KidsLinked Presents ~ Official Parent Guide of Red, White and Boom

As one of the main creative forces behind KidLinked I work hard to create new ways to help parents receive the information that they have been looking for. I have lived in Columbus most of my life (with the exception of the brief 3 1/2 years I was transplanted to Germany) and have learned in my experience of being a parent that it is always hard to find the information that you are looking for. KidsLinked was developed with the understanding of that problem and is on a mission to make the lives of parents easier.

About a month ago, KidsLinked formed a partnership with Promotions One. Promotions One puts on large events in Central Ohio such as Red, White and Boom (the largest fireworks display in the Midwest) and First Night Columbus (the largest New Years Eve celebration in Central Ohio). In one of our meetings I started to think about my past experiences of taking my son to Red, White and Boom and how certain information as a parent was impossible to find. What were all the activities available for my family? What was the best place to sit with my kid? What vendors were there with stuff for my son to do? Was I allowed to bring sparklers? What time should I head downtown? What about my family's safety?

Those questions are the reason the "Official Parent Guide of Red, White and Boom" was born. All the information that parents want to know about the event will be found in one guide. Parent resource bags will be handed out in Childrens Park at the KidsLinked area stuff with the guide and other great information about local resources and information that parents will benefit knowing about.


KidsLinked will also be hosting a special area in the Children's area at Battelle Park in which you can find:

• Safety bracelets for your kids (space for the parents name & cell phone number)
• Red, White & Boom temporary tattoo stations
• Official Parent Guide Pick Up Point
• Parent resource bags with samples, coupons and information
• Giveaways for Kalahari Resorts, Jonas Brothers & Family Fun Pack

For more information about Red, White and Boom Childrens Park click here; for more information about the entertainment & event schedule click here.

Free Summer Activities - KidsLinked Bag Stuffing Party

Want to hang out with the KidsLinked crew? Meet the owners and founders of this great site for parents! Join us for the KidsLinked Bag Stuffing Party to help get KidsLinked ready for their biggest event yet ... Red, White & Boom's Childrens Park! KidsLinked will be providing food & drinks as well as special goodie bags for joining and supporting us on this amazing adventure!

Details: Meet us at Gordy's in Westerville (6150 Sunbury Rd, Westerville Ohio 43081) from 6pm - 8pm in the event/meeting room. Friends and family are welcome.

Receive a KidsLinked Goodie Bag filled with Chiller pass (2 includes admission & skate rental), KidsLinked water bottle, KidsLinked pen, KidsLinked Temporary Tattoos, KidsLinked Columbus Family Fun Guide, KidsLinked Discount Card (over $100 in savings & reusable for 12 months), KidsLinked Car Magnet, goodies for your kids & an informational packet about things to do around town.

For more information or if planning on attending please email laura.miller@kidslinked.com.

Mothers Best Advice

When I was asked to reflect on the best advice I could pass on for daughters or sons the task was easy! That advice is the primary goal of all my work with youth:

Respect your own body and the bodies of others!

If we all did this, the world would be a different place….imagine global peace! We can envision a peaceful world if everyone was respectful of self and others. That lofty goal out of the way, I will now focus on a couple of specifics in reaching that lofty goal.

Standing up for oneself: In a respectful manner the ability to stand of for oneself is an integral part of self respect. Recognizing that you have a right to maintain your self-identity even in the most intimate friendships and relationships is a critical part of successful interaction with others. Even in marriage or lifetime commitments, do not lose your personal identity. Think of those relationships as a railroad track…two strong pieces of metal creating a special relationship together. Neither piece would be a railroad track without the other but individually each is equally strong for many purposes…one does not have power over the other!

Add value: Make sure your actions in words and deeds add value to your interactions with others. If not, don’t do or say whatever it is you are thinking about. This reminds me of the old saying, “If you can’t say or do something nice, don’t say or do anything at all!”

Take reasonable risks: It is important that children of all ages (that includes adults) have the courage to take reasonable risks. Without that ability we cannot learn and grow!

It’s O.K. to make mistakes and learn from them the very first time: A very critical component of parenting is to teach your child it is O.K. to make mistakes but equally important is to learn from them. Lose the phase, “If you do that again, I’m going to…!” It teaches your child that they can do something over, and over with no consequences.

Stay away from “Joy snatchers!”: Surround yourself with positive and joyful people who make you laugh and feel good. When you find yourself in environments of negative energy, remove yourself as soon as possible…and that includes people, places and thoughts.

