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Achievement Kids & Activity Culture As schedules fill and expectations rise, learn why experts say kids need more balance…and more time to simply be kids. 12 The Overscheduled Childhood Success isn’t measured by a packed calendar; learn why balance matters for today’s kids. 14 What Teachers Wish Parents Knew in 2026 Go inside today’s classrooms as educators reveal the challenges, misconceptions and teamwork that shape student success. 16 18 After-School Activities & Extracurriculars From the stage to the soccer field, discover where kids can learn, create and thrive after school.
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BACK TO SCHOOL TIME Tips on easing back into the BTS routine. FAMILY BUCKET LIST 2026 Five months remaining—five new activities to try together. FALL BREAK PREVIEW Travel under two hours for awesome autumn hikes. KIDS WHO ROCK School of Rock discusses the importance of music education. what’s on the web
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MEET OUR TEAM AMY L. FOREMAN PUBLISHER EDITORIAL
AMANDA MILLER MANAGING EDITOR
AMANDA CIANI REBECCA FAST MADELINE PISTORIUS
AMELIA ROESSLER JULIANNA STEEN ASSOCIATE EDITORS KAILEY GREMILLION EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ART/PRODUCTION CHLOE ALLEN PRODUCTION MANAGER KAYLA DUPREE MADELINE MILETELLO ASAREL SMITH MCKINNA SPROLES GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MORGAN ESPENAN DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR NATALIE KAISER SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR MAIH MANUSO CONTENT MULTIPLICATION SPECIALIST TRINITY GRAYSON SARAH MILLER MERCEDES MITCHELL CLIENT SUCCESS REPRESENTATIVES ADVERTISING/MARKETING CRYSTAL BARRETT KAYLA FRICKS GOMEZ RYN WHITESIDE SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES CAMILLE CAVIN THOMAS DRYBURGH JENNIFER HOFFMANN MORGAN PRICE JILLIAN WRAY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TERI HODGES DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
A s summer winds down and we wrap up another flag football season—one that will end with a trip to the 3rd Annual NFL Flag Championship—I’m reminded how quickly one season gives way to the next. Before we know it, another sport, another practice, and another full calendar will be waiting. But before we jump into that rhythm again, I’ve found myself saying something a little unexpected this summer. The Best Seat in the House
“I’m glad you’re bored.”
I’ve said it more than once.
Not because I want my kids to be miserable, of course, but because boredom can be a gift. It gives children room to imagine, create, wander outside, invent games, and discover who they are when no one is directing the next play. Extracurricular activities bring so much value. They teach teamwork, discipline, creativity, resilience, and courage. I love watching my kids play basketball and flag football, compete in long jump, and dance. Each activity gives them a chance to discover what they enjoy, build confidence, and learn something new about themselves. But it’s also easy for all of us to get caught up in scores, performances, awards, and improve- ment. Suddenly, something that started as fun can begin to feel like one more place where a child has to succeed. Our kids don’t need to be the best at everything they try. They need permission to explore, make mistakes, change their minds, and simply enjoy the experience.
ROXANE VOORHIES COMMUNITY OUTREACH
And they need us to show up.
Whether I’m watching a basketball game, standing near the long jump pit, cheering from the flag football sidelines, or sitting in the audience at a dance competition, I’ve realized the best seat in the house isn’t about having the perfect view. It’s about being the face my children look for in the crowd. As we head into another school year, I hope we can find a little balance between activity and rest, between cheering them on and giving them room to breathe. A full calendar can be wonderful, but it doesn’t have to define a full childhood.
ADMINISTRATION BRANDON FOREMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GAYLE GAUTHREAUX DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ALEXIS ALEXANDER ASSOCIATE CHIEF OF STAFF KELSEY TAYLOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Sometimes the greatest gifts we can give our kids are an unscheduled afternoon, permission to be bored, and the reassurance that they never have to earn our applause.
