsession questions.

On the Cover:

tKids from left to right Jacob, age 10, dressed as Thor Hallie, age 4, dressed as Princess Tiana, Ruby, age 4, dressed as Princess Peach AJ, age 7, dressed as Mario Parents (from left to right on porch), Christina (mom of AJ & Ruby), Telisha (mom of Hallie & Jacob), Alex (dad of AJ & Ruby).

Photos by Kim Stahnke kimstahnkephotography.com

Every Kid is Different

In the first few months or so after your first child’s birth, you might feel like you are smooth sailing. You have your feeding and nightly routine down with your baby or you are finally learning how to navigate your day and respond to his or her needs. It can seem blissful (or not). I know I was expecting the next son to be the same as the first — and that was not the case. Between your first and your last child, each developmental experience will be different.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “developmental milestones are the behaviors that mark stages of typical growth. Children all develop at their own pace. However, most children pass through specific changes at approximately the same time as they get older.”

So while one child may walk before age 1, it doesn’t mean your other children will do the same.

These milestones are not just in the early years, but also as they grow into their academic, social and physical abilities.

For parents who get their little ones into sports and activities, this comparison of kids can seem more inflated. What if your child doesn’t want to play? What if one does? When should you send your child on their own path?

Managing all your children differently seems like a tall order, but it can help bring out their personalities and give them confidence to be who they are.

“As children get older, that confidence can be as important as the skills themselves,” according to 2023 article “12 Tips for Raising Confident Kids” from the Child Mind Institute. “To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren’t successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence.”

It’s always best if your child is behind in developmental milestones or if you are concerned, to check with your pediatrician.

That’s why in this issue, we focus a bit on development, like gross motor skills for your little ones and answering those questions like “why are your kids so loud together?”

For your tweens, view the Middle School Guide. For me, the hardest part of my kids’ school experience were those years. It’s a time when I saw a lot of changes happening and they began to separate themselves from us, the parents. Kids, at that age, start to grow as individuals. In the guide, we talk about their phone use, independence and how bullying can impact kids.

While it can be a difficult subject, therapy might be helpful for those struggling mentally. We help parents get information, if it’s needed or not.

Of course, as you saw on our cover, Halloween is upon us. It’s my favorite time of the year, because it feels like everyone wants to have a party or some type of adventure in the colors of the season.

For others, this time of year is spooky, for me, I’m not scared of anything anymore, especially with raising two teen boys, including a new driver.

Happy October everyone!

october 2023

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Why are Siblings so LOUD Together?

By Lori Orlinsky

Kids are loud enough alone, but when you get siblings together, any parent knows that the volume goes up. Whether playing or fighting, it’s easy for parents to get frustrated by this level of noise. We asked nationally recognized Cleveland area pediatrician, Dr. Arthur Lavin, why siblings are so loud together and how parents can work with their kids to lower the volume.

SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS ARE A GAME

Lavin says siblings treat their time together as if they are in a game. The games can be fun, negative and competitive. In all of these instances, it is easy for siblings to become immersed in their game and act oblivious and completely unaware of the rest of the world – especially when parents may be yelling for them to quiet down.

“When they’re having fun, they get loud, and when they’re in a fight, they get loud,” Lavin says. “Plus, they make other noises like burping, which only contributes to the octave in the house.”

He says sibling rivalry can also contribute to the noise, as younger siblings often feel less powerful than the older sibling, setting up a dynamic where they are

always reaching for a sense of dignity.

“The first born doesn’t want to lose the advantage of being more powerful, so they are incentivized to keep the younger one down, while the younger one is incentivized to try to rise up,” he says. “Kids often exert power through raised voices.”

YOUNG KIDS ARE NOT YET EMOTIONALLY REGULATED

Many times, especially with children ages 3 through 8, each individual child doesn’t yet know their own strength.

“They think of their lungs as a new instrument and take it for a ride, seeing how big and strong it can be,” Lavin says. “When you have two young kids, you have double the noise.”

COVID HAD A STRONG IMPACT ON FAMILIES

While the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create any of these realities of kids being loud, the result was siblings stuck together for long periods of time and parents frustrated with them more easily.

“We are also just now starting to see the delays in social development, which

is why kids now are acting a few years younger,” says Lavin, who adds that kids in third through eighth grade are currently struggling the most. “For so many years, kids didn’t have a teacher putting a lid on outbursts and conflicts, so they didn’t get a chance to get socially civilized.”

HOW PARENTS CAN HANDLE

VOLUME CONCERNS

Lavin says rather than yelling and screaming at kids when they are in the moment, he suggests solving the issue in between these moments so they can be prevented in the future.

One idea he has is for parents to record a video of their children and have the children identify if their voices are quiet, normal or loud.

He also says it’s important to teach your child what it means to be irritating. This can also be done as an irritation game, by having everyone talk about things that irritate them. The next step in that game is for everyone to note when someone in the household does something to irritate them.

“That game helps develop a sense of what irritation is, the fact that other people own their irritation and that you own whatever you actually do to irritate someone,” Lavin says.

If all else fails, he says, parents can also remind kids of appropriate level inside and outside voices.

What’s streaming

October 2023

It’s spooky season and what better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with a not-too-scary show or movie. From classics to new thrillers, here’s a few family-friendly Halloween movies available on various streaming platforms this fall.

CASPER (Amazon/Prime, PG)

The 1995 classic about a ‘ghost therapist’ and his young daughter who arrive at a house haunted by three rambunctious spirits and Casper — the friendly ghost — setting the stage for an eye-popping, roller-coaster romp.

NIGHTBOOKS (Netflix, PG)

Scary story fan Alex must tell a spine-tingling tale every night — or stay trapped with his new friend in a wicked witch’s magical apartment forever.

A REALLY HAUNTED LOUD HOUSE (Nickelodeon, TV-Y7)

In celebration of the spookiest season, the Louds return with their annual Halloween Spooktacular filled with frightful tricks, delightful treats, spellbinding costumes and original music.

MONSTER HIGH 2 (Paramount+, TV-Y7)

A fang-tastic sequel to the live-action movie musical Monster High The Movie. Based on the iconic Mattel franchise about the children of famous monsters and creatures.

THE SPOOKY TALE OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS HACK-A-WEEN (Netflix, TV-Y7)

When Melvin tries to cancel Halloween, clever best friends Harold and George create their own spooky holiday — and it’s a huge success!

THE HAUNTED MANSION 2023 (Disney+, PG-13)

In this frightfully fun adventure inspired by the classic theme park attraction, a woman and her son enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

SPOOKY GHOST LEAVES CRAFT

Get in the Halloween spirit by decorating your home or child’s play area with this easy ghost leaf craft from Hello Wonderful

MATERIALS:

• Leaves — preferably the larger and sturdier ones from your yard

• White paint

• Black Sharpie

• Googly eyes or buttons (optional for the eyes)

Steps:

• Grab a newspaper or cardboard to protect your floor or tables, then paint both sides of the leaves.

• Once the paint is dry, use a marker and/or the googly eyes and buttons to make the ghosts’ faces.

• Get even spookier by turning your ghost leaves into other common household items:

• a spooky garland by stringing the leaves together with black thread

• a wreath, glue the leaves to a wreath with hot glue, then add other Halloween-themed decorations

• lanterns, place your ghost leaves inside glass jars or vases and add a battery-operated tea light

October: More than Halloween

October is full of fun for children, but there’s more than just Halloween, of course. These. festive books suggested by Heidi Malinoski, Children’s Librarian at the Addison Branch of Cleveland Public Library, are a great way to discuss how different cultures celebrate in October. Visit cpl.org or clevelandreads.com

The Story Behind the Day of the Dead

By Melissa Rae Shofner

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died. This book is full of photographs of foods, crafts, clothing, and cultural celebration. Key words are listed at the end in a glossary. As an extension, talk to your children about how your family honors the dead and older kids can begin a family tree.

The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural

By Patricia McKissack

Classic collection of ghost stories has been updated with black and white illustrations by Brian Pinkney for the book’s 30th anniversary. These stories with African American themes are designed to be told during the dark thirty (the half hour before sunset).

Gross motor skills are movements that require the whole or most of the body to do the activity. An example of gross motor skills is an infant learning to roll and to sit or an older kid learning to ride a bike. This skill isn’t just limited to play and movement. It’s also connected to your child’s educational success.

Beth Price, executive director of Early Childhood Enrichment Center in Shaker Heights says, “Children develop their gross motor skills first. Once children master their gross motor skills, the fine motor skills start to develop. Children with poor gross motor skills may not be able to cut with scissors, manipulate small blocks like LEGOs, or color with a crayon. Lack of gross motor skills could lead to learning lags including reading and math.”

What do parents need to know about normal gross motor skill development?

Olivia Mogilnicki, pediatric therapist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital explains that gross motor skills build upon each other.

“This starts as early as infants being

Your child’s Gross Motor Skills:

Dive deep into this development to find out what to know and when to be concerned

By Aisha Taylor

able to tolerate being on their belly, all the way up to sitting, crawling, walking, jumping and running,” she explains. “When one gross motor skill is delayed or is not achieved, it makes the child at a higher risk to have these other gross motor milestones not be achieved as well.”

Although there are ranges pediatricians want these gross motor skills to occur, development looks different for every child.

Mogilnicki advises parents to “look at your child holistically, and not just from a gross motor perspective. You want to know where your child is and what normal should be. The ranges help guide us, but not every kid’s the same. Therefore, try not to compare your kid to other kids.”

However, if a child starts to lose a milestone or not achieve other milestones, there’s usually an underlying reason. That’s something that should be looked into.

What are red flags for gross motor skills development?

Red flags can start as early as infancy.

Doctors can see signs of delays in gross motor development as early as 4 months old. Mogilnicki says, in infancy parents should be contact their pediatrician if:

• The baby has a preference to look in one direction, or only really use one side of their body. Babies all the way through almost age 2 should be using both sides of their body completely, symmetrically, or the same.

• A young baby doesn’t like to be on their belly. Starting at about 4 months old, the baby should want to be on their belly.

• The infant is not crawling on their hands and knees by the time they’re 11 months old.

• The child is not walking by the time they’re 15 months old.

For older children, Mogilnicki advises parents to talk to their pediatrician if:

• Their child is toe walking. These are kids that spend more than 50% of their time walking on their toes. This can cause kids to have tight ankles, not learn to walk the correct way, or have weak belly muscles. We want to see these kids as early as possible.

• Their child is W sitting. This is where the kids sit with their legs out to their sides and it kind of looks like a W with their legs. Kids tend to do this because they have weakened muscles or weak belly muscles. They’re looking for stability.

What about children born prematurely?

Gross motor skill development may look different for children who are born prematurely.

Mogilnicki says milestones are adjusted for age if a child is born more than three weeks early.

“Our goal is always for kids to hit their milestones at their chronological age — however old they are from the day they’re born.” she says. “However, we’re not necessarily worried from a therapy perspective, if they’re hitting it at their adjusted age. If the children are

not hitting their adjusted age milestones, I recommend therapy so these delays don’t cause other delays down the road.”

Once that child is 2 years old, their age is no longer adjusted. They’re expected to hit their milestones the same age as every other child their age.

Can your child’s school tell you more about your child’s gross motor skills development?

If your child is in school or a childcare program, your child’s teachers can help you to learn more about your child’s gross motor skills development.

