The splash pads may not be open yet, but there are still plenty of creeks to splash in and explore around the Queen City. So strap on your rain boots or water shoes and check out the best creeking spots around Cincinnati – as recommended by you!

It stinks seeing your kid sick and miserable. And if you’re anything like our family, your kid has been home sick and miserable a lot this year. So I put together 5 easy, low-key activities to do with your kids when they’re on the mend, but not ready to go back to school.

[ONE] Make a book

Coloring is a pretty low-key activity to do when your kiddo is feeling under the weather. Make it special by turning all their artwork into a book. Have your little artist make a special cover, then hole punch the side and tie string to create a book bind.

[TWO] Do a Drive-In Movie – in the Living Room

This is one of my favorite “mom hacks”. Turn watching a ton of tv into an activity by setting up a “drive-in movie”. Use a box to make a “car” – and and if your kid is up for a low-key activity, have them help decorate. For a non-crafty version, bring the cozy coup (or similar vehicle toy) inside for the day. Or heck, you could even use a laundry basket with a few pillows to make it comfy. Then you’re ready for your drive-in movie marathon.

[THREE] Have a fun bath

Spending time in a steamy bathroom is generally good for a snotty nose. Make it fun by adding in glow sticks, pom poms, plastic block toys (like LEGO Duplos), or even a popsicle. And no need to wait until bedtime – you can do a fun bath at any time of day.  

[FOUR] Build a block city

You know when you get to the point where you’ve been home a few days and all the toys have been pulled out? This is the activity for then. Grab your roads rug or make roadways by drawing on a flattened box. Then use blocks, LEGOS, Magnatiles, and whatever else is already scattered around your house to erect buildings for your city.

[FIVE] Easy sensory bin

I love an easy sensory bin because it’s great to be able to pull out our bin for something simple to do to pass the time. It’s also a simple activity to put on the floor that requires little energy but is still interesting and engaging. If you need ideas, I’ve got a whole list of easy sensory bins that typically take less than 10 minutes to setup and can easily be stored away.

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If you enjoyed this post, don’t miss our other fun at-home activities! And make sure to follow One Little Small on Pinterest for even more great ideas.

A royally fun play spot

What could be better than a super cool, royal toy store? How about one with a free play room to enjoy? The Dungeon is located in the basement of King Arthur’s Court Toy Store in Oakley.

Keep in mind

The Dungeon is open during regular store hours. This is a free play room, but is located within a business. It is not monitored by any employees, and there are not any specific areas designated for babies or younger kids.

The toys in the play room do change from time to time. There are also toys on display that are available for purchase.

The restrooms are upstairs, located at the back of the store.

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Overall, The Dungeon at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store is a fun, free spot to take the kids on a rainy day. Just be prepared to bring home a toy or two!

King Arthur’s Court Toys is located at 3040 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209

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If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out our complete list of Cincinnati Indoor Play Places to enjoy.

Looking for an activity to keep your little leprechauns busy and out of trouble? Well, you’re in luck! This St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin is easy to setup and will keep your littles entertained all March long.

And the best part? Most of the items for this sensory bin can be purchased at your local grocery or dollar store. But if you’d rather have it all shipped to your doorstep, check out the shopping links below.

Here’s what you’ll need for the St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin:

• Large, shallow container
• Fill (such as dried green split peas or dyed green rice)
• Assorted containers and scoops
• St. Patrick’s day decorations

The Setup

I love an easy, holiday-themed sensory bin, and our St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin is one of my favorites. For this bin, I use dried green split peas as the fill, and throw in some St. Patrick’s Day decorations and rainbow-colored trinkets. The best part about using the green peas as the fill is that it easily transitions to a spring or Easter-themed sensory bin after St. Patty’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day Bin Supplies Shopping Links

_{Disclosure: One Little Small is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission. I selected the products in this guide because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.}

You can pick up most of the supplies needed to make this sensory bin at the grocery store. But if you’d rather have everything arrive at your doorstep, you can use the shopping links below. I selected these items based on their similarity to the items I own and used for this sensory bin.

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And that’s it! All it takes is a few items – and a little bit of luck! – to make this holiday-themed sensory bin.

