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!

Looking to gobble up some fun? Here are 5 easy Thanksgiving turkey-themed activities and crafts to do with your little ones this Thanksgiving.

[ONE] Paper Plate Turkey

The Paper Plate Turkey is a fun activity for creative kiddos, and can be used as Thanksgiving decor once it’s complete. For this activity, you’ll need a white paper plate, toilet paper roll tube, glue, art supplies (markers, crayons, paint, etc.), and various decorative craft supplies – such as feathers, pom poms, stickers, googly eyes, and more.

Cut the paper plate in half, and let your child go to town decorating the turkey’s body (toilet paper roll tube) and fan (the paper plate). Once their masterpiece is complete, glue the TP roll to the paper plate. Let dry before displaying.

[TWO] Pumpkin Turkey

Have any pumpkins leftover from Halloween? Put them to use with this Pumpkin Turkey activity. For this activity you will need a pumpkin, hammer (we used a plastic toy hammer), golf tees, and art supplies to create a turkey face.

We started by using paint markers to create a turkey face on our pumpkin (the one pictured is a turkey monster pumpkin). Once the face was dry, we created the turkey’s fan by using colored golf tees and hammering them into the back. It does take a certain amount of strength to hammer the golf tees in so that they stay in the pumpkin, so this activity is probably best for ages 3 and up.

For a pumpkin-free version of this activity, use a large ball of play-doh similar dough.

[THREE] Color Match Turkey

There are so many ways to do this activity. The main focus is to match some sort of item or medium to different colored turkey feathers.

I chose to setup our color match turkey activity to focus on cutting and glueing skills. I started by drawing a turkey on a large piece of paper. Next, I drew feathers, outlining each with a different color marker. Last, I gathered scrap paper in all the different colors of the feathers.

To make the turkey come to life, my son cut up the paper into smaller pieces, then glued the pieces to each corresponding feather. 

[FOUR] Nature Turkey

Take all those pinecones and leaves that your kiddo insists on keeping in your home and turn it all into a Nature Turkey. For this activity you’ll need a pinecone, a variety of leaves in different sizes, play-doh, piece of cardboard or paper plate, and a turkey face.

To create the turkey’s body, I used play-doh to stick the pinecone upright on a piece of cardboard. You can also use a paper plate or other surface you don’t mind getting play-doh on. I created a simple turkey face with some scrap paper from the Color Match Turkey activity and more play-doh to stick that onto the pinecone.

To create the turkey’s fan, have your child stick the leaves in the back of the pinecone. This is MUCH harder than it sounds! If anyone starts to get frustrated, put more play-doh on the back of the turkey, and then stick the leaves to the play-doh.

[FIVE] Thankful Turkey

I love the idea of creating a Thankful Turkey every year. It’s a great opportunity to teach young children about the concept of being thankful. I started this tradition with my son when he was 3 years old.

To create our thankful turkey, I used two different sized mixing bowls and traced 2 circles on a large piece of brown construction paper. Next, I cut out the two circles, along with feathers I traced on pieces of different colored construction paper. I glued the turkey’s body onto a large piece of construction paper and decorated the turkey’s face and legs.

To create the turkey’s fan, add a feather with one thing your child is thankful for throughout November.

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I hope you have fun doing these turkey-themed activities with your little turkeys this Thanksgiving.

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.

All about having some fall fun, but unsure what to do? Check out my Cincinnati fall bucket list for 2021.

Go to a pumpkin patch

Starting off this list is the most obvious idea for fall – go to a pumpkin patch. With over 20 pumpkin patches or festivals within an hour and half drive of Cincinnati, you’re sure to find your perfect spot for pumpkin fun on my pumpkin patch list. From farms with all the frills to ones with hayrides to u-pick pumpkin fields.

Carol Ann’s Carousal

Take a spin on this one-of-a-kind, Cincinnati-themed carousal. Carol Ann’s Carousal recently reopened after an extended pandemic-related closure. This attraction features artwork and animals unique to Cincinnati’s culture and history. Where else can you find a flying pig and Oktoberfest horse in the same place?

This is a great outing to save for the weekend. Carol Ann’s Carousal is currently open Friday to Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. Tokens can be purchased online or at the carousal.

Carol Ann’s Carousal is located near the riverfront at 8 East Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Haunted Poasttown School

Looking for some spooky fun? How about leading your own paranormal investigation at a REAL haunted school? At Haunted Posttown School, near Middletown, you can lead your own investigation through the school.

While I’ve never done an investigation of my own (self-admitted scaredy cat over here), I do have a personal connection to the school. My mom taught at Posttown up until it closed – and I’ve spent many hours there helping her in her classroom.

This activity is probably best for bigger kids and grown ups – unless you enjoy staying up all night with your little ones.

Posttown School is located at 6600 Trenton -Franklin Road Middletown, OH 45042

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

One museum I’ve been excited to check out is the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio. This children’s museum is all about science, technology and natural history – and is only about an hour drive from Cincinnati.

Some exhibits that caught my eye include the Kids Place for kids 4 and under, Strictly Briks where visitors can enjoy a building station with a variety of oversized “briks”, Science On a Sphere® which features a giant suspended globe to teach visitors all about Earth and space, and of course, the Discovery Zoo. The zoo is home to over 100 animals and insects, including river otters and a sloth named Patience.