Mary Halter
President/CEO
HEALTHY edudynamics

Mary H. Halter has worked in the field of youth development for over 25 years. She developed A Time To Talk curriculum with both a school and parent component. Her straight forward, no-nonsense approach is refreshing and informative. You can learn more about Mary by visiting http://healthyedudynamics.com/.

Teaching Respect and Sportsmanship - Part One

As a parent of a child involved in youth sports, it’s likely that you have probably noticed how serious and intense many leagues can be like today. In fact, many parents have told me that they sometimes feel as though they are watching mini-professional athletes playing to win at all cost, instead of seeing kids learning, growing, and maturing through the athletic experience. As the emphasis on winning continues to be paramount in many youth sport leagues, it is important we maintain a healthy balance and take time to identify “teachable moments” in sports where kids can learn respect and sportsmanship.

Interestingly, while we often hope for our children to win with grace, lose with dignity, and always display appropriate sportsmanship to teammates and opponents, when we as adults model terribly inappropriate behaviors all of these hopes quickly become diminished. Sportsmanship encompasses far more than begrudgingly shaking an opponents hand after a game, it involves everything you do from the moment you arrive at the park until the time you leave. Sportsmanship is a prosocial behavior that your child can learn through sports, as well as apply to all relationships outside of sports, too.

Dr. Chris Stankovich is a national expert in the field of sport psychology, and offers an entire line of sport performance & life skills video, audio, and other products for parents, student athletes, and coaches. To learn more, or to contact Dr. Stankovich directly, please visit http://www.drstankovich.com/

Marcy's Stretching a Buck Deals & Discounts ~ Week of June 22nd

Check out these great deals with Marcy from Stretching a Buck!

1) Save $5 on your next 3 Shopping Trips at Giant Eagle when you watch this video. That's a total savings of $15! Learn how to maximize your coupon savings at Giant Eagle here.

2) Every Monday, now through August, Ben & Jerry's is offering one free sundae with the purchase of another sundae. Find a Ben & Jerry's near you here.

3) Print a coupon good for $3 off of 1 package of Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers here (you can print it twice!). You can also save $2 off of 1 package of Huggies Pull Ups here.

4) Kroger is running a Mix & Match Event this week which results in several great deals when you use your coupons. You can buy Ragu Pasta Sauce, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and Kraft BBQ Sauce for less than $0.75 each! Get the full scoop here.

5) Treat a friend to lunch! Print this Buy One Get One Free Lunch Entree or Salad coupon good at Einstein Bros Bagels, valid through 7/3.

For more freebies, printable coupons and weekly tips on maximizing your coupon savings at your favorite stores, read more at Stretching a Buck!

Summer Blog Series: Free Activity Ideas for your Family

Free Summer Movies for Your Family

Rave Motion Pictures Free Family Film Festival hosts free movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am for 8 weeks starting June 9th, 2009! No reservations are allowed and all movies are rated G or PG! Seats are available on a first come first serve basis

Movie Schedule

June 9 & 10 - Kung Fu Panda - PG - 92 minutes
June 16 & 17 - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - PG - 89 minutes
June 23 & 24 - Surf's Up - PG - 85 minutes
June 30 & July 1 - The Tale of Despereaux - G - 90 minutes
July 7 & 8 - Horton Hears A Who! - G - 86 minutes
July 14 & 15 - Space Chimps - G - 81 minutes
July 21 & 22 - Igor - PG - 87 minutes
July 28 & 29 - Shrek the Third - PG - 93 minutes

For more information on participating movie theatres please go to http://www.ravemotionpictures.com/ffff.asp

Could Your Child Be A Victim of CyberBullying??

Unfortunately, bullying…including cyber-bulling is a problem in many schools and communities…not only here in the USA but other countries as well. Summer vacations provide more freedom and time to use the technology which provides opportunities for this behavior. I want to share the following information which came from an article by Yuko Narushima in The Sydney, Australia Morning Herald.

”BACKYARD bullies have moved into cyberspace with such speed and aggression that police, governments and lawyers are testing new ways of slowing their spread.

The rise of new technologies such as video texting, internet chatrooms and social networking sites has allowed bullies to invade homes and exposed their prey to torment around the clock.