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Love easy sensory bins? Check out all of our sensory bin activities for more ideas!

Our 10 best ideas for early winter 2022

Yep, it’s still winter in Cincinnati. So I’ve pulled together of my 10 best Cincinnati winter bucket list ideas to get you through to spring.

Spend the day at the National Museum of the US Air Force

One place we frequent during winter time is the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton. The museum has over 360 aerospace vehicles on display, with exhibits ranging from the early years to space. The exhibits are housed in old hangers – making it a bit of an understatement to say it’s a HUGE space! One of my favorite exhibits is the Air Force One plane where LBJ was sworn in as president.

The museum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. And the best part? Admission and parking are free!

National Museum of the US Air Force is located in Dayton at 1100 Spaatz St, Dayton, OH 45431

Check out the Play Library

It’s not like a regular library, it’s a cool library. The Play Library in OTR works just like a regular library, but with games, toys, outdoor equipment and event rentals (like cornhole). You can currently visit the Play Library by appointment only. Please check their website on how to schedule.

The Play Library is located at 1306 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Go sledding

The most exciting activity you can do on a snowy day is to head for the hills and spend the day sledding. Now that my son is old enough to really enjoy sledding, I can’t wait to take him sledding at the big sledding hill – aka “Chill Hill” at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester. I remember when this hill was built and first opened – and there’s something special about doing something from your own childhood with your kids.

Chill Hill at VOA is open from 8:00am to dusk, weather and snow permitting.

Voice of America MetroPark is located in West Chester at 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester OH 45069

Enjoy a hot chocolate flight at The Cheesecakery

Love warming up with a mug of hot cocoa on a chilly day? Take it to the next level with a hot chocolate flight at The Cheesecakery. They offer the chance to sample their spectacular seasonal hot chocolates in a flight of 4. And did I mention they also offer flights of cheesecakes and lattes?

The Cheesecakery is located in Madisonville at 4901 Whetsel Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227

Have fun at Jumperoo at Urban Air Adventure Park

The activity that got us through winter last year was heading to Urban Air Adventure Park for the Jumperoo session. Held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30am to 12:30pm during the school year, this session is reserved for children ages 2 to 5.

I really like how Jumperoo is designated just for little kids. This made Urban Air the perfect space for my little guy to run off all that extra energy during the cold winter months. If you want to know more about Urban Air and Jumperoo, check out my full review below!

Urban Air Cincinnati is located in Oakley at 3321 Alamo Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Go on a downtown adventure

I love spending a day exploring our city – there is so much to see and do around Cincinnati. One of our favorite downtown adventures has been spending the morning playing at Washington Park Children’s Playground in OTR. Then hopping on the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar to take a spin around our city. And ending at Findlay Market to grab lunch – and some goodies for home.

Honestly, this is a great outing idea for any time of year, as long as it isn’t frigid or raining outside. And we found it pretty easy to navigate with our then three-year old.

Catch a Cincinnati Cyclones hockey game

Ah, another piece from my childhood (of course) – a Cincinnati Cyclones hockey game. I love the excitement that a hockey game has to offer, and can’t wait to share these moments with my own kids.

And if you haven’t had a chance to check out a game this season, don’t worry! Games are on the schedule through mid-April 2022.

The Cincinnati Cyclones play at Heritage Bank Center located at 100 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Grab a beer & go bowling at Hoppin’ Vines

This one is a fun one to do without the kids too! Hoppin’ Vines offers a huge selection of craft beers (and more), pizza, and duckpin bowling. I think this is a really fun way to take a dinner out with the family up a notch!

As for the duckpin bowling, Hoppin’ Vines describes it as bowling meets skee-ball. Something I think my 4-year old (and my not-so-athletic self) can handle!

Hoppin’ Vines is located at 8150 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, OH 45236

Play at We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym

We were recently invited to check out We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym and had an absolute blast! Located in Deer Park, WRTS is a kids gym designed for kids of all abilities to enjoy. The gym equipment is designed for children with sensory processing disorders, but the gym is open to all children.

In addition to the gym, there is also an infant & toddler area with a lot of play pretend toys, such as a grocery store and doctor office. The arts & crafts space features a chalk wall and is stocked with play-doh, paint, crayons, and more. There is also a large party room and a calming room in the gym area. 