“Some early childhood programs screen children for all areas of development utilizing standardized screening

tools,” Price says. “They would be able to tell parents if there is a delay. If teachers do not screen, parents can ask them if their child’s development is the same as their peers or whether there is any area that seems to fall behind.”

What should parents do if they have a concern?

If parents have a concern, they should communicate with their pediatrician immediately. There is no wrong question to ask. Trust your gut and ask for a physical therapy referral to help your child hit these gross motor skills milestones.

Mogilnicki recommends that parents don’t follow the “wait and see” approach.

“There is really good research that shows early intervention is best to make an improvement in a child,” she says. “When we can address any delay, small or large, early on, when it’s first noticed, the odds that we can fix it quicker are much higher than waiting.”

Language, Math and Reading Apps

By Northeast Ohio Parent Editors

Math, reading and language skills are important for the foundation of all other subjects. Whether you have an early learner or students in the upper grades, check out these apps, which can provide extra, at-home learning support for your kids — with some fun. *Check pricing, app (Apple or Google play) on the websites provided

STARFALL

Read, learn, and play with fun activities, games, and songs on Starfall. Covers reading, math, music, and more — pre school to fifth grade. Includes free and subscriber content. starfall.com

HOMER

Explore HOMER’s essential early learning app made to help kids build the confidence they need for school and life. Thoughtfully made educational games for kids aged 2-8. learnwithhomer.com

KHAN ACADEMY — Learn anything, for free. Study math, science, economics, finance, grammar, history, government, politics, and much more. Grades pre-k through college. khanacademy.org

BIG MATH FLASH CARDS

Highly rated by teachers, parents and kids of all ages. Flip the card just like a real flash card. Once you answer the question correctly, flick the card off the screen by swiping up. Free on Apple bigredapps.com

PRODIGY

This free math learning game offers access for teachers, students and parents on an array of devices – allowing students to play in school, at home or even on vacation. The game positions math problems in a fantasy-based game, where they answer questions to earn spells to move through Wizard Academy. prodigygame.com

Used by many area schools, Epic has thousands of popular titles from top publishers and also features handy tools like reading logs, personalization and rewards to support developing readers. getepic.com

XTRAMATH

An online math fact fluency program that helps students develop quick recall and automaticity of basic math facts. Students with a strong foundation have greater confidence and success learning more advanced math like fractions and algebra. It generates individual practice sessions automatically based on assessment of each student’s progress. xtramath.org

MOBY MAX

Adaptive learning for students struggling in kindergarten through eighthgrade subjects covering math, reading, language, writing, science, and social studies. Children stay engaged and motivated by earning certificates, badges, games, and game time. mobymax.com

ABC MOUSE

Interactive at-home, supportive learning activities from books, games, puzzles, videos in reading, math and science. For ages 2-8. abcmouse.com

DUOLINGO

Duolingo has quick, bite-sized lessons where students can earn points and unlock new levels while gaining real-world communication skills in the different languages they are learning. Fun for adults and kids. duolingo.com

Summit DD’s Levy: Where does the money go?

Summit DD’s operating levy makes up 80% of its revenue. Summit DD will put forth a replacement levy on the November 7 ballot to fund services from 2025-2030. Issue 17 would cost homeowners $158/year per $100,000 of appraised value. (Important note, Issue 17 locks in home values at CURRENT rates, not increased values that go into effect in 2024 through the County Fiscal Office.) Summit DD has not experienced an increase in revenue since 2007, and since then has seen a 30% increase in the number of people served.

Mandated Services: Developmental Disabilities Boards are required by Ohio to support eligible people and ensure health and safety.

Supports include:

• Service Coordination to administer and monitor services for 4,000+ people

• 1,300+ health and safety investigations to protect the welfare of eligible individuals

• Day programs for 1,300+ adults including facility-based and community employment

• Transportation for 1,800+ adults

• Residential support, ranging from in-home support to 24/7 care for 1,800+ adults

Essential Services: Summit DD also invests in services that help people with disabilities live full, equitable lives.

Supports include:

• Early Intervention for 700+ children and families

• Support for 1,700+ school-aged children with disabilities to transition from school to work

• Support for 1,300+ people with coexisting mental health diagnosis and a developmental disability

• Supporting 400+ Special Olympic athletes

• Oversight and support for 800+ disability providers who employ thousands of local direct support professionals Get the facts at SummitDD.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUMMIT DD

Fall School open houses

COMMUNION OF SAINTS SCHOOL

2160 Stillman Road, Cleveland Heights

216-932-4177, communionofsaintsschool.org

Nov. 12: 12-1 p.m.

GILMOUR ACADEMY

34001 Cedar Road, Gates Mills 440-473-8050, gilmour.org/visit

Oct. 8: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

HAWKEN SCHOOL

Lower & Middle Schools

5000 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 440-423-2950, hawken.edu

Oct. 18: 9 a.m.

Nov. 19: 1 p.m.

Upper School

12465 County Line Road, Gates Mills 440-423-2955, hawken.edu

Oct. 17: 12:15 p.m.

Nov. 5: 1 p.m.

Mastery School

11025 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland 440-423-8801, hawken.edu

Oct. 10: 9 a.m.

Nov. 12: 1 p.m.

Birchwood School of Hawken

4400 W. 140th St., Cleveland 216-251-2321, birchwoodschool.org

Oct. 15: 2 p.m.

HERSHEY MONTESSORI

Upper SchoolHuntsburg Campus

11530 Madison Road, Huntsburg Twp. 440-636-6290, hershey-montessori.org

Oct. 9, Nov. 13: 9-11 a.m.

Oct. 13, Nov. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lower SchoolConcord Campus

10229 Prouty Road, Concord Twp. 440-357-0918, hershey-montessori.org

Oct. 18, Nov. 8: 9-11 a.m.

JULIE BILLIART

SCHOOLS

Akron

380 Mineola Ave., Akron 330-333-5280, juliebilliartschool.org

Oct. 19: 6 p.m.

Brecksville 8611 Wiese Rd, Brecksville juliebilliartschool.org

Oct. 24, Nov. 14: 9:30 a.m.

Lyndhurst 4982 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 216-381-1191, juliebilliartschool.org

Nov. 10: 9 a.m.

LAKEWOOD

CATHOLIC ACADEMY

14808 Lake Ave., Lakewood 216-521-0559, lcasaints.com

Oct. 15: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

LAUREL SCHOOL

Lyman Campus

1 Lyman Circle, Shaker Hts.

Oct 11: 5-7 p.m.

Butler Campus

7420 Fairmount Road, Novelty 216-464-1441, laurelschool.org

Oct. 18: 5-6:30 p.m.

LUTHERAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL

3850 Linden Road, Rocky River 440-333-1660, lutheranwest.com

Oct. 23: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

OUR LADY OF THE ELMS

1375 W Exchange St., Akron 330-836-9384, theelms.org

Oct. 4: 5:30-7 p.m.

PADUA FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL

6740 State Road, Parma 440-845-2444, paduafranciscan.com

Oct. 15: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Oct. 16: 6-8 p.m.

RUFFING MONTESSORI

3380 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights 216-321-7571, ruffingmontessori.net

Nov. 11: Noon-2 p.m.

SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY

3470 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland 216-251-6788, sja1890.org

Oct. 22: 1-4 p.m.

SAINT AMBROSE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

923 Pearl Road, Brunswick 330-460-7301, saintambroseschool.us

Nov. 5: 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. (RSVP to join)

SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL

6923 Stow Road, Hudson 330-342-4200, setoncatholicschool.org

Nov. 5: 2-4 p.m.

SOUTH SUBURBAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL

4450 Oakes Road, Brecksville 440-526-1966, ssmsmontessori.net

Nov. 4: 9-11 a..m.

ST. SEBASTIAN PARISH SCHOOL

500 Mull Ave, Akron 330-836-9107, stsebastian.org/school

Nov. 3: 8:15-10 a.m. (register by 10/27)

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

Hunting Valley Campus

(Grades 9-12)

2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley 216-831-2200, us.edu

Oct. 15: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Shaker Heights Campus

(Junior Kindergarten-Grade 8) 20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights 216-321-8260, us.edu

Oct. 15: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

VILLA ANGELAST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL

18491 Lakeshore Blvd., Cleveland 216-481-8414, vasj.com

Oct. 8: 12 p.m.

Nov. 2: 6 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION:

Parent previews are held monthly starting in October.

More information at HB.edu/Admission

Hathaway Brown is an all girls K-12 day school in Shaker Heights. Since 1876, HB has educated and empowered girls with the Learn for Life Signature Approach that integrates distinguished academics, empowered girls, knowledge in action, and a celebrated community of students, alums, and faculty and parents.

The Signature Approach allows students to take ownership of their education with outstanding experiential learning opportunities such as the Storyline model in the Primary School, the Academies in Middle School, and the Fellowships for the Applied Studies in the Upper School.

The Signature Approach, facilitated by an incredibly impressive and engaged faculty, empowers girls to rise boldly to the challenges of the times, achieve their goals and reach their utmost potential.

The school’s distinguished academics are nationally recognized and are valued by families, top colleges and universities, and employers.

Seventy-one percent of HB teachers hold advanced degrees. And each faculty and staff member participates in deep and profound racial equity training.

HB’s beautiful 16-acre Shaker

Heights campus houses a fourstory glass-paneled atrium, visual and performing arts spaces, an IDEA Lab and Upper School learning commons. Furthermore, there’s an onsite adventure learning course, various dynamic classroom configurations, a working television studio, an aquatics center, tennis courts, and turf playing fields.

Hathaway Brown is home to 12 varsity athletics teams, along with the first e-sports team in the country established at an all-girls school. It also has a large and consistently excellent speech and debate team, an award-winning robotics program and several performing arts opportunities.

When girls graduate from Hathaway Brown School, they join an alumnae network of more than 4,000 women who live in 49 states and 27 foreign countries. Ranging in age from 17 to 105, HB alumnae are a celebrated community of civically engaged, trailblazing women who hold positions in every professional industry there is. Many were the first women to complete particular college degree programs or to earn executive-level positions in their respective organizations.

For more information, visit HB.edu or contact the Admission office at (216) 320-8767.

All-girls K-12, Coed Infant & Toddler Center and Early Childhood Program

19600 North Park Boulevard, Shaker Heights HB.edu

“HB’s motto is to “learn not for school, but for life.” From kindergarten to senior year, students are immersed in opportunities that apply concepts learned in the classroom to the real world — uniting learning by thinking with learning by doing. HB gives students the tools they need to succeed in the world beyond our walls.”

— Head of School Dr. Fran Bisselle

Halloween-ing

From costumes to treats and crafts, celebrate the spooky season in a budget-friendly way for everyone in your family.

By Faith Boone

How much are you planning to spend on Halloween this year? The special occasion can be a fun time for the whole family, but in 2023 you may be looking to stay on budget with the inflated pricing on everything from candy to spacesuits.

This guide will help you stay within your means this year. We’re covering budget friendly costumes for all kids, including those with disabilities. We’ll also share some price-conscious snacks and crafts to keep the entire family in the Halloween spirit.

PHOTO BY KIM STAHNKE

Budget-Friendly Costumes

At the typical pop-up Halloween shop, costumes can start anywhere from $30$40, which may be out of your pocketbook’s reach this year. Try one of these fun ideas with the kids, and get them involved in the creation of the costume.