It has also changed the spread and nature of attacks. A taunt once contained to those within earshot can now be sent around the world within seconds. Bullying can now take the form of humiliating photos, videos or messages posted to forums that linger forever online.”

The importance of this information is twofold: (1) Parents and caregivers should understand that the technology which provides a stage for cyber-bulling is not going away. Even if your child does not have a cell phone or a computer, the child can still be a victim of this form of harassment. (2) Pay close attention to Ms. Narushima’s last paragraph especially the word “forever”. Cyber-bullying does not have a “rewind” button!

Be pro-active in finding out what’s going on in the cyber world that exists in your child’s environment. Talk to your school officials, parents of your child’s peers, even law enforcement to help be part of a team to establish a “zero-tolerance” for this behavior.

Mary Halter

President/CEO

HEALTHY edudynamics

Mary H. Halter has worked in the field of youth development for over 25 years. She developed A Time To Talk curriculum with both a school and parent component. Her straight forward, no-nonsense approach is refreshing and informative. You can learn more about Mary by visiting http://healthyedudynamics.com/.

Summer Blog Series: Free Activity Ideas for your Family

Kids Eat Free Nights

Please call before going to make sure that the location close to you is a participating location.

Monday Nights

• Applebee’s
  Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée
• Buffalo Wild Wings
  Kids eat for $.99 with purchase of an adult meal
• Moe’s Southwest Grill
  Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal
• Quaker Steak and Lube
  Kids eat free with one paid adult meal

Tuesday Nights

• Champps Americana
  Kids eat free with purchase of an adult entrée
• Chick-fil-a
  Free kids meal with purchase of a combo
• Cici’s Pizza
  Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult buffet
• Fazolis
  Kids eat for $.99 with purchase of an adult meal
• Lone Star Steakhouse
  Kids eat free with purchase of an adult entrée
• Qdoba Mexican Grill
  Kids eat free with purchase of an adult meal
• Texas Roadhouse
  Kids eat free with purchase of an adult meal
• Tumbleweed Southwest Mesquite
  Kids eat free with purchase of an adult meal

Wednesday Nights

• Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders
  Kids eat free with adult purchase. Dine in only.
• Damon’s
  Free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée
• Hoggy’s
  Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée

Other Nights

• Steak & Shake
  One kids combo free with purchase of $9 or more. Dine in only.
• Hometown Buffet & Ryan’s Steakhouse
  Kids eat for $.99 Monday - Saturday nights with an adult purchase.
  

Blog Series - Tips for Working with Your Child’s Coach

If my child isn’t the most skilled player, are there other things we can do to help him get the attention of the coach and earn more playing time?

This is an easy one – if your child isn’t the most talented on the team I guarantee consistent hard work and hustle will make him virtually impossible to be overlooked! Being the first one to practice and the last one to leave, finishing every drill hard, and encouraging fellow teammates to work hard will get the coaches attention every time. Hard work and hustle alone may not put your child in the starting lineup, but every coach I have ever known in my life longs to see these qualities on their team – and almost always looks for ways to reward that child for having heart.

Dr. Chris Stankovich is a national expert in the field of sport psychology, and offers an entire line of sport performance & life skills video, audio, and other products for parents, student athletes, and coaches. To learn more, or to contact Dr. Stankovich directly, please visit http://www.drstankovich.com/

Marcy's Stretching a Buck Deals & Discounts ~ Week of June 14th

1) Cellfire.com is updating their list of eCoupons on Tuesday (6/16)! What is Cellfire? They are a mobile web service that allows you to upload eCoupons on to your Kroger Plus card. These coupons automatically come off of your order total at checkout. Learn more and sign up for this free service here.

2) If you are looking for a great deal on Huggies Diapers or Pull Ups Training Pants, Target is having an awesome sale this week. You can get 3 packs of Pull Ups for as little as $3.91 per pack! Learn how, plus find more info here.

3) Father's Day is this Sunday! If you are still looking for a few gift ideas, head to Sears where you will get $50 back (via rebate) when you spend $50 on men's jeans and pants. Get the full scoop here.

4) Giant Eagle is offering 25 Free Prints through 6/30. All that you have to do is use the Giant Eagle Online Photo Center and enter code JUNE25 at checkout. Learn how to maximize your coupon savings at Giant Eagle this week! Read more here.

5) Several of the movie theaters around Columbus are offering free or $1 kids movies this summer! Rave Motion Pictures at Polaris is hosting Free Movies on select dates. View dates and movie listings here. AMC Theaters at Easton is hosting $1 movies for chairity. View dates and movie listings here.