The best time to go to WRTS is during open play. There is an open play session every week day and most weekends – depending on birthday parties. WRTS posts their schedule on their Facebook & Instagram pages.

We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym is located at 4060 E Galbraith Rd Unit 17, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Learn How to Curl

Looking for some Olympic-sized fun? Then take in a class at the Cincinnati Curling Club in West Chester. Their ‘Learn to Curl’ classes teach wannabe (Olympic hopeful) curlers the basic skills to get started in the sport. Check out their schedule to sign up for a class.

This activity is best reserved for older kiddos. The recommended age for the ‘Learn to Curl’ class is 10 years old, but you can contact the club about available options for younger kids.

The Cincinnati Curling Club is located at 5150 Duff Drive, West Chester, OH 45246

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No matter what type of fun you’re looking to have this winter, there’s something for everyone on my 10 Best Cincinnati Winter Bucket List. From sledding to a cool museum, and indoor play places to sporting activities, you’re bound to find something fun to do this winter in Cincinnati.

Looking to spend some koala-ty time doing activities with your kids? Here are 5 easy Valentine’s Day themed activities and crafts to do with your little ones this month. Valentine’s Day puns not included (for the most part).

[ONE] Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin

An easy, festive activity that can be used all month long is a Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin. For our V-Day sensory bin, I dyed rice red and pink, and added in assorted (durable) heart decorations. We keep our sensory bin in a container with a lid, making it super easy to pull out and enjoy any time.

[TWO] Toilet Paper Tube Heart Painting

This is the perfect activity for a kid who loves to paint. Here’s what to do: Take an empty toilet paper roll tube. Bend one side down into a point and the opposite side inwards to form a heart. It may help to tape around the circumference of the tube to keep the heart shape. 

Pour a palette of Valentine’s Day colors onto a paper plate, give the kiddos a canvas (construction paper), and let them stamp hearts using one end of the TP roll. Soon you’ll have a beautiful masterpiece!

[THREE] Heart Mosaic Craft

I loved this craft for when Ben was a toddler. It was a super easy way to make pretty valentines for our families. And it was a lot less messy than using paint.

Here’s what to do: Cut out hearts from white or light-colored construction paper. Then cut out small pieces of red, pink, and purple tissue paper. Pour some glue or mod podge onto a paper plate. Finally, use a sponge brush to paint the hearts and put the tissue paper onto the heart. You can also use a glue stick depending on your child’s age.

Let the hearts dry overnight before sending them out as valentines – or use as decorations to hang up around the house.

[FOUR] Love Monsters

One craft we’ve had fun making this year is TP Roll Monsters. So much so that we made TP Roll Monsters on Halloween, and then made Monster Turkeys out of paper plates and TP roll tubes on Thanksgiving. Carrying the tradition through, it only makes sense to make Love Monsters out of our stock of empty toilet paper tubes. However, you can easily modify this craft to make “love bugs” instead of monsters, if that’s more your jam.

Here’s what you’ll need: a few empty toilet paper rolls, a variety of age-appropriate art supplies (such as markers, crayons, etc), an assortment of stick-on or glue on decorations (stickers, adhesive gems, small heart shapes, etc.), and googly eyes. Trust me on the googly eyes – it makes the end result so much more fun (and funny).

Then let your kiddos go to town! There’s no right way for a love monster to look, so this is a perfect craft for creative kids!

[FIVE] Make Valentines

This make seem like an obvious choice, but I’ve found that family and neighbors love receiving a Valentine in the mail from my little one – no matter how old he is.

When Ben was a baby, I traced his hand and glued it on top of a heart and then onto card stock. Other years we made a heart mosaic or just colored a heart that I later glued onto a card. The younger they are, the simpler the craft should be.

Now that he is a bit older and actually enjoys spending time making valentines, I will pick up a DIY valentines kit from the store with everything we need. That way I can enjoy making one too – instead of being focused on set-up and clean up.

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I hope you liked these easy Valentine’s Day activities a whole guac! Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

If you enjoyed this post, don’t miss our other fun at-home activities! And make sure to follow One Little Small on Pinterest for even more great ideas.