DIY Ghost — Any long, white piece of fabric will do to make this costume as long as you’re willing to cut holes in it for the eyes! An old towel, curtain, sheet or tablecloth can be transformed into a cute ghost costume.

Superhero — This one you can really get creative! Dress up your kid in bright colored clothing and make a cape out of a towel or sheet. Use string, tape and cut a couple paper towel rolls to make goggles. Give your child a piece of cardboard to make an emblem and add it to complete the look.

Furry Friends — Makeup and face paint can be used to create cute animal faces. Put together an outfit of all one color and off you go!

Costumes for Kids with Disabilities

Every child deserves to embrace the magic of Halloween, regardless of their abilities. Here are a few costumes designed to accommodate every unique ability. Whether you’re in a wheelchair or need sensory guidance, the joy of Halloween is possible.

Wheelchair Racer — Turn the wheelchair into a fast race car with colorful cardboard and decorations. Add streamers and make a steering wheel out of a foam tube for the finishing touch.

Sensory Space Explorer — Craft a space-themed costume with loose, breath-

able layers. Use soft, stretchy materials and avoid tight elastic bands or itchy accessories. A designed cardboard box can fit over your child and their mobility device if needed.

Emoji Costume — Emojis are a universal language, making them an excellent choice. Create an oversized emoji face on a costume, and your child can express themselves through various expressions.

Trending Costumes

The hot costumes on the market right now are all linked to the top movies and TV shows.

There are plenty of boys, girls, moms, and dads dressing up as Barbie and Ken from the Barbie movie.

The kids want to be part of Ariel’s world by dressing up as the beautiful Little Mermaid, shell top with starfish

earrings to match.

A family of five could easily dress up as the dynamic duo of Mario and Luigi, with Princess Peach, Toad, and Bowser by their side. Need more characters? Don’t forget about Donkey Kong and Yoshi. (Spoiler alert for those who watched to the very end of the credits!)

If you’ve seen Taylor Swift on her The Eras Tour, she has dozens of costume changes. We wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a few strolling down the sidewalk on Halloween night.

Wednesday Addams’ classic look gives a button-down and a pleated skirt a whole new meaning for the spooky holiday. This is another good option for a family costume if you round it out with the rest of the Addams family crew.

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Easy Pumpkin Carving & Other Halloween Crafts for Kids

Pumpkin carving is a great Halloween tradition, and it’s even better when the whole family comes together to create a group of pumpkin friends. Kids love getting their hands dirty pulling out the insides of the pumpkin, and they can get creative with their faces. Pumpkin carving always takes some adult supervision for the little ones, so here are some tips on how to keep this craft safe and not as messy.

Choose the Right Pumpkin: Find one that’s free from bruises, mold or soft spots. Smaller pumpkins are good for kids because they are easier to handle and carve.

Prepare the Workers: Just like in art

class, this could be a good time to throw on an old t-shirt or smock to protect clothing. Pumpkin will wash out, but it may leave a stain.

Prepare the Workspace: Carving is great to do outside if you want less mess in the house. If you are staying indoors, cover your carving area with newspapers or a disposable tablecloth to catch pumpkin guts and minimize mess. Wet wipes can be a game-changer.

Get the Right Tools: Use kid-friendly pumpkin carving tools that have blunt edges but can still cut through the pumpkin’s skin. Look for affordable kid pumpkin carving sets online or in dollar stores.

Scooping Made Easy: Children can use spoons or pumpkin scoops to remove seeds and pulp. It’s less messy and safer than using hands. Remind kids to scoop

gently to avoid damaging the pumpkin’s interior.

Design Simplified: Looking for ideas for some simple face designs for little ones to carve? Use washable markers to draw the design on the pumpkin first. There are plenty of ideas online to try. Make sure you emphasize safety and remind children to keep fingers away from the cutting path.

Pumpkin Gut Disposal: There’s no better way to get rid of pumpkin guts than right away! Keep a trash bag nearby, or baggies so you can save pumpkin seeds for roasting later!

Cleanup: Throw away all pumpkin remnants and clean the carving tools and workspace. Wash hands thoroughly to remove any pumpkin residue. If you can’t carve pumpkins, another option is to paint different faces on the pumpkin.

When is your kid too old to go trick or treating?

This is really a judgment call on the parent. Some kids feel out of place once they hit high school, and others will feel comfortable trick-or-treating until they graduate. If you have an older child with a sweet tooth, how can you deny them? Leave it up to your kids to decide if they will feel comfortable trick-or-treating after the age of 14. They might want to go out more for dressing up than actually gathering candy. Halloween is an experience, and everyone has their own way of enjoying it. If this is the one holiday where we can live our childhood dreams and feel free to be what we want, let the kids have candy.

Yummy Halloween Snacks

Of course all the kids really want is the candy–chocolate, jawbreakers, Lemonheads, licorice and everything that can get stuck in their little teeth. Let’s make sure to offer them some healthier treats before and after the sweet-gathering festivities. These are also fun to make with the kids by your side.

Witch’s Broomsticks

Take pretzel sticks and attach a cheese cube at one end to create broomsticks. Use a chive or green onion as the “broom” part.

Mummy Hot Dogs

Wrap hot dogs or tiny sausages with strips of crescent roll dough to create mummy-like bandages. Add small dots of ketchup or mustard for eyes.

Candy Corn Parfait

Layer Greek yogurt, orange fruit chunks and whipped cream in a glass to mimic the colors of candy corn. Add spider rings on top!

Clementine Pumpkins

Peel clementines or small oranges and insert a small piece of celery as the pumpkin stem. Use raisins for eyes and a smile

Candy-Coated Apples

Other Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween can be so much more than just a couple hours of going door to door for trick-or-treating. If you have time to spend with the kids before the outdoor festivities or planning a kid-friendly party, try some of these fun crafts:

PAPER PLATE MASKS:

Supplies:

Paper plates, markers, paint, and craft materials.

Instructions:

Let kids decorate their plates as Halloween masks, adding spooky or silly faces. Attach a craft stick to the bottom, and they can hold them up like masks.

GHOST HANDPRINT CARDS:

Supplies:

White paint, black construction paper, face stickers

Instructions:

Have kids dip their hands in white paint and make handprints on black paper. Once dry, add eyes and a mouth to turn the handprints into adorable ghosts. Use these as Halloween cards or decorations.

PASTA SKELETONS:

Supplies:

Variety of pasta shapes (like macaroni, spaghetti, and penne) and glue.

Instructions:

Create spooky skeletons by arranging the pasta pieces on black paper.

PAPER PLATE

SPIDERS:

Supplies: Black paper plates, black pipe cleaners, googly eyes, paint

Instructions: Have the kids add the pipe cleaners to the edges of the plate for the spider legs. Add googly eyes and paint on a spooky face.

PUMPKIN SEED ART:

Supplies: Washed and dried pumpkin seeds, paint

Instructions: Paint the seeds in various Halloween colors

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Use them to create seed art or jewelry.

Halloween Treat Board

Creating a Halloween treat board is a fun and festive way to serve a variety of snacks and treats at a Halloween party or get-together. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make one:

Materials and Supplies:

-A large serving board, platter, or tray

-Small bowls, ramekins, or containers

-Halloween-themed decorations (e.g., plastic spiders, fake cobwebs, mini pumpkins)

Ingredients and Treat Ideas: Choose a mix of treats to create a well-balanced Halloween treat board. You can do all candy and dessert items or make a mix of sweet and savory by mixing in some salty pretzels or popcorn. Try to get a variety of colors and textures.

Here are some ideas:

• Sugar cookies shaped like ghosts, bats and pumpkins, or frosted in Halloween colors like orange, black, purple or green

• Brownie bites or cake pops dipped in orange and black icing or topped with Halloween sprinkles

• Candy corn

• Gummy worms or gummy spiders

• Soft caramels

• Candy in Halloween theme wrapping or in Halloween colors

• Halloween marshmallows (look for ghosts, Frankenstein and pumpkin shapes this time of year)

• Pretzels in Halloween shapes

• Popcorn balls or popcorn mix in Halloween flavors or colors

Steps to Create

Your Halloween Treat Board:

• Arrange the small bowls or containers on the board to hold smaller candies. Place them evenly across the board for balance.

• Add the larger treats first in a visually appealing manner. You can create clusters, or prop items up to make it visually interesting.

• Fill in gaps with piles of smaller candy items, such as gummy worms, marshmallows, soft caramels, etc.

• Sprinkle Halloween-themed decorations around the board. Use plastic spiders, fake cobwebs, mini pumpkins, or any other spooky decorations you have on hand.

Shana O’Malley-Smith contributed to this article.

Planning GUIDE Party

Cuts N Curls

They do more than haircuts at Cuts N Curls. Voted best party venue three years in a row. Be a princess for a day and book a princess party or royal treatment. Parties include glamorous updos with glitter and hair bling. Fabulous manicures, makeup, fun tattoos, crafts and games. Once you’re all glammed up walk their runway for a red carpet fashion show. Sit back and relax, they have your next birthday covered. cutsncurls.net

Pinot’s Palette

Enjoy upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people at Ohio’s premier paint & sip location. It’s as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists. They always say choose paintings you like, because they are easier than they look. The studio is located inside the Eton Atrium Shoppes on Chagrin Boulevard with classes 6 days a week, and event scheduling 7 days. pinotspalette.com

Playground

World

Swing, slide and jump in their 14,000 square foot showroom. Parties include a private party room, and full use of the facility. Other than customers visiting the showroom to shop, you have the facility to yourself. They provide the fun, and you provide your food, cake, decorations etc. 20 children permitted, no limit on adults. Visit our website www.playgroundworld. com to book your party. To book your party visit playgroundworld.com

Sky Zone

At SkyZone Westlake and Highland Heights, endless fun awaits. Soar through the air, bounce off trampolines, and defy gravity with friends and family. With their Mega VIP birthday pack, the excitement is doubled, and the savings are huge. Book before 11/30/2023 and use code HAPPY50 for $50 off your epic celebration! Don’t miss out on an unforgettable experience and incredible savings on 1.5 hours of jump time, food, ICEE’s and exclusive swag. skyzone.com

Pick-A-Day

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

SPOOKY SCIENCE. Learn about all the things in nature that can “spook or creep you out.” 10/621. 5-9 p.m. Beech Creek Botanical Garden, 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org

HALLOWEEN FAIR. This family-friendly spooktacular event includes the haunted walking trail, pumpkin lagoon, train rides, and more. 10/13-28.

Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road, Lagrange, loraincountymetroparks.com

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

HALLOWEEN DRIVE THROUGH. Experience playfully frightful sites throughout the park. 6:308:30 p.m. Lake Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com.

TRICK-OR-TREAT FEST: CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO. Meet-and-greets with costumed characters, return of the Monster Mash Dance Party, train rides and more.Through 10/29.