For more freebies, printable coupons and weekly tips on maximizing your coupon savings at your favorite stores, read more at Stretching a Buck!

Summer Blog Series: Free Activity Ideas for your Family

Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long

Many businesses this year have gotten behind the initiative to keep kids active this summer. Bowling Lanes across the country this year are offering 2 free games of bowling every day for kids 12 and under for the entire summer!

How the program works:

1. All of the participating bowling centers are listed at http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/all_centers.php.


2. Select a bowling center near you.


3. Register directly on the bowling center page (The registration is valid only at the bowling center where you register and cannot be used at any other bowling center unless otherwise noted.)


4. Once you register, you will have the opportunity to purchase the family pass. The Family Pass was created to allow for adult family members to enjoy bowling throughout the summer as well. The Family Pass starts from $23.95 and includes 2 GAMES PER PERSON PER DAY. The Family Pass covers up to 4 adult family members. You may have 1, 2, 3, or 4 adults on the family pass.


5. This low one-time payment covers up to 4 adults for the entire summer and is a tremendous value.

Regardless of whether you buy the add on family pass for $23.95 or not your kids can bowl 2 games a day all summer for free.

Go to http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/ for more information and participating locations.

Summer Blog Series: Activity Ideas for your Family

Get outside with your family this summer and attend the many events and festivals in Ohio.

Banana Split Festival - June 12th & 13th - Wilmington, Ohio http://www.clintoncountyohio.com/

Creekside Festival - June 19 & 20 - Gahanna, Ohio http://www.creeksidebluesandjazz.com/

Worthington Arts Festival - June 26 to 28 - Worthington, Ohio http://www.visitworthingtonohio.com/

Easton Art Affair - June 28 - Columbus, Ohio http://www.eastontowncenter.com/

Red, White & Boom - July 3 - Downtown Columbus http://www.redwhiteandboom.org/

Italian American Festival - July 12 - Akron, Ohio - www.it-am.org

Vectran Dayton Air Show - July 19 - Dayton, Ohio - www.daytonairshow.com

All-American Soap Box Derby - July 20 - Akron, Ohio - www.aasbd.com

Columbus Jazz & Rib Festival - July 24 to 26 - Downtown Columbus - http://www.hotribscooljazz.org/

Islandfest - July 25 - Kelley's Island - www.kelleysislandchamber.com

Ohio State Fair - July 29 to August 9 - Columbus, Ohio - http://www.ohiostatefair.com/

Dublin Irish Festival - July 31 to August 2 - Dublin, Ohio - http://www.dublinirishfestival.org/

Butterfly Festival - August 1 - Dayton, Ohio - www.coxaboretum.org

Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival - August 3 - Akron, Ohio - www.profootballhoffestival.com

Huckleberry Finn Fest - August 14 - Chillicothe, Ohio - www.visitchillicotheohio.com

Festival Latino - August 15 & 16 - Downtown Columbus - http://www.festivallatino.net/

Sweet Corn Festival - September 2 - Millersport, Ohio - www.sweetcornfest.com

Greek Festival - September 4 to 7 - Downtown Columbus - http://www.greekcathedral.com/

Riverfest - September 6 - Cincinnati, Ohio - www.riverfestcincinnati.com

Upper Arlington Labor Day Festival - September 7 - www.ua-ohio.net/artsfestival

Columbus Food & Wine Affair - September 11 - Columbus, Ohio - http://www.foodandwineaffair.com/

India Festival - September 19 - Columbus, Ohio - http://www.indiafestival.org/

New Albany Grand Prix & Family Fun Day - September 27 - http://www.thenewalbanyclassic.com/

Promo Codes of the Week

Here are some great promo codes to use for your online shopping this week!

• Oriental Trading - $20 off plus FREE shipping on purchase of $69 or more, ends 6-9-09 ~ Promo Code: WCX8093 www.orientaltrading.com
• Coldwater Creek - Receive 30% off your purchase & Free Standard Shipping ~ Promo Code: WKH2997 www.coldwatercreek.com
• Kohls - 15% off $100 or more. No Kohls Card needed! Promo Code: PERKSPOT100 www.kohls.com
• Victoria's Secret - $15 off a $100, $30 off $150, $75 off $250. Offer ends 6/12/09. Promo Code: SP917353 www.victoriassecret.com
• Childrens Place - 10% off all orders Promo Code: NEXTJ78 www.childrensplace.com

Bullying: Is Your Child a Victim or Perpetrator of Bullying? Part One

Around 5.7 million teens are involved in bullying as either the bully, a target of bullying, or both.