The easiest way to customize a sensory bin

For our Valentine’s Day sensory bin, I decided to try something new for the fill – dyeing rice. I had avoided making anything so complicated for our seasonal sensory bins, but I really wanted a red and pink fill for this festive sensory bin.

Overall, it took less than an hour to dye the rice and was easier than I anticipated. And everything you need to make this sensory bin fill can be picked up during your regular grocery store trip.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Uncooked white rice 
• Vinegar
• Food coloring 
• Gallon size zip bag (1 bag per color)
• Measuring cups 
• Large pan or container for drying rice 
• Plastic fork

Steps

1. Pour desired amount of rice into bag
2. Add vinegar into the bag – 1 tbsp of vinegar per 1 cup of rice 
3. Add several drops of food coloring into the bag. The more food coloring, the more saturated the hue the rice will be.
4. Zip bag closed and shake rice around until fully coated with food coloring. It took me a few minutes of shaking and mashing the rice around to evenly coat. Add additional drops of food coloring as needed for desired color. 
5. Pour rice onto pan or container to dry. Use plastic fork to loosen any clumps.
6. Repeat for each color.
7. Optional: Occasionally stir rice around on pan to ensure even drying 

Tips

• Keep a Dustbuster handy for rice spills.
• If dyeing a large amount of rice, it may be easier to split into smaller groups. For example, I dyed 4 cups of rice in each color. I found it easier to dye 2 groups with 2 cups of rice than one group of 4 cups of rice.
• You can use any kind of uncooked white rice, but I noticed that the instant rice had the tendency to clump.
• It took a few minutes to fully coat the rice in food coloring once I added all the ingredients. And I did have to add quite a bit of red dye for the right hue. 

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Dyeing rice for a sensory bin is a great way to add some festive color to play time. It took less than an hour and used supplies we could easily pick up at the grocery store. It was definitely worth the time that it took to make!

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If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out our other sensory bin activities. And make sure to follow One Little Small Blog on Pinterest for even more great ideas!

Located in Blue Ash, Run, Jump-N-Play is an indoor play center where kids can truly run, jump and play. This is one of our favorite indoor play places to blow off steam when it is too rainy or chilly to play outside.

Run, Jump-N-Play is an indoor showroom filled with swing sets and outdoor play equipments with daily open play sessions for kids to enjoy. And make sure to visit on the weekend to enjoy the inflatable sessions.

Highlights

• Large, indoor space filled with swing sets, trampolines, sports courts, and a toddler zone
• Toddler zone is great for kids ages 5 and under
• Inflatable sessions available on weekends and special occasions
• Concession area with plenty of seating
• Great spot to run off energy when it’s too cold or rainy for a playground

Overview

Run, Jump-N-Play is essentially a large indoor showroom for swing sets and outdoor play equipment that is open daily with play sessions for kids to enjoy. The space is filled with swing sets, trampolines, basketball hoops, and more.

When you first walk in, the check-in counter is in front of you. One of two bathrooms is located down a short hallway to your left. To your right, on the other side of a half wall, is a large, pirate ship-themed swing set. Continuing right, you will find the soccer area, and then the basketball court.

Heading straight back from the check-in counter, you will find a row of tables you can use to put your things while you play. The inflatables are housed in a room directly to the left of the tables. To the right is the main play area. In this large space you will find a row of trampolines and a variety of swing sets.

At the back of the main play area is the toddler zone. This area is surrounded on all sides with a padded half wall, with a large, arched entry declaring this space the “Toddler Zone”. To the left of the toddler zone is the concession area filled with tables. At the back of this space is a short hallway to the second set of restrooms.

Main Play Area

The exact layout of the main play area changes throughout the year, but typically consists of several different swing sets and trampolines. This area has been helmed by a giant pirate ship swing set, followed by a the trampolines and more swing sets.

While the selection of swing sets have changes throughout the years, I have found that there is always been enough selection of features to entertain everyone from toddlers and big kids. With safety in mind, a safety net surrounds each trampoline, and it is restricted to 3 kids at a time.