3900 Wildlife Way, futureforwildlife.org

PICK A DAY

MONDAY-SUNDAY

GHOSTLY MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE. See if you can make it all the way through as Ghostly Manor comes alive to reveal your deepest fears! 3319 Milan Road, Sandusky, ghostlymanor.com

THURSDAYSUNDAY

SPOOKY RANCH. Includes the Extreme Nightmares Haunted House, The Famous Haunted Hayride, The Haunted Barn and more. Through 10/31. Rockin’ R Ranch, 19066 E. River Road, Columbia Station, spookyranch.com

Not-so-Scary

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

BOO AT THE AKRON ZOO. Put on your costume, grab a candy bag and head to the zoo. 10/1429. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org

SPOOKTACULAR WEEKENDS. Join the not-so-scary weekends for this kid-friendly Halloween. Noon-5 p.m. 10/21-10/29. Susan Hambley Nature Center,1473 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick, medinacountyparks.com

DAY-BY-DAY

10/6-7

ENCHANTED FOREST. Meet costumed volunteers such as Bat, Spider, and Owl along the pumpkin-lit trails. 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave., SW, Wilmot, wildernesscenter.org

10/13-15

THE CHILLICOTHE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL. A three-day festival celebrating the fun of Halloween. Yoctangee Park, 1 Annex, N Park Dr.,Chillicothe chillicothehalloweenfestival.com

10/14

SPOOKY POOCH PARADE. A celebration of costumed canines.12:30-3:30 p.m. Madison Park, 13201 Madison Ave., Lakewood, lakewoodalive.org

10/20

NOT-SO-SPOOKY STORIES

CAMPFIRE. Sit beneath the light of the moon to enjoy s’mores and hear some fun, lighthearted nighttime tales. 7-8 p.m. Liberty Park, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg, summitmetroparks.org

10/21

SUPER SCIENCE SATURDAY: SPOOKY CATS & BEAUTIFUL BATS. Explore this frightful time. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Akron Fossils & Science Center, 2080 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com

DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND BOO BASH. Dress your family in their best costumes for a day of spooky fun & tasty treats. 2-6 p.m. North Coast Harbor, Voinovich Bicentennial Park, downtowncleveland.com/fall-fest

TRUNK OR TREAT. Explore trucks and vehicles that keep parks beautiful while collecting treats. 5-7 p.m. Silver Creek Lake House, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton, summitmetroparks.org

Chills

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

HUDSON HAUNTED HOUSE. Visit the monster of all haunted houses. Through 10/27. 2250 Barlow Road, Hudson, hudsonhauntedhouse.org

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

HAUNTED SCHOOLHOUSE AND LABORATORY. Enjoy 7 floors of terrifying sights, sounds, and scares.1300 Triplett Blvd., Akron, hauntedschoolhouse.com

FACTORY OF TERROR.The Factory of Terror is an extreme haunt and not intended for children under 12. Through 10/29. 4125 Mahoning Road NE, Canton, fotohio.com

CARNIVAL OF HORRORS. Travel through an abandoned fun house, an insane asylum and freak show in 3D. Through 10/30. Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW., Canton, carnivalofhorrors.com

FAMILY FALL FEST & TREAT TRAIL. Celebrate the fall season with this free, non-scary family event. 2-6 p.m. Sippo Lake Park-North, 5712 12th St., Canton, starkparks.com

10/22

BOOTANICAL BASH. Little wizards and witches meander their way from the seasonally decorated terrace to the Hershey Children’s Garden gathering treats. Noon-5 p.m. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, holdenfg.org

TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL. Take a walk around the park and collect candy and goodies. 3 p.m. Green Central Park, 1795 Steese Rd., Green, cityofgreen.org

10/26

HALLOWEEN BOOT-TIQUE. Join in your Halloween costume for a fun evening of trick-or-treating. 5-7 p.m. Eton Chagrin Boulevard, 28867 Chagrin Blvd. Wodomore, etonchagrinblvd.com

DAY-BY-DAY 10/21

HAUNTED HEARTH: SCARY STORIES FOR ADULTS. Meet at the outdoor fireplace at the Sancturetum for some scary stories.

7:30 p.m. 3760 Darrow Road, Stow, stowohio.org

10/27

MYSTERIES OF THE MANOR

HAUNTED GOLF CART. Get your socks scared off as you view the frightening sights and sounds.

7-10 p.m. Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road Mentor, cityofmentor.com

10/26-30

PUMPKINS & PIRANHAS. Not-so-spooky Halloween fun. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com

10/27

HALLOWEEN ON THE FARM. Interact with alpacas and goats, visit a fairy garden, ring the farm bell, and more. 4-7 p.m. Pure Passions Farm, 7679 Season Road, Kent, purepassionsfarm.com.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT HIKE. A family-friendly, “spooky” evening filled with stories and stars in the planetarium, and a hike around the Center and into the woods. 6-8:30 p.m. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

10/27-29

THE ADDAMS FAMILY. What happens when someone with a love of darkness falls in love with someone sweet? Watch Wednesday Addams and her family navigate this new chapter. Beachwood High School, 25100 Fairmount Blvd., beachwoodschools.org

10/28

TRICK & TREATS. Dress up in your favorite costume and get ready to kick off the weekend with some Halloween fun. Noon3 p.m. Crocker Park, 177 Market St., Westlake, crockerpark.com

FAMILY COSTUME HIKE. Explore the trails while getting another chance to show off your family’s Halloween costumes. 3-4 p.m. Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted, clevelandmetroparks.com

10/29

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR: FAMILY CONCERT SERIES. An enchanting program filled with musical tricks and treats. 2 p.m. Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, clevelandorchestra.com

10/30

FRANKENTOYS WORKSHOP. Teens use mismatched toys to create their own creations. 7 p.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org

FALL FUN ADVERTISERS

HALE FARM

Harvest time at Hale Farm & Village is a time for natural beauty, busy farm days, and all of their favorite traditional fall scents & flavors. Guests will experience the seasonal work of a 19th century farm, while community partners demonstrate how traditions like cider pressing and fermentation have remained popular and important in our communities today. Join them for seasonal bites and live music. Visit halefarm.org for more information or call 330-666-3711

HERITAGE FARMS’S PUMPKIN PANDEMONIUM

Starting on September 23 you can bring the family to go on a scavenger hunt, get lost in the Harvest Maze and take a relaxing hayride around the farm. Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday 2-6 p.m. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, the farm for all seasons, visit heritagefarms. com for more information. 2023 is their 175th Anniversary as a family owned and operated farm. Come join the celebration.

LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS

Halloween Fair is back! This family-friendly spooktacular event brings back the haunted walking trail, train rides, food booths, games, and more. This event will be held October 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 with a special sensory-friendly, all-ability day on Thursday, October 12. Tickets go on-sale on September 26 at www. loraincountymetroparks.com/halloween.

Admission is $5 per person and available through presale only—NO ONSITE TICKET SALES.

PATTERSON FRUIT FARM

Patterson Farm hosts their Family Fun Fest, a young-family oriented creative farm outdoor play area, daily from September 16 through October 29 at 8765 Mulberry Road in Chesterland.

Reached by a wagon ride, it includes a huge pavilion of straw, corn maze, climbing tractors, tree house, homemade go-carts, pumpkin painting. Admission charge. PYO apples and pumpkins available. Food concession on weekends. Call 440-7297144 for updates on weather conditions and closings. Visit their Farm Market at 11414 Caves Road, open daily year round.

RED WAGON FARM

Every fall they turn the working farm into an amazing place for families to come visit and spend the day “unplugged.”

The wagon ride through the Land of the Scarecrows, a 5-acre corn maze challenge, kid’s play area; and giant corn kernel pit are family favorites. They now offer a brewery, beer tent and live music to add to the adult fun. Please visit their website for hours of operation. redwagonfarm.com

16th STOP THE HATE SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

6th – 12th Graders Invited to Submit Essays on Stopping the Spread of Hate

Through the generosity of a donor, $100,000 is awarded in support of standing up and speaking out against hate.

Who are the students who are participating?

Northeast Ohio 6th through 12th graders living in or attending public, private, or home school in one of the following twelve counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne counties.

How can a student enter the Stop the Hate contest?

Students are invited to pen a personal essay in 500 words or less about bias they have witnessed or experienced and share what they have done or will do in response. Essays can be submitted by an individual independent of their school’s involvement.

How can a teacher bring a school group for a Stop the Hate tour?

School groups are invited at a discounted rate of only $3 per student. CMSD schools are admitted at no cost, with pre-registration. For details, and more information, please email tours@mmjh.org

Are there other ways for schools to get involved?

A classroom-based group competition invites classes to tour the museum and then participate in a free workshop with Roots of American Music. Working with a teaching artist, the class will pen an original song. This song becomes the class submission to the contest and is judged by a panel of music experts selected in partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Winning classrooms will receive anti-bias education grants for their school.

Also new this year is the opportunity to apply for one of three Stop the Hate Anti-Bias Community Grants of $5,000 each for schools in the participating 12 counties. For more information on applications, please contact ckrieger@mmjh.org

Deadlines are in February. For complete details, visit Learn.MaltzMuseum.org.

SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

Smart about Smartphones When is

for your kids?

By Erin Sernoffsky

Cell phones are everywhere, deeply ingrained in every aspect of our lives. As parents rely on them to communicate with schools, coaches and doctors offices, many wonder when the time is right to entrust a phone to their kids, especially as they enter middle school.

Dr. Courtney Batt, is an adolescent medicine specialist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. While she readily acknowledges cell phones are now a fact of life, she is very clear about their significant drawbacks.

She points to social media as being particularly harmful for mental health with significant negative impacts on self-esteem and body image.

“Excessive cell phone use has been tied to negative mental health outcomes such as sleep disturbance, especially when phones are used before bedtime, and depressive symptoms as well as feelings of insecurity and impaired relationships with parents and at school,” Batt says. “In addition, other mental health problems like anxiety, hyperactivity and conduct problems have been linked to excessive cell phone use.”

But is it healthy to give kids access to a phone too early? And how can parents work with their children to stay safe emotionally, mentally and physically?

Make the Choice that Fits Best

Batt points out that there is no one-size -fits-all solution. Understanding your child, the risks and benefits of their specific situation and personality are all important to consider in decision-making.

She suggests parents look into smartphone alternatives such as basic flip phones or watches with restricted calling capabilities. Daysha L. of North Canton decided to purchase a Gizmo watch with her 11-year-old son, Maxwell, which allows him to communicate directly with them.

“He can have a limited number of approved contacts,” she says. ”He can also contact us using the Google Home Hub while his watch is charging.”

Daysha and her husband are confident in their choice, partially because Maxwell is neurodivergent and may lose a phone or become too immersed in it.

Having a reliable means to get in touch

with your kids, especially amidst the constantly shifting sands of after school activities, not only makes life easier, but safer. These were all contributing factors for mom Bernadette Hartman of Cuyahoga Falls, who purchased phones for her son and daughter when they were in fifth and fourth grades.

“The most important reason I bought them phones at that age was for their safety and my peace of mind,” she says. “The fact that I have shared custody meant sometimes we parents got confused on who was picking up who, so my kids were able to call me if they were getting a ride, or needed a ride —it was the easiest way to communicate with them, especially if there was an issue.”

Hartman did set limits. She had restrictions on apps such as YouTube, and linked the phones to her Google account so she was able to approve any download. She also had GPS location turned on so she could be sure where her kids were.

“I recommend the kids have at least a phone that they can call you on,” she advises. “Even if they have no data, at least they can call in case of

it safe to buy a phone

emergency.”

Phones and Boundaries for Kids

These sorts of rules and expectations at home are critical, no matter what age a family decides to trust their children with their own phones. According to Batt, limiting time spent on phones, monitoring content, setting clear family expectations are all important tools in keeping kids safe and healthy.