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CINCINNATI FAMILY MAGAZINE is published monthly by FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. (FRG) and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. Paid advertisements appear in FRG publications, including print and other digital formats. FRG does not endorse or evaluate the product, service, or company, nor any claims made by the advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. Some content in this magazine was created with assistance from AI tools and has been reviewed and edited by our human editorial team. We cannot be held responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. CINCINNATI FAMILY MAGAZINE Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. Email amy@frg.inc to tell me about topics you’d like to see in future issues. Years from now, they may not remember every score, jump, game, or routine. But they’ll remember who was there, cheering them on. Amy L. Foreman Publisher
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always includes an apple, too.” -James D.
“School supply and clothes shopping together.” -Sarah L.
“Not necessarily a back-to-school tradition. But we do make a summer bucket list at the end of each year and try to knock out each thing before the new year starts.” -Ciara B. “My back-to-school tradition is crying when I drop them off. Then when I go home, I take a nice, long nap, and I feel less sad.” -Loree S. “We have taken a picture of my son in an adult L size Class of 2034 shirt every year. We aren’t too far into the process, but it is cool to see how much he has grown so far.” -Brad H. “We go school supply shopping together and clothes shopping!” -Melissa Y. “We home school, so there is no big transition back to school. But we do take a photo of each of them with a little chalkboard that has their name and grade each year in August. My kids also look forward to more homeschool meet-ups during the Fall.” -Kim R. “Every year: New shoes and a first day of school shirt! And a fun dinner the night before the first day of school.” -Crystal P. “We always go school supply shopping as a family.” -Nicole Z. “We do the first day of school photos for each kid and for myself, too, because I am a teacher!” -Amy W. “We usually do one last sit-down meal at a nice restaurant before back-to-school, because once school starts, so does the chaos of practices, games, and other evening and weekend activities. We always end up eating dinner on the go during the school year, so it is nice to have that fancy meal as a way to sa- vor our time together before the circus starts.” -Meg P.
BY AMANDA CIANI | PHOTO BY MAGNIFIC.COM
T ime to cross your fingers and hope you cleaned out those lunch boxes last spring, because it is almost time for back to school! We asked and you answered… Does your family have any back-to-school traditions—books to read, movies to watch, or activities to do together that get you in the back-to-school spirit? “We just did the typical first day photo, but this upcoming school year will be the last since my youngest is going to be a senior.” -Beth R. “Before the first day of Kindergarten, my daughter’s teacher sent home some ‘jitter glitter’. I don’t know how, but five years later and it has become a tradition to throw some glitter in the front yard every night before the first day of school. I don’t get it, but I go with it.” -Jason M.
me. They get to pick where we eat, they get a haircut, and then they get to pick something else fun like a movie, arcade, trampoline park, or my daughter picked going to Sephora last year to get a few things she had been eyeing
for a while.” -Maggie D.
“No real back-to-school traditions, but I savored every moment of having them home for the summer. Kings Island trips, lazy days at the pool, and Friday Field Trips where every Friday we had to go somewhere we’d never been before. Sending my kids back to school always meant ‘my’ fun was over, too!” -Jennifer A. “With sports and other commitments, we don’t always make it to church on Sundays as a family. But we make a point to go together one Sunday in August before school starts back up. It is nice to pray for them and their school year before the first day.” -Jennifer P.
“The week before my kids go back to school, they each get their own 1:1 mini-yes day with
“My wife takes the kids shopping to get their teacher a little back to school gift, which
8 AUGUST 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
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KRAZY BINS OPENS
Popular liquidation discount store Krazy Bins is now open at 5383 Ridge Avenue in Oakley. Of- fering up big-box store overstock for even bigger discounts, the store is popular amongst deal seekers. Especially on Friday morning, which is when the store fully restocks its bins, meaning they are ripe for the pickin’. Shoppers never know what they may find in the bins, but there will be an assortment of electronics, home goods, toys, apparel, small appliances, decor, seasonal items, and more. As the week progresses, pricing on the bins go down! Learn more about the “krazyness” at krazybins.com.
