Head to Columbus for some family bonding time

Taking a day trip  to connect can reap countless benefits.

HANDOUT

ENLARGE PHOTO

How to stay safe outdoors this Memorial weekend
5/23/12
Students make most of school’s Lenten service project
5/23/12
How to make a customized dry-erase board
5/23/12
Woman helps tornado victims with lost photos
5/23/12
A father, 11 mothers and 30 children? Oy vey!
5/22/12
> More lifestyle headlines

By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer Updated 11:01 AM Wednesday, January 11, 2012

COLUMBUS — For many people, New Year’s resolutions revolve around doing less — less eating, less sugary sweets, less drinking, less smoking and so on.

But for parents, one of the best possible resolutions is about more — more quality time with their children. And being under one roof doesn’t guarantee that there is quality time.

“So many kids see their parents on their cell phones, on the computer or in front of the television; they are there but not engaged,” said Stacy Flowers, pediatric psychologist at the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. “Parents making a commitment to spend more time with the family and being fully present has such a positive benefit for kids of all ages.”

While young children crave their parent’s attention, older children and teens can also reap the benefits of engaged parents.

“Across the board, whether they are 2, 10 or 17, that interaction and communication with parents has tremendous benefits,” Flowers said.

But disconnecting from school, work or friends isn’t always easy for children or parents. With computers, gaming systems, household chores and countless other distractions to contend with, quality time might take some extra creativity and, maybe, even a road trip.

And all you need is a little time and a full tank of gas. Columbus has many attractions and activities that can be fun for the entire family.

Columbus Museum of Art

While there are masterpieces and priceless one-of-a-kind works of art, CMA is anything but a stodgy art museum. The Columbus Museum of Art’s 18,000-square-foot Center for Creativity combines fine art and hands-on-fun for the entire family.

The Wonder Room is part playground, part artistic encounter. Everyone can get in on the fun creating a mobile, sculpting with clay or building a fort. Mom, dad and kids of all ages can think and collaborate, play and create.

The CMA Family Gallery’s current “Don’t Eat the Art” exhibit focuses on food. But while you can’t eat the exhibit, you can play with it. Draw your own still life and post it on the magnetic wall for all to see, play music on the vintage jukebox or assemble a puzzle.

But the interactive aspect of the museum isn’t limited to the Center for Creativity. There are interactive board games and works of art turned into puzzles scattered throughout the museum — even a dollhouse in need of a few artistic finishing touches.

For information on the CMA, visit www.columbusmuseum.org.

COSI

Learning is fun at the Center of Science and Industry, better known as COSI. Go on a 3D African adventure, “Safari in the Okavango,” in the Extreme Screen Theater or explore the rainforest with Dora and Diego in their interactive play area. Splash around in the new water table in the Little KidSpace or cheer on your favorite rodent while you watch rats play a game of basketball.

From the depths of the Ocean to the vast expanses of Space to the gallery of Progress, visitors are invited to interact with the exhibits. Parents and kids, alike, can even take a spin on the highwire unicycle. For information about the No. 1 science center in the country as ranked by Parents magazine, visit www.cosi.org.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

There’s always something new to experience at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

The Polar Frontier transports visitors from central Ohio to the Arctic tundra. Watch polar bears play and splash on land and in the water. An underwater observation area enables visitors to get a unique view of the bears’ backstroke. Brown bears and Arctic foxes will also vie for your attention in the zoo’s most recent addition.

Three new manatees also now call the Columbus Zoo home, joining 16-year-old Stubby in Manatee Coast.

Even when the cold winds blow, there are plenty of places to keep warm at the zoo, as there are indoor exhibits in the Polar Frontier, Manatee Coast, aquarium, reptile building and African Forest. For information, visit www.columbuszoo.org.

Sky Zone

If the kids are bouncing off the walls during the cold winter months, why not take them somewhere where they can bounce off the floors as well — Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. Jump, flip, twist and bounce on the custom-built trampoline beds that are linked together to create a one-of-a-kind trampoline playground. Take a turn in the 3-D dodgeball court or take a flying leap into a pit of foam blocks.

“We make fitness fun,” said Elizabeth Foy, Sky Zone general manager. “And it’s fun for the whole family.”

Jump sessions can be reserved in 30-minute increments. For information, visit www.skyzonesports.com.

Snack Attack

All that playing will definitely cause you to muster up an appetite. When the stomach start grumbling, the North Market is worth a visit. If the whole family can’t find something they like at the North Market, they won’t find it anywhere.

1 | 2 next page »

Share this article