She recommends rules such as no cell phones before bed or charging in bedrooms, no phones during meals or other activities, and setting time limits throughout the day. A key component to this is making sure that as parents you are prepared to uphold the same rules and boundaries you set for your kids.

With parents drowning in a sea of apps, games, and trends, it often makes it nearly impossible for even the most careful parents to stay ahead of the game. Fortunately, there are resources to help.

Common Sense Media provides parents reviews on games, apps, TV, movies, and more helping families make more informed decisions (commonsensemedia.com).There are also games like spotthetroll.com, and getbadnews.

com which help kids become more aware consumers of online content.

Also, parents should familiarize themselves with all parental controls available to them through the phone or specific apps, and be aware of their uses and their limitations.

While kids may want their phones to connect to their friends and peers, Akron Public Schools have found more real connection happened when they placed significant limits on phones on school campuses.

Kim Sabetta, campus principal at Ellet Community Learning Center, was part of a pilot program which utilized Yondr pouches, individual bags that lock students’ phones away throughout the school day. Starting in March of 2023 Sabetta recalls it took approximately two weeks for students to become accustomed to the new rules, and the positive effects to hold.

“We noticed immediately the increased social interaction that was taking place at lunch and the halls for students,” Sabetta says. “Teachers overwhelmingly identified that the implementation of the Yondr pouch has reduced student distractions resulting in increased student learning opportunities.”

According to Sabetta, implementation was not hard, however she notes that adults needed to be mindful of the anxiety children felt at not having their phones, and they had to work to reassure students and parents it was not a punishment, but rather a way to encourage better interaction between students as well as attention and participation in the classroom.

The program was so successful at addressing student connection, behavior and learning that the district decided to expand to 13 additional schools.

At the end of the day, phones aren’t going away, but making sure your family is ready to collaborate on owning one safely is the top priority.

“We have to recognize that in today’s society it’s challenging to function without a mobile device,” Batt says. “Cell phones are one important way that our kids stay connected to their peers, and we acknowledge that these peer relationships are important for growth and development. The real challenge becomes balancing the necessary use of cell devices for daily activities with excessive use.”

PARENTAL CONTROLS HELP

Parental control apps can be a great tool to help parents monitor everything from screen time, to online bullying, to inappropriate content. Here are five great options to help keep your kids safe, all available on iOS and Android devices.

AURA

Monitor bullying on online games, limit access to certain apps, set screen time limits, even pause the internet on certain connected devices.

FAMILYKEEPER

FamilyKeeper provides parents with an at-a-glance screen time report and easily helps parents set time limits for certain apps. It also provides location tracking ability as well as sends alerts for concerning social media activity as well as customizable safe browsing settings.

LIFE360

Life360 is a geo-tracking app that lets parents know the location of all family members. This app is especially great for parents of older kids, or for working parents who want to make sure their kids make it home from school safely.

CANOPY

Canopy is a great option for families with younger kids who are not yet texting and calling, but parents do want to protect them against explicit content, inappropriate apps, and even protecting privacy by limiting kids’ abilities to share photos of themselves.

QUSTODIO

With various subscription levels, Qustodio offers different levels of oversight based on your family’s needs including game and app blocking, safe search and web filtering, activity reports, time limits, calls and message monitoring, and restricted times, particularly helpful near bedtime.

Helping children behavior of

change the BULLYING

By Rachel Abbey McCafferty

In 2021, almost 44% of Ohio middle school students said they had been bullied on school grounds at some point in their lives; about 30% said they had been bullied electronically.

That’s according to data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for the state. The goal of the survey is to track those behaviors in order to reduce and prevent them, says Kristina N. Knight, associate director of the master of public health program at Case Western Reserve University, which administers the survey in Cuyahoga County. Adolescence is both a “pivotal” and “transitional” time, Knight says, one in which habits and life skills are formed.

With October being National Bullying Prevention Month and Ohio School Safety Month, it’s a good time for parents to think about what strategies they can discuss with their child when bullying arises.

“Unfortunately, like most things, and especially with safety, there’s no onesize-fits-all solution to bullying,” says Emily Torok, executive director of the Ohio School Safety Center.

It’s up to schools to assess situations and identify possible solutions. Schools in Ohio are required to have anonymous reporting options, Torok says, which gives students a safe way to alert adults about bullying incidents.

It’s important to teach appropriate behavior, just like we teach academics,” says Patti Fetzer, director of whole child supports at the Stark County Educational Service Center. “And to keep in mind that some students will need additional support in learning that, whether they are being bullied or engaging in bullying behaviors.”

What to do when your child talks to you

If a child talks to a parent about being bullied, it’s important to reassure the child that it isn’t their fault, Torok says. And, to validate that however

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they’re feeling is OK. Parents should consider encouraging their child to talk to a mental health professional, like a counselor.

“Even if you don’t necessarily think your child needs it, it’s always going to be good to have someone else to talk to,” Torok says.

Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in Minneapolis, says removing the “stigma” of bullying so children feel comfortable talking to an adult is important, as, oftentimes, bullying behavior takes place away from adults. And that goes for the child experiencing the bullying behavior and those witnessing it. The messages that someone witnessing bullying should keep it to themselves, or not tattle, are in the past.

If a child sees another child being bullied, they can take a number of steps to help, Hertzog says. If they feel safe in the situation, they can try to remove their peer from the bullying, asking them to sit or play with them instead. If they don’t feel safe, they can approach the child after and let them know that they didn’t deserve the behavior, and encourage them to talk to an adult. For students who witness cyberbullying, they too can support the victim by telling a trusted adult, commenting something positive to counteract the bullying or sending the student being targeted a message of support privately. Small actions can make a big difference.

“So much about being bullied is also starting to feel isolated and feeling alone, feeling like you deserve this, especially when no one else is telling you anything different,” Hertzog says.

When bullying goes virtual

The basics for supporting students experiencing cyberbullying are the same as in-person: make sure children know it isn’t their fault, and that they can and should tell a trusted adult about it.

Additional tips for parents

Adults should be thinking not only about talking to children about bullying, but about how they talk about others –—people who may be different than them, or with whom they disagree, says Fetzer. That goes for in-person and online conversations. It’s critical to be a role model.

In the case of bullying, parents and guardians should work with their child’s school‚ not the other child’s parent —to find a solution. Trying to work directly with another parent can backfire, as it might escalate the issue, explains Torok.

PACER has some further tips unique to cyberbullying on its website, pacer.org. A big one is that students should keep documentation of the bullying behavior. They can share screenshots or texts with a parent or other adult, who can keep the evidence if the student wants to remove it from their devices or accounts. Families can also contact social media sites for advice on addressing cyberbullying on their individual platforms.

And, in general, parents can start talking to children about these intervening behaviors early, encouraging them to find ways to include students who are somehow excluded. Talking about differences is also important, particularly in the middle school years when fitting in is a big focus.

If a parent finds out their child is doing the bullying, holding them accountable —so they can change their behavior— is important, Hertzog says. Some children may not realize that they are hurting others with their words or actions, so education is the first step. And helping children develop empathy and see the behavior from the victim’s point of view is critical, too.

“We say that bullying is about behavior, and behavior can be changed,” Hertzog says.

“Even if you don’t necessarily think your child needs it, it’s always going to be good to have someone else to talk to,” Torok says.

Days are busy with schoolwork, after school activities and family responsibilities. It can feel complicated and overwhelming at times, especially as you and your middle schooler navigate these years. You might be asking yourself how can you simplify and support your tween’s development.

Elisa “E” Hennies, youth development

Navigating Your Tween’s Independence

director at the Lake County YMCA. “E” as she is known, has been working with youth for 25 years shares its importance to foster self-sufficiency in our children.

“Independence is an essential part of a youth’s journey,” she says. “While developing the skills to gain independence, that inherently engages them in self-discovery. Youth discover what values they are pas-

By Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

sionate about, as well as what they value most in life. In addition to self-discovery, growth in independence also helps grow confidence. That self-confidence goes hand in hand with their self-discovery. Having that confidence to be their unique selves is key.”

Here are some practical tips to help your tween build skills towards indepen-

How to help your child to become more self-sufficient in school, activities or at home.

dence.

What advice do you have for parents in terms of their role in helping their child make their own decisions and take primary care for areas of their lives (i.e., schoolwork, communicating with a coach, etc.)?”

Hennies: “Respect your child and see them as competent individuals to build their confidence and that their words and feelings matter. Validating showing empathy for their feelings is important. Preteens and teens are going through a roller coaster of emotions during that time, and they are just looking for a safe person that will listen to and support them. Being a good listener and guiding your child (allowing them to talk through it by utilizing open ended questions) rather than deciding for them or telling them their decision is inadequate is also key.”

“Finally, establishing boundaries and consistency is a great lesson and guide for growth of these skills. While they do not know it, youth crave boundaries/ structure/routine, etc. Will they push

those boundaries? Of course! Didn’t you?

As a parent, by setting those boundaries and being clear and consistent with your expectations, your child will start to gain their own internal discipline, respect, and responsibility, as well as guide them back to those values that are important to them.”

Where should parents start?

Hennies: “Talk things out with your child. Coach them through their decisions or conflicts, allowing them to figure it out for themselves, but with your support and guidance.”

She suggests the following::

• Be a good listener, keep open dialogue and let the “feels” flow.

• Show love and support in all situations.

• Remember, respect is a two-way street.

• Set clear and consistent boundaries and expectations.

How can parents provide your child with space and opportunities to gain experience in being self-sufficient?

Hennies: “Help your child get organized. Think about what makes your child tick and will engage them in getting organized: a wipe board? A notebook? An app? Encourage your child to make a list of upcoming tasks and activities. Map out each day and items due and activities. This can include school work as well as extracurricular activities, as well as family and friend fun. Under each activity, encourage your child to note needed items. These can include items like books or sports equipment.

With each opportunity for self-reliance, have a quick check in and ensure your child understands and can break down their responsibilities into bite sized bits. What do they need to do? Prepare something? Communicate something?

As much as possible, establish daily routines that build in opportunities for

independence. These can be anything from setting their alarm clock, preparing their lunch, to ensuring they have everything they need in their backpack for school the next day.

Continue to monitor, check-in and coach and help your child learn from both their successes and failures. If they forget something, do not panic. Be calm, supportive and provide the opportunity for them to make things right and learn from their oversight.”

Every parent wants to see their child successful, in whatever success looks like for them, so helping them grow with little snippets of independence along the way will lay that foundation,” Hennies says. “Opportunities for independence will help the youth grow in skills such as responsibility, decision making, problem solving, resilience,

Jeannie Fleming-Gifford has an MA in family and consumer sciences with a specialization in child development and is the VP of Programming at Lakeside Chautauqua. Her passions include outdoor adventures, writing, animals, and coffee!

Sunday, October 8 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Stillwater Place from 11 - 2

With dozens of schools, education-related businesses, after-school and other enrichment programs all under one roof, attendees will have the opportunity to discover a variety of options for their children’s educational and enrichment needs.