• 1 out of 4 young people are bullied.
• Almost 50% (half!) of all young people have been bullied at some time during their school years. (Source: www.girlshealth.gov)

Bullying is when one person or a group of people repeatedly hurts someone else and be manifested in many different forms. Bullying can be verbal or physical but it can also be silent. Cyber-bullying is when bullying is carried on through e-mails, cell phones or the internet.

Verbal Bullying Involves Words:

• Making fun of someone for being “different".
• Name-calling, teasing, gossiping, and/or spreading rumors
• Threatening and scaring others

Physical Bullying Involves Contact:

• Hair pulling, biting, and pinching
• Hitting, kicking, punching, and shoving
• Any unwanted physical contact

Silent Bullying can sometimes be the most damaging because it is difficult to prove and therefore difficult to address:

• Leaving someone out of group activities on purpose, such as being part of a clique and not letting others join
• Ignoring someone—giving them the “silent treatment”
• Making faces or gestures to intimidate or threaten someone
• Name-calling, teasing, gossiping, and/or spreading rumors

THE FIRST STEP IN DEALING WITH BULLYING IS IDENTIFYING IT. CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE!

Mary Halter
President/CEO
HEALTHY edudynamics

Mary H. Halter has worked in the field of youth development for over 25 years. She developed A Time To Talk curriculum with both a school and parent component. Her straight forward, no-nonsense approach is refreshing and informative. You can learn more about Mary by visiting http://healthyedudynamics.com/.

Blog Series - Tips for Working with Your Child’s Coach

What should I do if I think my child is being treated unfairly by the coach?
In an ideal world all people would be treated the same, all the time. As adults we know this is rarely the way things happen, so it shouldn’t be surprising that coaches can, from time to time, play favorites, too.

But before you come to the conclusion that your child is being treated unfairly, keep in mind that good coaches typically develop unique, individual relationships with kids on the team that might be interpreted by an outsider as favoritism – when in reality it isn’t that at all. Skilled coaches know that some kids don’t need to be yelled at to get motivated while other kids do, and that some kids react to certain things that other kids don’t (ex., some kids work hard just so that they won’t be embarrassed, while others work hard to receive positive reinforcement).

Knowing what “buttons” to push is not an exact science for coaches, so try to be patient and see if the coach really is playing favorites or just trying to motivate different kids in different ways. If you still think your child is stuck in an unfair situation, politely ask the coach to set up a time to meet and be very specific with your concerns (ex., rather than vaguely saying “you treat my child poorly,” instead try to specifically state incidents that illustrate your concerns).

Dr. Chris Stankovich is a national expert in the field of sport psychology, and offers an entire line of sport performance & life skills video, audio, and other products for parents, student athletes, and coaches. To learn more, or to contact Dr. Stankovich directly, please visit http://www.drstankovich.com/

Announcing New & Upcoming Partnerships

These are exciting times for KidsLinked.com. It seems like every day new partnerships are forming and opportunities are knocking at our door. Here are a few things to keep your eyes peeled for that will be coming up shortly.

WOSU - A Place of Our Own - Tips sent to parents & caregivers via email to help with commonly asked questions regarding raising children.

Promotions One - Red, White & Boom and First Night Columbus - KidsLinked areas will be present at both events. KidsLinked will also be providing Red, White & Boom temporary tattoos, safety bracelets to prevent lost children, the Official Parent Guide of Red, White and Boom and Parent Resource bags.

Columbus Parent - Working together to provide the parents of Central Ohio with resourceful information. KidsLinked will be providing Columbus Parent with a family calendar tool that will allow parents to see all the events and activities listed on the KidsLinked calendar on ColumbusParent.com

RadioOne - KidsLinked has teamed up with RadioOne (Power 107.5, Magic 98.9 & Joy 106.3) to help get the word out to parents about the different activities and events in Columbus, Ohio. Look for KidsLinked at the Wellness Wednesday remotes & the Family Nights at the Columbus Zoo.

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - KidsLinked is working with Nationwide Childrens Hospital in their effort to Cure Kids Cancer. Purchase the KidsLinked Cure Kids Cancer Fundraiser Card to receive reusable discounts for 12 months while supporting the fight against pediatric cancer.