CMC ANNOUNCES EVENING HOURS
Each day from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Union Terminal at Cincinnati Museum Center is abuzz with curious folks ready to learn (and have fun!)—excited voices echo throughout the glow of the golden art deco rotunda. When the last visitor of the day exits the building, there is an eerie hush. But! On select evenings in 2026, the fun and learning extends after hours. Mark your calendars! The lights will stay on a little longer on August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, and De- cember 18 from 5-8 p.m., giving patrons extra time to explore the Cincinnati History Museum and Museum of Natural Histo- ry & Science, or take in an OMNIMAX® film! Concessions will also be available, to make it a true evening adventure. Learn more at cincymuseum.org.
BRKTHROUGH CINCINNATI OPENS
VOA COUNTRY MUSIC FEST Country music fans, rejoice! The Voices of America Country Music Fest is back for its fourth annual celebration of music, local eats, and more. The festivities will take place Thursday, August 6 through Sunday, August 9 at VOA MetroPark in West Chester, with headliners including: Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Jordan Davis. Plenty of talented supporting acts join the schedule with performances lasting all weekend long. Four day and single day tickets are available now! Visit voacountrymusicfest.com for more information. A brand new immersive challenge room has opened at Kenwood Towne Centre. Only the fifth venue to offer this unique, competitive, high-en- ergy entertainment, the brand is expanding and growing at a fast pace, similar to the game play. Teams of two to four work through over 40 one- of-a-kind challenge rooms, each designed to test mental, physical, and problem-solving games. After working up an appetite at BRKTHROUGH, families can grab a bite to eat and a drink at the BRK ROOM, which offers flatbreads, burgers, and local drinks. Perfect for parties, date nights, and any social gathering! Learn more at brkthrough.com.
10 AUGUST 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
THE CINCINNATI ART BOOK FAIR RETURNS! Launched in 2017, the Cincinnati Art Book Fair puts the spotlight on artists from the midwest and beyond who author awesome books and craft one-of-a-kind works of art. This free event has taken place in several locations over the years, but will once again be held at The Carne- gie in Covington, KY this year. With over 60 vendors and artists displaying their works, there is a wide range of arts and styles to take in and enjoy. This artist-run fair is fun for all; be sure to check it out on August 29-30. Learn more at cincinnatiartbookfair.com.
KIDCHELLA 2026
Get ready to ROCK at Cincinnati Family Magazine’s annual Kidchella family music festival. This electric annual event will take place Saturday, August 1 at Cottell Park in Deerfield Township. Families can join in on the excitement from 1-4 p.m. With live music all afternoon, touch-a-truck, princesses, dinosaurs, mini-horses, and more, this event is truly for the whole family. Even vendors at Kidchella bring the fun with obstacle courses, sensory bins, activities galore, freebies, and so. much. more. An assortment of food trucks will be onsite to keep the growling tummies at bay. Admission to Kidchella is FREE—be sure to pop by the Cincy Fam booth to say, “Hi!”. Learn more at cincinnatifamilymagazine.com.
RED PANDA BIRTH AT CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
Congratulations are in order to new mom Marcy the red panda, and the entire Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. An adorable baby red panda was born at the zoo this summer! The Red Panda breeding program started in Cincinnati in the 1980s, and this specific cub’s birth marks a monumental milestone: 100 red panda cubs born here. Originally pregnant with twins, Marcy’s surviving cub was born on June 22nd, with both mom and baby doing well, bonding behind the scenes. Follow the zoo on social media for updates, and learn more about conservation at cincinnatizoo.org.
NEW MONTESSORI TRAINING INSTITUTE OPENS
Cincinnati Public Schools has opened a new training institute for current and future CPS teach- ers to earn official Montessori credentials. This in-house training, which will be offered at Bram- ble Nature Campus in Cincinnati, is a cost-effective alternative to a traditional university option. The first cohort includes 66 CPS teachers who will complete the two-year program focused on the benefits of Montessori learning—teaching children independence while also encouraging their creativity and curiosity. Discover more about this program at cps-k12.org.