Silver Sponsors: Accel Schools, Creative Playrooms, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, Hawken School, Incarnate Word Academy, Lake Ridge Academy, Northeast Ohio Classical Academy, University School

Bronze Sponsors: St. Ignatius and The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School

Scan for more information and to register now:

MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDE LISTINGS

CLEVELAND MONTESSORI

Cleveland Montessori has been serving the Little Italy and Greater Cleveland community for over 25 years, providing an education for life, which celebrates diversity, growth and joy. Students from preschool through eighth grade are met with respect and compassion as they strive to meet their individual potential in beautifully prepared classrooms that offer social, emotional and academic experiences in a unique urban setting. Apply now for 2023-24. 216-421-0700, info@clevelandmontessori.org, clevelandmontessori.org

GILMOUR ACADEMY

After beginning their personalized academic journey at Gilmour’s Lower School, students transition seamlessly to the Middle School. There, our seventh and eighth graders are afforded every opportunity to explore new passions and develop their talents in a highly individualized learning environment. They are able to take advanced courses at the Upper School and join their Upper School peers in a variety of club offerings, making for a smooth transition into high school. gilmour.org

HATHAWAY BROWN

For nearly 150 years, Hathaway Brown School has educated and empowered girls. The K-12 day school in Shaker Heights is regionally and nationally recognized as a top girls’ school for their Learn for Life Signature Approach. Their model for education integrates distinguished academics, empowered girls, knowledge in action, and a celebrated community of students, alums, and faculty and parents. Learn more at HB.edu/edu

HAWKEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Hawken’s Middle School program focuses on building strong academic skills while placing an increasing emphasis on personal responsibility. They partner with parents to ensure that students receive the optimal balance of structure, freedom, nurture, and support that will enable them to successfully navigate this exciting and challenging transition into adolescence. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and student choice, students become active participants in their education as they immerse themselves in the process of learning and discovery. Establishing a solid academic foundation is essential to your child’s intellectual development. They emphasize adaptability and creativity in their approaches to instill excitement and enthusiasm for learning and to build your child’s confidence and problem-solving ability. hawken.edu

HERSHEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Hershey Montessori Middle School provides the ideal setting for students to expand their knowledge and embark on adult-like responsibilities, resulting in a solid, unique foundation for young adulthood. Their adolescent program embraces social-emotional learning and diversity within our community and is tailored to individual developmental needs. Integrated studies lead to sophisticated problem-solving and contributions to their school community. Students thrive as they learn and work together on the 97-acre campus. Visit them to learn more. hershey-montessori.org

JULIE BILLIART SCHOOLS

Julie Billiart Schools, a private, Catholic network of kindergarten through eighth grade schools in Akron, Brecksville, Lyndhurst, and Westlake, educate and empower children with mild to moderate autism, ADD/ ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning and social differences. JB celebrates potential, nurtures curiosity, and customizes teaching to their students’ unique learning styles. Students are surrounded by strategically designed classrooms, small student-to-teacher ratios, onsite therapies, and state-of-the-art technology. JB students are supported by onsite therapists and certified intervention specialists. juliebilliartschools.org

LAKE RIDGE ACADEMY

Lake Ridge Academy is an independent kindergarten through grade 12 college preparatory school. Strong academic programs, engaging faculty, and an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio creates an educational environment that fuels a student’s passion for learning. Lower School students learn to think critically through a rich, hands-on curriculum that connects them to the natural world. Special emphasis is placed on social-emotional learning and cultural appreciation through world language classes. Their fall K-12 preview day will be Mon. Oct. 23. Register online lakeridgeacademy.org

MENLO PARK ACADEMY

Menlo Park Academy is the state’s only tuition-free school for gifted children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school offers an innovative, accelerated curriculum, including nine high-schoolcredit classes, the opportunity to learn alongside like-minded peers, and a faculty dedicated to meeting the unique needs of gifted children. Students can explore their passions, build friendships, and find belonging as well as academic and social emotional success. Menlo Park Academy is the #1 charter elementary, #1 charter middle school, ranked #13 of all kindergarten through fifth grade Ohio public schools (niche.com).menloparkacademy.com

RUFFING MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights is more than just a school for children ages 18 months through eighth grade. It is a beloved community where children are guided by experienced Montessori-trained teachers and immersed in a rigorous curriculum. Explore their beautiful classrooms and see why Ruffing is the compelling school of choice for so many at the Admissions Open House on Nov. 11 from noon-2 p.m. Register at ruffingmontessori. net or call 216-321-7571

MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDE LISTINGS

ST. HILARY SCHOOL

The Future Begins Here. St. Hilary School in Fairlawn serves students in grades K-8 in a faith-based environment with a curriculum that challenges and accommodates diverse learning abilities. The average student-teacher ratio is 19:1. Special offerings include Spanish, French, Chinese, religion, art, music, physical education, technology, advanced math, and enrichment opportunities. Many extracurricular activities, as well as auxiliary, remedial, clinic, lunch, and extended care services, are available. 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, 330-867-8720, ext. 343, st-hilaryschool.org

ST. PAUL WESTLAKE

St. Paul Westlake Church and School offers traditional and contemporary worship. They are nationally accredited and offer an outstanding Christian education for students starting at age 3 to eighth grade. Tuition aid is now available to all families (K-8) thanks to Ohio’s EdChoice Expansion Scholarships Program, and nearly every family qualifies. In addition, Preschool and Pre-K can apply for the LSGOO. Join the Tiger Family. stpaulwestlake.school

ST. SEBASTIAN PARISH SCHOOL

St. Sebastian Parish School was recently named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, joining select high-performing schools across the country that are being recognized for exemplary teaching and learning. Every year since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has honored public and private elementary, middle, and high schools for overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. stsebastian.org

Middle School Book Shelf

By Shana O’Malley-Smith

Middle school is an important stage in a young person’s education and personal development, and reading books during these formative years plays an essential role in shaping their perspectives, expanding their knowledge, and fostering a lifelong love for literature. Here are a few book picks to encourage the exploration of diverse genres, characters, and themes.

THE AREA 51 FILES

By Julie Buxbaum

Aliens, sassy hedgehogs, and unexplained disappearances . . . Oh, my! Discover the secrets of the universe in this hilarious, highly illustrated middle-grade series.

THE GIVER

by Lois Lowry

In this Newbery Medal–winning classic, twelve-yearold Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind his fragile community.

EVERY SOUL A STAR

By Wendy Mass

At Moon Shadow, an isolated campground, thousands have gathered to catch a glimpse of a rare and extraordinary total eclipse of the sun. Told from three distinct voices and perspectives, the author weaves an intricate and compelling story about strangers coming together, unlikely friendships, and finding one’s place in the universe.

ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD: A WORLD WAR 2 NOVEL IN VERSE

By Dana VanderLugt

Set against the backdrop of WWII, this achingly beautiful middle grade novel in verse based on American history presents the dual perspectives of Claire, a Midwestern girl who longs for college even as she worries for her soldier brother, and Karl, a German POW who’s processing the war as he works on Claire’s family farm. This poignant and moving story of an unlikely connection will stay with readers long after the final page.

ALEX WISE VS. THE END OF THE WORLD

By Terry J. Benton-Walker

One 12-year-old boy leads the charge against the forces of evil as he tries to stop the Four Horsemen from taking over the world in the start to a wildly funny and addictive fantasy series about accepting yourself and finding your inner hero.

WHEN YOU REACH ME

By Rebecca Stead

Shortly after a fall-out with her best friend, sixth grader Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes, and she doesn’t know what to do. The notes tell her that she must write a letter—a true story, and that she can’t share her mission with anyone. It would be easy to ignore the strange messages, except that whoever is leaving them has an uncanny ability to predict the future.

When to Place Your Child in Therapy

By Aisha Taylor

Good mental health is important for children because it is linked to healthy childhood development and achieving important developmental milestones. Sometimes, a child may begin to struggle with concerning behaviors, speech, or thoughts. Oftentimes, that behavior can be linked to social or emotional challenges. If this happens, it is important to consider therapy. Therapy helps by changing thoughts which can result in improved behavior and healthier outcomes.

Why might a child need therapy?

There are a variety of signs that show children may need therapy. Some of these are linked to falling short of developmental milestones, a major family or life change, anxiety, or bullying. Here are some typical reasons.

ANXIETY

“We tend to see children with intense anxiety that gets in the way of their daily functioning like doing regular tasks, going to school, feeling comfortable at school, or being able to separate from their parents,” explains Leah Fellenstein, counselor at Abundant Life Counseling. Anxiety is not just limited to major trauma like a major family change or

death of a loved one. According to Fellenstein, sometimes it can occur after exposure to something that was scary such as a movie or something they heard in a story.

“The scared response is developmentally normal if it lasts a night or two but, if it continues and they are not sleeping, then they need some tools to figure out how to handle the anxiety,” she says.

DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL

Difficulty in school may be linked to a mental health concern. A child who has trouble focusing, difficulty getting motivated, or problems taking action at home or school may need therapy.

MAJOR FAMILY CHANGES

Children who experienced a significant family transition such as a move, divorce, or death may benefit from therapy. However, a big family change does not always mean the child will need therapy. Therapy can be helpful if the child is struggling to accept those changes.

BULLYING

Bullying impacts self-esteem and often causes increases in anxiety and depression.

“Often the work with kids who are being bullied and kids engaging in bullying behaviors, looks really similar,” Fellenstein says. “Both groups usually need to work on reducing negative selftalk/low self-esteem and benefit from learning assertive and healthy communication skills.”

Are there signs that a child needs therapy based on age?

Therapy is helpful for children who cannot meet typical tasks for school or tasks that are expected for their age.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

Separation anxiety in children age 2 or in preschool is normal developmental behavior. Therapy may be appropriate if your child is elementary school age or older and gets really upset and can’t calm themselves down when it’s time to separate.

In younger children, parents typically will see a change in the child’s behavior or mood. They may have more meltdowns and express defiance.

ADOLESCENTS

It is common for adolescents ages 9-14 to have shifts in their mood and changes in their behavior because of puberty. However, Fellenstein suggests

therapy “when they are just really not acting like themselves for an extended period of time — like a couple of weeks. Also, therapy can help if something seems off, they are withdrawn, or keeping to themselves.”

TEENAGERS

Teens tend to be more verbal. Fellenstein says, “Irritability is actually the most common sign of depression in teenagers. Many people think signs of depression are sad and mopey, but it is not. They snap at you, then they feel really bad, and then they withdraw.” Also, be aware of teens behaving in a way that has not been typical of them in the past. She advises, “Regardless of age, your child should be assessed immediately if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors. However, we see that most often with teenagers.”

Who should parents speak with if they believe their child needs therapy?

A pediatrician or school counselor can help you determine if your child’s behavior is developmentally appropriate or if the child needs therapy. Fellenstein recommends speaking with a pediatrician “if you notice that your child is not themselves, unable to recover from the up and down, or gets stuck in the down for more than two weeks.”

She adds that your child’s pediatrician can also help equip you with tools that may help your children before trying therapy.

If you are really concerned, consider asking a therapist for an evaluation. A therapist can assess your child and then provide a recommendation. It is also possible the child does not need therapy. The most important thing is, parents trust their parental instincts and seek therapy if they are concerned.

What questions should parents ask before placing their child in therapy?

If therapy is recommended, you should meet with the therapist first

without your child to see if it may be a good fit.

“This will help parents understand how the therapist might mesh with their kid and how they approach therapy. I recommend this up to age 16,” Fellenstein says.

Before selecting the therapist, ask about certifications, educational background, and training. This information is on the therapist’s website or their “Psychology Today” profile. This will help you know whether the therapist has a strong background in understanding children and their approach to therapy.