The museum is currently open 7 days a week, and reservations are not required.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is located at 2600 Deweese Pkwy, Dayton, OH 45414

Inwood Park 

This newly renovated playground is best explored on an overcast day – making it the perfect fit for some fall fun. The PNC Grow Up Great® Playground in Inwood Park is located near Christ Hospital. It reopened in August 2021, and was designed with input from children and accessibility experts and built with a grant from PNC.

Inwood Park has one of the largest playground areas for the littlest little ones. And don’t worry – there’s still an area for bigger kids to play too. If you haven’t had a chance to check out this playground yet, make sure to add it to your fall bucket list!

Inwood Park is located at 2308 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219. However, use directions to this location to navigate to the playground.

Drive-in Movie

One of the few pluses of the sun setting earlier is that drive-in movie screen times now begin before bedtime. We really wanted to try this outing during the summer, but it just wasn’t worth keeping a toddler up that late. But this time of year, the movies begin just after dinner.

The two drive-in movie theatres closest to Cincinnati and open during the fall are Holiday Auto Theatre in Hamilton and Starlite Drive-in in Amelia. Tickets can be purchased online. Both spots offer concessions, but also charge a flat fee to bring your own food.

Holiday Auto Theatre is located at 1816 Old Oxford Road State Route 130, Hamilton, OH 45013

Starlite Drive-in is located at 2255 Ohio Pike, Amelia, OH 45102

Fall Colors Scavenger Hunt

Looking for an easy, outdoors fall activity? Fall Colors Scavenger Hunt took about 5 minutes to put together and got us out the doors and enjoying the great autumn outdoors for over an hour.

To make the color guide, I used a piece of printer paper, drew 6 boxes and colored them in with fall colors. There are so many different ways to make a color guide for this activity – from using paint sample squares to magnetic tile toys, it’s easy to make this activity your own.

Two of our favorite spots to search for fall colors is Blue Ash Nature Park and Pioneer Park in Montgomery. But this is an activity you can do in your own backyard!

Craft Fairs

We’re all a bit anxious to get a jump start on our holiday shopping this year. A great way to support local vendors while doing your holiday shopping is to stop by one of the many craft shows and markets taking place during November. Some of my favorite craft shows include:

• Greater Cincinnati Holiday Marketing – November 12-14
• Lakota East Craft Show – November 13-14
• The O.F.F. Market – November 20

American Sign Museum

Looking to find some fall colors, but indoors? Spend a morning or afternoon exploring the American Sign Museum. The AMS is the largest public museum of its kind in the country dedicated to signs. Here you can find over 100 years worth of signs spread throughout 20,000 sq. ft.

Reservations are required and advanced timed-entry tickets can be purchased online. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.

The American Sign Museum is located in Camp Washington at 1330 Monmouth Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45225

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No matter what type of fun you’re looking to have this fall, there’s something for everyone on this bucket list. From pumpkin patches to spooky fun, and a Cincinnati-themed carousal to cool museums, you’re bound to find something fun to do this fall in Cincinnati.

Bummed about this lovely, rainy October weather? Here are 5 easy Halloween activities to keep your toddler or preschooler entertained at home.

[ONE] Halloween Bubble Foam

Break out your sensory bin and body wash for this sudsy fun activity. Bubble foam is an easy activity to whip up, and becomes a Halloween activity by adding food coloring and spooky trinkets. For this activity you’ll need:

• Mixer (stand or hand held)
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup of body wash
• Food coloring

Combine water, body wash (any brand), and food coloring (4 drops of yellow and 2 drops of red to make orange) in bowl. Mix on HIGH until enough foam is made to fill your container. Pour foam into sensory bin or large, shallow container. Add in smaller sized containers and scoops, paint brushes and a whisk. Top off with spooky Halloween trinkets such as eyeballs and spider rings.

[TWO] Toilet Paper Tube Monsters

You really can’t go wrong with this activity. Grab a few empty toilet paper rolls, a variety of age-appropriate art supplies, and presto – you’re ready to create your own hoard of monsters.

When making TP monsters with my four year old, we used markers, colored pencils, Halloween foam shapes, glue, and googly eyes. The googly eyes were a huge hit during this activity, but really, any art supplies you have around the house will work.

[THREE] Glow Stick Bath

Glow sticks are an easy way to jazz up bath time. This time of year you can find glow sticks by the Halloween candy or the party supplies at your local grocery store. Just crack 2 or 3 glow sticks, toss them in the tub, and turn off the lights for some spooky splish splash fun.

And it doesn’t have to be pitch black in the room for a glow stick bath to be fun! Just dim the lights slightly for a mid-day bath.

[FOUR] Popsicle Sticks Spider Web

This Halloween activity is best for slightly older kids or adults – as I enjoyed making a popsicle sticks spider web, but my son did not. For this activity, you’ll need:

• 3 popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Yarn
• A decorative spider or spider ring

Arrange the 3 popsicle sticks in an asterisk* shape. Glue together in the center of each stick. Once dried, cut a long piece of yarn and tie to one stick towards the center of the asterisk. Begin weaving the yarn around the shape, looping the string once or twice around each stick. To finish, tie off the end of the web, and welcome your little spider friend to their new home.

[FIVE] Halloween Sensory Bin

This easy Halloween sensory bin takes about 10 minutes to put together and can be used all month long. You’ll need a large container, red lentils, smaller containers & scoops, and some spooky trinkets. You can check out all the details – including shopping links, through the button below.

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Rainy days are no fun when you’re trying to squeeze in all that outdoor Halloween fun. But these spooky activities can help make the days stuck indoors a bit less gloomy.