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ACHIEVEMENT KIDS & ACTIVITY CULTURE:
When Success Becomes a Source of Stress BY JULIANNA STEEN
I n days gone by, children used to roam outside playing until dark; now, “free time” has been replaced by the hustle of club sports, competitive cheer, ACT tutoring, and a hodgepodge of school-related club meetings. If you feel like a full-time, unpaid Uber driver for your kids, you’re not alone. Today’s children have full-length resumes before they have driver’s licenses. Just last week, a sixth grader told me about her future career goals and the colleges she was already considering. Dreaming about the future is one thing; feeling pressure to map out your college admissions strategy at 12 is another. The pressure isn’t just on kids to succeed—it’s on parents to engineer that success. WHY ACTIVITY CULTURE IS TOXIC Childhood has become a race to stay busy. Many kids spend their afternoons bouncing between practices, lessons, tutoring, and club meetings, leaving little time for free play,
family dinners, or even enough sleep.
For instance, the 2024 National Youth Sports Parent Survey by Aspen Institute reports that over 35 percent of the parents in their sample “believe that their family’s youth sport commitments contribute to less healthy eating habits.” The same study reveals that most families (56.3 percent) eat two to four meals out per week because of their child’s sport sched- ule, and “slightly more than 1 in 10 families (13.2 percent) eat five to seven meals out per week” for the same reason. Not only is it important for children to eat healthy, it’s even more important for young athletes to eat well in order to prevent injury, help muscles recover, and improve their energy levels. FAMILY HEALTH Activity Culture also cuts down family time. Getting the kids where they need to go is a game of strategy, and most nights it’s a “divide and conquer” parenting situation. The survey also reports parents average over three hours per day on their child’s sport
MENTAL HEALTH Activity Culture can prove detrimental to kids’ health, despite the fact it’s supposed to make them healthier humans. An article by Mindset describing a 2024 study correlates an excess of activities and homework with anxiety and depression in kids. “There’s a point where a child could still boost his academic skills by doing another hour of homework or tutoring,” writer Jill Barshay explains, “but it would come at the expense of mental well-being.”While it initially proves beneficial for the child, this overworking ends up “making students more anxious, depressed, or angry.” But Activity Culture affects more than mental health—it also leads to less healthy eating habits. PHYSICAL HEALTH There’s no denying youth sports many benefits. But when you overdo it, you might be surprised at some of the repercussions.
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your kids. After all, the youth sports industry only continues to grow, making Activity Culture the norm—and to resist is countercultural. WHEN SPORTS STOP BEING PLAY So how do you stop the intrinsic force pulling your family into the Activity Culture vortex? Start by limiting your kids to one sport or ex- tracurricular per season. Maybe change from travel ball to rec ball for a season. Ask them which extracurriculars they love. “Don’t force your kid to do what they don’t love,” says Publisher Amy L. Foreman. “Just be- cause you loved softball doesn’t mean your kid will love it.”Will it be disappointing if they don’t choose the sport you want? Sure—but it’ll save you time, money, and stress in the long run. And even if they do enjoy it now, chances are they won’t later. “Today’s sports culture exposes children to too much, too soon,” authors of Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting In A Toxic Sports Environment write. “We want to apply the brakes a bit and give kids time to grow at a more appropriate pace.”
activities, with over an hour of that devoted to attending practices and competitions.
describes “personal branding” in her article “Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands,” saying, “Students who brand themselves too early or too definitively risk missing out on the kind of exploration that will prepare them for adult life.” Children need opportunities to achieve, but they also need room to rest, fail, wander, and discover who they are apart from what they accomplish. “Do what’s truly going to make your family happy,” dares journalist Anna Nordberg in her article “The Parents Who Are Saying No to Activities Culture–and Why.”“If that is competitive sports, like it is for many families I know, that is wonderful. If you are a family who wants to keep to the middle road of rec sports or sandlot games, fight for that as long as you can. And if your kid wants to sit home making houses for stuffed mice out of cardboard, that’s fantastic too. There’s a college essay in there somewhere.” Remember: The goal is not to raise impressive children. The goal is to raise healthy adults.