Eastbay - With the launch of the coaches pages, parents will have the access to KidsLinked stores that will be powered by Eastbay. Products & equipment will be found at low prices while parents can also manage their children's sports schedules.

Columbus City Schools - Sharing of the KidsLinked Family Calendar to help parents organize their lives better as well as have easily accessible information about local events and activities.

Battelle for Kids - Providing parents with information about curriculum standards in Ohio. Guides will be supplied online to assist parents with staying up to date with the educational standards in the State of Ohio.

Boys Scouts of Central Ohio - Working the with boys scouts to help assist them in providing events & activity information to the parents of participants of the Boys Scouts.

YMCA of the Dayton Area - KidsLinked will be working the 12 YMCA locations in the Dayton area to help get the word out about events and activities that are happening within the YMCA facilities.

Marcy's Stretching a Buck Deals & Discounts ~ Week of June 7th

Check out these great deals from Marcy with Stretching a Buck!!

• TGI Friday's is offering a Buy One Get One Free Entree coupon now through 6/22 ~ click here.


• Register with the Home Depot Garden Club you'll receive valuable coupons, savings, and gardening advice! Learn more here.


• Receive a Free Sippy Cup, Reusable Water Bottle & Children's Nutritional Guide when you register with Juicy Juice here. If you enjoy free samples, check out my most recent Freebies Round Up here.


• The Giant Eagle Online Photo Center is offering 25 Free Prints through June 30th. Get the details plus read about additional photo deals at Snapfish, CVS Photo and Kodak Gallery here.


• Johnson's Buddies Soap typically retail for less than $1 at stores such as Walmart and Target. When you use this $1/1 coupon and this $3/3 coupon you can stock up on these for free! These are great for toddlers and young kids because the bar of soap has grips that keep it from slipping out of their hands.

For more freebies, printable coupons and weekly tips on maximizing your coupon savings at your favorite stores, read more at Stretching a Buck!

The New and Improved KidsLinked Blog ~ What to Expect

Some of you may have noticed the the look and feel of the KidsLinked Blog has evolved over the past 6 months. Hold onto your pants because more improvements are to come! I have been working hard with great valuable parent resources to contribute to our blog on a weekly basis. We have many people currently lined up to write and I am in the final stages of finishing up arrangements for the other contributors.

Currently, we have lined up:

• Laura Miller - The Voice of KidsLinked
• Dr. Stephen Stankovich - Youth Sports Psychologist
• Mary Halter - Childhood Development Expert (Healthy EduDynamics)
• Marcy Robison - Deals & Discounts (Stretching A Buck)
• Chris Jonard - Crafts
• Michele Zavatsky - Travel Tips and Advice
• Dental Health - Jackson Cockly & Andrew Skasko

We are in the process of finalizing the following:

• Teacher
• Stay at Home Dad
• Recipes
• Organization
• Life Coach
• New Mom

Starting Monday watch for new blog posts from the above on a regular basis.

Summer Blog Series: Free Activity Ideas for your Family

Doing fun stuff with your kids does not have to break you budget. In fact, it doesn't have to cost anything at all. This summer I will post one idea each week of an activity in Columbus, Ohio or the Central Ohio area that is free for you to do with your family. My goal is to help you learn about new free activities that are available that may be hidden or just not known about by the average parent.

This week: Easton Town Center

- Play in the Fountains

Families are encouraged to bring their children to the common area at Easton for waterplay. Some days during the week musicians who sing childrens music are present to entertain the kids.

- Pottery Barn Childrens Book Club (Tuesdays, 10:00am - 10:30am)

A delightful childrens storytime held at Pottery Barn Kids.

- Columbus Zoo Animals a Easton (Mondays, 12:00pm - 1:00pm)

Animals from the Columbus Zoo’s Animal Adventures visit Easton each Monday for a one-hour appearance. Such animals include an armadillo, alligator, tortoise, dingo, baby leopard and penguin.

- Sailing at Central Park Boat Pond (Saturday & Sunday, 12:00pm - 6:00pm)

Fun for the whole crew! Ages six and up, come sail a lifelike miniature sailboat! This is entirely free, but donations to the Easton Community Foundation are welcome. Located at the Central Park Boat Pond.

- Transformers 2 at Barnes & Noble's (June 10th, during store hours)

Come and play with the new release of Transformers 2!