Sports Courts

Towards the front of the space, next to the pirate ship swing set, are the sports courts. The soccer goal is set on a field of artificial turf. The basketball court is located in a separate space next to the soccer area. There are several different basketball hoop to enjoy.

Toddler Zone

At the back of the main play area is the Toddler Zone for kids ages 5 and under. And while it’s not gated in, this zone is surrounded on all sides with a half wall and only has 1 entrance.

While the features and layout within this space has also evolved, the toddler zone currently offers lots of big, padded blocks for building and playing, as well as a large piano to run across. The walls feature interactive toys, such as tic-tac-toe, puzzles, and a bead maze.

Inflatables

The inflatables run on weekends and special occasions. Children must be 36″ or taller to enjoy the inflatables. Also, be aware that these sessions are more expensive and typically more crowded than the weekday open play sessions.

The inflatables are housed in a separate area along the side and back of the space.

Bathrooms and Concessions

There are 2 bathrooms at Run, Jump-N-Play. There is a single bathroom at the very front of the space. And at the very back of the space, past the concession area, are the men’s and women’s multi-stall bathrooms.

Towards the back of the space, next to the toddler area, is the concession stand. Menu offerings are currently a bit limited due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is ample space to sit down and enjoy your food. And additional seating is located throughout the play area.

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Overall, Run, Jump-N-Play is a great indoor play place for toddlers and up to run, jump and play to their hearts’ content. The toddler zone can be fun for kids who are still crawling, but I wouldn’t head to this spot only for that – there are other places around town that are more fun for that age set.

This also is the most ideal indoor play place around Cincinnati if you’re looking for a spot to work while your kids play. While there are plenty of tables, but there is no designated workspace that can be found in other places. Another drawback is that this spot isn’t the cleanest play place around – I would say that it is on par with a typical outdoor playground. But again, if you’re looking for the indoor alternative to an outdoor playground, this is the place to go!

For details on hours, pricing, and special events, head to Run, Jump-N-Play’s website.

Run, Jump-N-Play is located just off I-71 at the Pfeiffer Road exit at 5897 Pfeiffer Rd Ste B, Blue Ash, OH 45242

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If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out our complete list of Cincinnati Indoor Play Places to enjoy.

How to enjoy a snow day, but still stay inside

I love snow days. There’s nothing more fun than bundling and playing outside in a winter wonderland with my kiddo and dog. But I can only really handle 2 or 3 days of snow before I begin to dread the bundling and unbundling process.

Insert snow painting sensory bin. I put some snow in our sensory bin, added some paint supplies and colored water, and voila! We had fun playing in the snow without the hassle of dressing everyone up in layers of clothing to go outside.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Large, shallow container
• Fresh snow
• Paint containers
• Smaller containers and scoops 
• Colored water (water + food coloring or washable paint)
• Paint brushes 
• Droppers

The Setup

For this snow painting activity, I pulled out our trusty 28qt plastic container. Before I filled the container with snow, I laid down a bunch of old towels to cover our kitchen floor. This activity can get a bit messy, so it’s best to cover your floors prior to bringing any snow inside.

Next, set up the “painting” supplies. Take paint containers (or other containers you don’t mind getting messy) and fill with water. Then add a few drops of food coloring or washable paint in each cup. Stir until mixed.

Finish the setup by laying out your paint, paint brushes, droppers, smaller containers and scoops. Lastly, take your big sensory bin outside and fill with fresh snow.

Now you’re ready to have SNOW much fun painting a frozen masterpiece!

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Setting up a Snow Painting Sensory Bin is an easy way to enjoy the flurries without the hassle of getting everyone ready to go outside. It’s the perfect snow day activity for toddlers and preschoolers alike!

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If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out more at-home activities! And make sure to follow One Little Small Blog on Pinterest for even more great ideas!

Questions to ask and topics to cover when interviewing preschools

The process of finding the right preschool for our son was way more involved and overwhelming than I expected. These are the preschool interview questions I found most helpful when interviewing potential preschools.

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Preschool enrollment can feel scary and overwhelming as a parent. I hope these preschool interview questions are able to help guide you to the right place for your little one.

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Once you’ve enrolled your little one in preschool, check out my Preschool Gear Guide for everything you’ll need for your kiddo to have the best school year yet!