“It is not sufficient training for someone to go to school for therapy and only takes a couple of classes about working with kids,” Fellenstein says. “They either need to have been supervised and taught as they gained experience, or they need a background in children, or both.”

Parents should also consider their own need for counseling so they can learn how to better respond to, support, and equip their child.

If you decide that your child needs therapy, then ask if the therapist accepts your health insurance and if your insurance policy covers mental health services. If not, explore whether free or reduced cost programs exist. If these do not exist, you may need to pay out-ofpocket for sessions.

Does this make me a bad parent?

Sometimes parents are afraid to seek mental health treatment for their children because of stigma and embarrassment. If your child needs therapy, this does not make you a bad parent.

“We deliberately teach kids math, science, and how to read and write. We’re starting to be more deliberate in teaching them feelings and healthy coping skills. So the expectation that we should just know how to deal with our feelings isn’t fair,” Fellenstein says. “Therapy is providing you and your child with the tools necessary to help connect the pieces and have better self-awareness and understanding.”

October CA lenDAR

THROUGH 10/8

Big Bounce America. A crazy inflatable landscape filled with some of the most amazing, completely customized attractions you’ll ever see. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Road. thebigbounceamerica.com.

THROUGH 10/31

Candytopia. A sprawling sanctuary of confectionery bliss that has delighted so many major cities. Legacy Village, 250001 Cedar Road, Beachwood, legacy-village.com

10/18

Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza. Disney Junior characters and Marvel Super Heroes live on stage for a jam-packed, concertstyle show. 6 p.m. State Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org

yourColorFall with FUN!

Pick - a - day

TUESDAYS

Teen Aerial Class. An escape from the norm into an extraordinary atmosphere built on the foundation of personal growth, self-knowledge and pride. 6 p.m. Sky Aerial Studio, 4700 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, skyaerialstudios.com

Art & Soul. Explore your artistic side by creating works of art while listening to some chill vibes. Through 11/28. 4-5 p.m. Lee Road Branch Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org

TUESDAY & THURSDAY

After School Teen Program. A place to decompress, have a meal and play some games.

2:45-5 p.m. That Place for Teens, 1480 Pearl Road, Brunswick, thatplace4teens.com

Delight Nights. Interactive play and fun with full access to 25 exhibits. Through 12/31. 5-8 p.m. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org

WEDNESDAYSUNDAY

The National Park Scenic Excursion. Take in the beauty and wonders while meandering through miles of nature and cityscapes in a vintage rail car. Through 11/3. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, cvsr.org

THURSDAYS

Step Up Club. 4, 5, and 6 year olds on their own for stories, songs and crafts. 10-10:45 a.m. and 1:30-2:15 p.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org

FRIDAYS

Walkabout Tremont. Feed your creative side with art vendors, live music, food, and more. Second Friday of each month. facebook.com/ walkabouttremont

Homeschool Skate. Exciting and beneficial form of recreation for home school children. 10/6-12/22. 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Mentor Ice Area, 8600 Munson Road, mentoricearena.com

SATURDAYS

Family Saturdays at Skylight Park-Tower City. Games, crafts, live entertainment and more. First and third Saturdays. 12-4 p.m. 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, towercitycenter.com

Comic Club. Learn to juggle works with images in unexpected ways with artist Juan Fernandez. 10/7, 11/4 & 12/2. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Community Arts Center, 2937 W. 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org

SUNDAYS

Family FUNday. Family-friendly games, movement-based activities, art, and more. First Sunday of each month. 1-4 p.m. Community Arts Center, West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org

Mentor Marsh Family Hike. Come explore the forest. 2-3:30 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, The Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, 5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, cmnh.org

PHOTO BY THE BIG BOUNCE AMERICA 2023 TOUR. (THEBIGBOUNCE AMERICA.COM)

Fall Fun Events

Pick-A-Day

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Derthick’s Corn Mazes. Corn mazes, jump pad, monster clue maze game, safe archery and big slides. 10/6-29. Derthick’s Corn Maze, 5182 Twinsburg Warren Road, Mantua, derthickcornmaze.com

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Hale Farm Harvest Festival. Experience the seasonal work of a 19th century farm like cider pressing and fermentation. 10/7-8. 10-4 p.m. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, wrhs.org

Fall Forest Fest. Fall wagon rides, pumpkin carving, costumes and canines and more. 10/7-29. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenfg.org

Old West Pumpkin Fest at Rockin’-R-Ranch. More than just pumpkins, it’s fall fun for everyone. Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5 p.m. 19066 East River Road, Columbia Station, clevelandhayride.com

Ongoing

THROUGH

Mid October

Pick Your Own Apples. Pick some great Ohio apples and take a wagon ride.10 a.m.-5 p.m. Patterson Farms, 8765 Mulberry Road, Chesterland, pattersonfarm.com

Corn Maze. Winding paths that steer you to intersections where you must decide where to go. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road., Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

THROUGH 10/22

Pumpkin Pandemonium. Scavenger hunt, Harvest Maze, hayride and more. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, heritagefarms.com

THROUGH 10/28

Pumpkins and Ponies. Pony rides, horse rides, hayrides and more. Fridays and Saturdays. Spring Mist Farms, 691 Pearl Road, Brunswick Hills, springmistfarms.com

THROUGH 10/29

U-Pick Apples & Fun Farm Activities. U-pick, maze and other activities. Weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 50336 Telegraph Road. Amherst, hillcrestfunfarm.com

Family Fun Fest. Enjoy giant covered straw piles, tons of slides, pedal tractors, and more. Patterson’s Farm. 8765 Mulberry Road, pattersonfarm.com

Fall Vibes Family Fest. Games, crafts and family fun. 12-2 p.m. Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road, Avon, loraincountymetroparks.com

THROUGH 10/31

Pumpkin Days at Nickajack Farms. Pumpkin bowling, paintball, and a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 2955 Manchester Ave., Canal Fulton, nickajackfarms.com

Day-By-Day

10/6-28

Pumpkins and Ponies. Pony rides, horse rides, hayrides and more. Fridays and Saturdays. Spring Mist Farms, 691 Pearl Road, Brunswick Hills, springmistfarms.com

10/7

Solon Fall Fest. Decorate pumpkins, play in the corn box, compete in backyard games and enjoy a petting zoo. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Solon Community Park, 6645 SOM Center Road, solonohio.org

Shaker Lakes AutumnFest. Decorate a magic pumpkin, climb the enchanted beanstalk, take a hike, enjoy face painting, and make a children’s craft. Shaker Lakes Nature Center. 2600 South Park Blvd, Shaker Hts., shakerlakes.org

10/7-8

Apple Butter Festival. Take turns stirring apple butter, watch giant kites fly, shop, and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Century Village Museum, 14653 E. Park St., Burton, centuryvillagemuseum.org

10/8

Fall Foliage Hike. Join a naturalist on this 2-mile trek to enjoy the autumn colors while they last. 3-4 p.m. Munroe Falls, Lake Area, 521 S. River Road, summitmetroparks.org

10/26

Family Pumpkin Painting. Design, paint and bedazzle pumpkins together. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bay Arts, 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, bayarts.net

THROUGH 10/19

ReelAbilities Film Festival. Promotes awareness of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Locations and times vary. summitdd.org

THROUGH 11/30

Trekking Through Autumn. Hike eight or more designated trails and receive an award. Medina County Park District, medinacountyparks.com

day - by - day

10/5-7

Rocktober Museum. Visit the curated rock and mineral museum and talk to a local geology expert. Morgan Operations Center, 8505 Nicodemus Road, Shalersville, co.portgage.oh.us

10/7

String Instrument Petting Zoo. Watch a narrated performance of “The Story of Ferdinand” then participate in an instrument petting zoo. 4:30 p.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org

10/8

Education & Enrichment Expo at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Discover a variety of options for your children’s educational and enrichment needs. 8-11 a.m. Stillwater Place, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, northeastohioparent.com

10/10

Artful Impact. Students in grades K-8 express yourselves and make an impact. 4-5 p.m. Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road, cuyahogalibrary. org

10/12

Creative Writing for Homeschoolers. Nature will serve as your inspiration. Ages 8-12. 2-3:15 p.m. Oenslager Nature Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Ctr., medinacountyparks. com

Family Literacy Night. An interactive family activity, incorporating tips that can be used at home to strengthen literacy. 6-7 p.m. Euclid Library, 631 E 222nd St, Euclid, euclidlibrary.org

10/13

Date Night: Campfire Cooking. Spend time around the warmth of the coals learning how to cook a pie iron meal together. Quail Hollow Park, 13480 Congress Lake Ave., Hartville, starkparks.com

Wings of Women (WOW) STEM Conference. Middle and high-school-aged young women explore potential STEM careers, engage in activities and more. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. International Women’s Air & Space Museum, Burke Lakefront Airport,1501 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, iwasm.org

10/14-22

Stellaluna: Talespinner Children’s Theatre. Baby bat Stellaluna’s life is knocked off balance when an owl attacks her mother one night. 5209 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, talespinnerchildrenstheatre. org

10/15

Junior Farmer. Great handson learning opportunity for the animal and nature lovers on a farm in Aurora. 10-11 a.m. Party at the Barn, 945 Bartlett Rd., Aurora, partyatthebarn.farm

10/17

Homeschool Gym Class. Get active with different physical activities. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square, we247.org

10/18

Mess Makers at the Akron Art Museum. Learn, play and explore creation stations for the messiest kids. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org

10/21

Dads and Donuts at Pure Passions Farm. Free donuts, coffee and a bucket of feed for the animals. 2-4 p.m. 7679 Season Road, Kent, purepassionsfarm.com

Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease. 8 a.m. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, act.alz.org/cleveland

- CONTINUED ON PAGE 56 -

PARENT & CHILD EVENTS

TUESDAYS

Baby Time. Lap bounces, active rhymes, songs, books and group play time. 10:3011:30 a.m. Through 11/14. Ellet Branch Library, 2470 E. Market St., Akron, akronlibrary.org

Toddler Tuesday Storytime. Stories, songs, movement and crafts. 10:30-11 a.m. Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna, reedlibrary.org

Family Fun Storytime. A toe-tapping, hand-clapping good time of stories, songs and rhymes. Through 12/12. 7 p.m. Euclid Public Library, 631 E 222nd St, Euclid, euclidlibrary.org

Willowick Storytime. Entertaining stories and activities to encourage literacy development. Through 11/14. 10-10:30 p.m. Willowick Public Library, 263 E. 305th St., we247.org

MONDAYS

Baby and Me Story Time. A fun interactive session using songs, rhymes, puppets and musical instruments. 10-10:30 a.m. Through 12/11. Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., wadsworthlibrary.com

Baby Story Time. Stories, fingerplays, songs, and more. Through 11/13. 11 a.m. Twinsburg Public Library, 10050 Ravenna Road, 330425-4268, twinsburglibrary.org

Preschool Storytime. Stories, songs, activities, and rhymes. 11 a.m. Through 11/20. Woodland Branch Library, 5806 Woodland Ave., Cleveland, cpl.org

Toddler Tales. Stories, songs, and rhymes for children 2-3 years old and their caregivers. 10 a.m. Amherst Public Library, 221 Spring St., amherst.lib.oh.us