- Columbus Crew Soccer Tour (June 12th & July 24th 5:00pm - 7:00pm)

The Columbus Crew is bringing fun for soccer fans of all ages with The Crew Soccer Tour. The Crew Soccer Tour consists of a 15' inflatable soccer ball with The Crew shield logo as the center piece of the tour. Three 10x10 yellow Crew branded tents equipped with an X-Box gaming system played on a 42" Plasma Television where fans can battle each other playing FIFA 2006 or Street Soccer 2, a prize wheel for you to win cool prizes such as pencils, temporary tattoos and noise makers. Also included is a radar kick inflatable to compare your speed with the pros and a turf soccer field with an inflatable border with goals attached, for youth soccer fans to enjoy a game of mini soccer or sharpen their dribbling, juggling or passing skills.

- Celebrating Arts in Columbus (June 13th, 7:00am - 4:00pm)

Join Easton Town Center as we celebrate our local arts organizations, such as the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Children’s Choir, and Opera Columbus. A stage on the Town Square will showcase a couple performances throughout the day.

- Kite Festival (June 14th & June 28th, 2:00pm - 6:00pm)

Don’t miss this eye-catching display of brightly colored kites in every shape, size and style. Kids can craft their own at our make-a-kite stations. And we’ll even attach them to 3-ft bamboo poles so they can “soar" on the Town Square then get them home safely for more flights of fun!

- Sounds on the Town Summer Concert Series (Wednesdays, 6:00pm - 9:00pm)

Easton’s concert series features a mix of local, regional, and national jazz performances throughout the summer. Starts on June 17th. Held at Town Center, rain location will be Martini Park!

- Dora & Dingo Meet & Greet at Nordstroms (June 19th, 12:30pm - 1:30pm)

Meet Dora and Diego from Dora the Explorer live in Kids’ Wear, on level one. To R.S.V.P. for this Meet & Greet please call (614) 416-7111, ext. 1480by June 15. Space is limited. You must R.S.V.P. to meet Diego or Dora. Shop for exclusive Dora the Explorer items and receive a complimentary Nickelodeon gift with your Dora purchase. (*one per customer while supply lasts)

- 10th Annual Easton Art Fair

June 26th - Friday: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

June 27th - Saturday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

June 28th - Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Over one hundred artisans line the streets for the Easton Art Affair. Exhibits include paintings, photography, sculpture, and jewelry. The Art Affair is located on the streets surrounding the Town Square. Once again, “Kids’ Corner” will be held on the Town Square during the Art Affair on June 28th from 12:00pm - 4:00pm. “Kids’ Corner” consists of hands-on activities for all children, compliments of Easton Town Center.

- Movies by Moonlight (Tuesdays, starting July 7th at dusk)

Bring a blanket and bucket of popcorn and join us for movies under the stars! Our summer outdoor movie series features favorites for the whole family.
July 7: E.T.

July 14: Madagascar

July 21: Hook

July 28: Annie
August 4: Surf’s Up

August 11: The Goonies

August 18: Grease

August 25: Ferris Buehler's Day Off

Chalk Festival (July 12th & July 26th, 2:00pm to 6:00pm)

Come see incredible walks of art! Artists will decorate the streets and sidewalks of Easton with spectacular chalk designs. And kids can even create chalk masterpieces of their own!

Get Animated (July 23rd, 1:00pm to 6:00pm)

Cartoon Network’s Summer Tour for Kids comes to Columbus once again! The “Get Animated Tour” is a live event touring the country to motivate and energize kids, taking on the country’s biggest childhood health initiative: child obesity. This event is for children ages 6-14 and involves physical activities of all kinds. The program focuses on using the power of Cartoon Network’s shows and characters to demonstrate the benefits of healthy lifestyles. Activities include a basketball challenge, obstacle course, hockey maze and a climbing wall.

Easton's Kids Fest (August 8th, 10:30am to 4:30pm)

The Easton Town Center Kids Fest offers a fun-filled day of games, prizes, interactive shows, and magic. Jugglers, comedians, music and more are showcased on the Town Square stage.

Information gathered and collected from http://www.eastontowncenter.com/. For more information please visit their website.

Blog Series - Tips for Working with Your Child’s Coach

What should I do if I think my child isn’t getting enough playing time?
This is, in my opinion, the number one point of contention between parents and coaches involved in youth sports. One of the most challenging aspects of being a coach is selecting which kids start, how long they will play, and how to get all the reserves into the game. In some sports, like wrestling and track, the decision of who will start is usually easier since the kids typically go head to head with the best kid winning his or her starting position. On the other hand, many other sports, like football, basketball, and soccer, require expert appraisals of talent that are oftentimes at risk to parental scrutiny.

The truth is coaches really have their work cut out for them when it comes to playing time, regardless of what they decisions they make. As a parent, I do believe you have the right to talk to your child’s coach about playing time, but I also have some general rules to consider. First, don’t even think about having this discussion the day of a game (before or after the game)! Emotions are high on game day and the last thing a coach wants to do is step aside from the action and try to offer thoughts for his or her decision. A better idea is to ask the coach when it is convenient to him or her and set up a time later in the week. Second, when you do talk to the coach, ask specifically what your child can do to improve his or her chances of playing rather than asking why another child on the team is playing more than yours. Listen closely to what the coach recommends and help your child improve in those areas. Third, ask if you can follow up again in a couple weeks to get the coaches observations regarding the progress your child is making. Keeping these considerations in mind while remaining calm and respectful will give your family the best chance to see your child earn more playing time (and have more fun, too!).

Dr. Chris Stankovich is a national expert in the field of sport psychology, and offers an entire line of sport performance & life skills video, audio, and other products for parents, student athletes, and coaches. To learn more, or to contact Dr. Stankovich directly, please visit http://www.drstankovich.com/

Marcy's Stretching a Buck Deals & Discounts ~ Week of June 1st

Check out these great deals from Marcy with Stretching a Buck!!

• Ten Pin Alley & Spikes in Hilliard is offering free bowling to kids ages K-12 every Monday from 10AM-10PM beginning Monday, June 1st. Play up to two games for free plus the cost of shoes. Check out their website for more info
• Sign up for the Luvs newsletter and receive special offers, diaper coupons, and free samples
• Now through June 20th you can try your luck at winning 1 free lip balm courtesy of Burt's Bees. Simply visit their website between 9-12 each day and you'll have the chance to win one of 1000 lip balms (per day). Read more info here: http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/2009/05/free-burts-bees-lip-balm.html
• Here is a buy one get one Free Frosty coupon for Wendy's: http://frosty.com/posse/landingB.jsp/
• Receive a coupon good for a free order of lettuce wraps at PF Changs with the purchase of any entree (through 6/14): http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/2009/05/free-lettuce-wraps-at-pf-changs.html

For more freebies, printable coupons and weekly tips on maximizing your coupon savings at your favorite stores, read more at Stretching a Buck!

Travel to Egypt for a Day at COSI ~ New Lost Egypt Exhibit

This morning I was privileged to be able to attend the preview for the new Lost Egypt exhibit at COSI in Columbus, Ohio. This is an exhibit that has been three years in the making and is a combination of efforts from COSI and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Artifacts have been brought in from the Brooklyn Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

Highlights of the exhibit are a real human mummy and a life-size rapid prototype which displays the mummy in a stage of "unwrapping", plus scans and forensic facial reconstructions of mummies. Other neat items on display are animal mummies and art and artifacts from the daily life and funeral culture of ancient Egypt.

COSI lives up to its standards by not only displaying neat artifacts but creating interactive exhibits which help children (and parents) learn about the life, culture, environment and daily habits of Egyptians during the time of the building of the pyramids.

Some of my favorite hands on activities were the Pyramid Block Challenge which recreates the scale of the stones and the amount of effort it took to create the pyramids, the Build a Pyramid Challenge which uses specifically shaped geometric wooden blocks to build a tabletop pyramid to understand the architectural and engineering challenges and the Sands of Time which displays how the windy Sahara Desert environment causes archaeological sites to be lost and found by manipulating a fan to bury and uncover a model of the Giza Plateau.

I guarantee that you will not be disappointed and that not only your kids will learn something but parents will to. Be prepared to be entertained, educated and amazed at how incredible ancient Egypt is and how much it has to teach us. Stay tuned for a follow up blog in a return adventure to the exhibit with Taylor, my 12 year old son. Included will be his thoughts and comments about the exhibit.

Lost Egypt will be on display at COSI from May 30th to September 7th. Entry into the exhibit is included in price of admission. For more information on the Lost Egypt exhibit please go to http://www.cosi.org/.