MONDAY & TUESDAY

Garrettsville Storytime. Songs, dance and crafts. 11 a.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Tuesday. Garrettsville Branch Library, 10482 South St., Garrettsville, portagelibrary.org

MONDAYWEDNESDAY

Tales Alive for 2-5s. Stories, songs, playtime and craft. 10:30-11 a.m. Through 11/15. Cuyahoga Falls Library, 2015 Third St., cuyahogafallslibrary.org

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY

Stroller Strides at Crocker Park. A functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Westlake, crockerpark.com

MONDAYTHURSDAY

Frogs & Polliwogs. Hands-on activities, music, games and simple crafts. Ages 2-3 with an adult. 9:30 or 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, and 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

MONDAY & THURSDAY

Preschool Story Time. Stories, songs, dance and more. 10 a.m. Through 11/16. Peninsula Library, 6105 Riverview Road, 330-4677323, peninsulalibrary.org

Baby Bookworms. Learn rhymes, listen to stories, dance and have fun. Through 12/5. 10:30 a.m. Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, 440-352-3383, morleylibrary.org

Preschool Storytime. Rhymes, songs, fingerplays and books. 1:302 p.m. Lodi Library, 635 Wooster St., mcdl.info

October Lapsit. Songs, rhymes and fun with scarves and shakers. 10 a.m. Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road, kirtland.lib.oh.us

WEDNESDAYS

Rhythm & Rhyme. A story, music and movement class for preschoolers. 10/4-12/6. 10-11 a.m. Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, divi.geaugalibrary.net

Beats, Books & Bubbles. High energy music and bubble experience for toddlers and preschoolers. Through 11/8. 6:30 p.m. South Lorain Branch Library, 2121 Homewood Drive, lorainpubliclibrary.org

Baby Bonanza. Books, bopping and bouncing. 9:30 a.m. Coventry Village Branch Library, 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org

Fall Music and Movement Storytime. Stories, songs and activities. Through 11/29. 10-10:30 a.m. Garfield Heights Branch Library, 5409 Turney Road, cuyahogalibrary.org

Birth to 23 Months Storytime. For children age birth to 23 months and their families. Through 11/15. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Road, smfpl.org

Wiggle and Giggle. Come and have fun while increasing your child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being through play. 10-11 a.m. Elyria Central Library, 320 Washington Ave., Elyria, elyrialibrary.org

THURSDAYS

Waddlers. Songs, stories, rhymes and playtime. Through 11/30. 1010:30 a.m. Lee Road Branch Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org

Read and Sing with Me. Story time with music, movement and more. 10:30-11 a.m. North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St., ncantonlibrary.com

THURSDAYSATURDAY

Play and Learn Station. Designed to support early childhood development, build community, and make connections. Through 12/30. 10 a.m.-noon. Shaker Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd., shakerlibrary.org

FRIDAYS

Finger Paint Fridays. Bring your little one to explore their creativity. Through 12/29. 10 a.m.- noon. Mentor Headlands Branch Library, 4669 Corduroy Road, Mentor, mentorpl.org

Family Storytime at the Great Northern Mall. Join us for family storytime with the North Olmsted Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on the first Friday of each month. 11:30 a.m.-noon. 4954 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, greatnorthernohio.com

SATURDAYS

Family Storytime. Join in for rhymes, songs and play. Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Through 12/16. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org

Parent and Me at Talespinner Children’s Theatre. Theatre fun for parent and child (ages 0-3). Through 10/28. 9-9:45 a.m. 5209 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, talespinnerchildrenstheatre.org

AKRON ART MUSEUM THROUGH 5/12/24

LAND JAM. Two Ohio artists transform a museum gallery into an immersive, colorful, sensory experience. United by bold color and pattern, the installation promises to be a feast for the eyes. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org

AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER

ONGOING

2-ACRE OUTDOOR PARK. 60 foot long giant slide, 4 person helicopter swing, old fashioned merrygo-round, mini challenge course and 200 foot zip line. 2080 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com

AKRON ZOO

ONGOING

LEHNER FAMILY FOUNDATION

WILD ASIA. Recreates the Southeast Asia jungles and Himalayan forests. Lush tree canopies add to the ambiance while offering shade as guests roam throughout this exotic adventure. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org

ONGOING ATTRACTIONS

CANTON MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH 10/29

FAMILY ALBUM: OUR STORIES. Amy Pleasant is a Seattle figurative painter, born and raised in Ohio. Her work examines the most common of experiences; family, life transitions and generational change. 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, cantonart.org

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM CLEVELAND

ONGOING

THE MEADOW. Step into a tranquil space, designed specifically for children ages birth-3. Infants, crawlers, and early walkers have a bright, clean, sensory-rich environment to explore, as they make sense of this fascinating world.3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, cmccleveland.org

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN

ONGOING

COSTA RICA GLASSHOUSE. Experience the year-round exuberance you can find only in a Central American rainforest with towering trees, ever-blooming shrubs, and more. 11030 East Blvd., University Circle, cbgarden.org

CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO ONGOING

AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE. Visit koalas year-round at Gumleaf Hideout. See kangaroos and wallabies in Wallaby Walkabout, and visit Kookaburra Station for up-close animal encounters. 3900 Wildlife Way, futureforwildlife.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

THROUGH 12/31

ONE WORLD. ONE SKY: BIG BIRD’S ADVENTURE. Join Big Bird and Elmo on an unforgettable journey to the Moon and back. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, cmnh.org

GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER ONGOING

SCIENCE PHENOMENA. meet your inner scientist as you explore electricity and magnetism; light and optics; motion and mechanics; sound and resonance; and more. 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, greatscience.com

GREATER CLEVELAND AQUARIUM

ONGOING

SHARK GALLERY & SEA TUBE. With 230,000 gallons of water, this impressive space features three species of sharks, stingrays, eels and many other species of fish. 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com

HOLDEN ARBORETUM ONGOING

MURCH CANOPY WALK AND KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER. A 500-foot-long elevated walkway that’s 65 feet above the forest floor and a tower 12 stories tall provide a breathtaking view. 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org

LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER ONGOING

OUTDOOR ANIMAL EXHIBIT. Due to disabilities that prevent their survival in the wild, these animals receive quality care from the center’s highly trained staff and serve as ambassadors for their species. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, lensc.org

MALTZ MUSEUM 10/25-4/28

THE GIRL IN THE DIARY: SEARCHING FOR RYWKA FROM THE LODZ GHETTO. In 1945, a diary was found in the ashes of a destroyed crematorium in the liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp. Rywka’s diary told stories of a young girl who lost her siblings and parents, but never lost hope or her faith. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org

STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS THROUGH 10/31

CONNECTIONS: LOVE AND THE TIES THAT BIND. Explores the personal relationships in the multi-generational household of F.A. and Gertrude Seiberling. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org

October CALENDAR

Swan Lake. A ballet masterpiece that tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful swan princess under a spell. 7 p.m. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. North, Canton, cantonpalacetheatre.org

Family Fun Fair and Exceptionalities Expo. Trunk or treat, food, goodie bags and more. 12-3 p.m. The Church at Silver Lake, 2951 Kent Road, Silver Lake, mcbdd.org

Brunchtime Clay Date. A time of relaxation and socialization around the potter’s wheel. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Valley Art Center, 155 Bell St., Chagrin Falls, valleyartcenter.org

Fairmount Dance-A-Thon! 90’s theme dance party for the whole family. Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Novelty, fairmountcenter.org

10/28

Preserving Your Family Photographs. Learn to read clues in unidentified photographs and how to preserve them. 10:15-12:45 p.m. Akron Public Library, 60 High St., akronlibrary.org

11/5

First People’s Day. Delve into the unique history of Northeast Ohio nature cultures with talks, hikes and demonstrations. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted, clevelandmetroparks.com

By Jason Lea

Dad MATTERS

A Morning Appointment at the Princess Addiction Clinic

You’re here because your child has a Princess Addiction? I know your biggest questions so let me answer those first.

Yes, The Princess Phase is common. I hesitate to call the princess phase “normal,” because I’m unqualified to diagnose what’s normal. Children are inherently idiosyncratic. I’ve never met a normal kid in my life. If I did, it would terrify me.

No, it doesn’t last forever. Anecdotally, the princess phase can begin before the third birthday. It usually recedes by the time they’re five or six, but don’t be surprised if they dust off their old Elsa dress once or twice for nostalgia’s sake.

You’re not a bad feminist if your daughter enjoys dressing like Ariel or Anna. The stories are fun and the dresses are pretty. Assertive and smart is not mutually exclusive from fun and pretty. And when you’re watching the stories with your children, you can remind them that it’s a bad idea to (a) marry the first guy you meet and (b) get cosmetic surgery from an unlicensed sea witch.

You can’t make the phase end before they’re ready. That’s like telling your teenager that you hate their boyfriend or girlfriend. That sort of assertion has a zero-percent success rate. All you can do is introduce them to other interests that can supplant or complement the princess fixation when they’re ready.

To answer your final question, yes, we have the methadone for your child’s addiction – several options actually. But remember, it’s ultimately their choice when they’re prepared to move on.

First, you may have heard, but Barbie’s hot this year. Now you may have your concerns about Barbie – her figure is practically parody. Anything shaped like that should tell you when your eggs are done cooking.

But Barbie has a job. She has all the jobs! She’s a paleontologist, doctor and astronaut. If representation is important to you, then Barbie is here to represent.

You can also introduce your

child to the American Girls. On the plus side, your child can learn about different cultures and moments in American history. And there are so many American Girls now that your child will find one that resonates with them. (We are a Kit Kittredge home.)

There are books – so many books. But be warned: don’t crack those covers until you’re prepared for a heavy conversation. Those American Girl novels rack up a body count. Someone’s dying of diphtheria or getting gored during a buffalo hunt before it’s over.

On the minus side: that furniture is expensive. You can refurnish your bedroom for the cost of an American Girl playset. Kaya’s tepee costs more than some actual tepees.

Finally, I suggest my favorite Princess replacement: Fancy Nancy.

Nancy Clancy offers a lot of what makes princesses so attractive: fun outfits, proactive heroines and — if you watch the “Fancy Nancy” TV show – catchy music. Her stories also encourage creativity and (because Nancy’s in elementary school) she’s less boy crazy than your standard-issue Disney princess.

And she has books at all reading levels: picture books, starting readers, junior readers, even a series of chapter books. She has books where she learns about constellations and visits the art museum and solves mysteries. In fact, Nancy got her start as a literary character written by Jane O’Connor and drawn by Robin Preiss Glasser.

Now, if you’re familiar with Fancy Nancy, you may think she’s spoiled. For sure. But she usually gets what she deserves when she whines or makes bad choices.

Finally, if your child gets merch crazy, you don’t have to shell out hundreds on Fancy Nancy costumes and accessories. Tell your kid that Nancy would create her own fancy outfit and take ‘em thrift shopping, instead.

In conclusion, don’t let the Princess Phase – and it is a phase – stress you out. Your kids will spend their entire childhood (and adulthood too) trying on different identities, absorbing different lessons, and knitting them together into a person that’s uniquely themselves.

Besides, if you don’t like princess stuff, just wait until adolescence.

Jason Lea has a son, a daughter and a full-time job at the Mentor Public Library. He also blogs for Northeast Ohio Parent in his nonexistent free time. You can find this East sider on Twitter at @jasonmarklea or read his blog at northeastohioparent. com/bloggers