HOW SPORTS CONVEY STATUS Author Linda Flanagan argues in Take Back the Game that youth sports often become status symbols—not just for children, but for parents as well. Participation in elite sports increasingly reflects a family’s financial re- sources as much as athletic ability. THE FINANCIAL WEIGHT The 2024 National Youth Sports Parent Survey reveals that families in the sample spent an average of $1,015.64 annually on their child’s primary sport—and approximately $475 on their child’s other sports. Bill Lennon wrote in his 2017 article for Medium , “The average cost to participate on a travel baseball team is in the ballpark of $1,900, not including the actual travel costs for players and parents to attend tournaments.” Needless to say, it’s not cheap to participate in one sport, much less in multiple sports. Project Play points out many of the challenges youth sports face, including financial, racial, gender, and recreational space barriers. Yet it’s becoming harder than ever to resist the pull to overcommit
EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXHAUSTION College is important, but Sarah Bernstein
CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 2026 13
The Overscheduled Childhood Are We Raising Successful Kids or Stressed Out Ones? BY AMANDA MILLER
B rrring! That’s the sound of the school bell ringing, signaling the end of the school day. But for many students, it’s only the beginning of a marathon of after-school activities, sports, and enrichment programs—not to mention squeezing in homework, dinner, showers, and a full eight hours of sleep before doing it all over again the next day. This is what modern childhood looks like: jam-packed, fast-moving, and exhausting. It’s teaching them discipline, teamwork, and life skills. But it also leads us to one important question: Are we actually raising successful children, or simply stressing them out? CHILDHOOD ON A SCHEDULE Today’s children have access to a myriad of extracurricular activities. From sports and the arts to educational opportunities and school clubs, their schedules are often a beast to manage. For some families, those busy afternoons and weekends consist of baseball, basket- ball, dance, cheerleading, theatre, and more, along with the countless hours of practice needed to thrive in those chosen activities. Did we mention game times too? These packed schedules create nonstop busyness and often leave families juggling unpredict- able days. Michelle Shelton, a local mom of three, shares that her family doesn’t have a typical week. “It depends on what sport is in season and what activity is going on. Then you shift to the summer schedule, which can be just as crazy as to who’s going when and where. If I
At the heart of it, most parents say yes to ac- tivities because they don’t want their children to miss out on opportunities, and they’re making those decisions with good intentions. WHEN BUSY BECOMES TOO MUCH Local mom of four Scarlett Pourciau’s children are involved in a variety of sports and activities. She encourages families to be intentional about the activities they choose, trying new things while also “protecting the schedule.”When the busyness becomes too much for children, the signs are clear. She’s seen it in her own home through tears and tempers. According to Brown, “Children respond to overload in very different ways. Some chil- dren become emotionally explosive, while others completely shut down.”
was going to describe a typical week, it’s a lot of activity,” she says. WHY PARENTS SAY YES There are several benefits to participating in these activities, from developing time man- agement and prioritization skills to learning teamwork and how to handle both winning and losing. Many parents see these activities as valuable opportunities for their children to build character and grow into more well-rounded individuals. Then there’s the comparison to other children and the fear of their own kids falling behind, adding even more pressure to participate. Kodi Brown, M.Ed., Ed.S., a behavior specialist and parent educator, says today’s families are facing a different kind of pressure than previous generations. “There is now enor- mous cultural pressure to ensure children are constantly engaged in sports, tutoring, extra- curriculars, and enrichment programs,” she explains. “Parents often fear that if their child slows down, they may fall behind socially, academically, or developmentally.” Shelton shares that most parents do feel that pressure. “There’s the feeling that, ‘If I don’t put them in the club sport and they don’t get that training, will they make the middle school or the high school team? Are they going to be as prepared as their friends?’ That’s a giant guess we’re making sometimes. You don’t want your kid to show up and not be ready, but looking back now, there are God-given talents some kids are going to have regardless of elite training, and so they’re going to have that edge on your kid no matter what you do with your kid.”
Brown shares some common signs to look for:
• Meltdowns over seemingly small situations • Increased irritability or emotional sensitivity • Frequent frustration or anger • Withdrawal or emotional shutdown • Difficulty transitioning between activities • Sleep problems or exhaustion • Increased anxiety or perfectionism • Complaints of headaches or stomachaches • Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed • Resistance to attending practices, lessons, or events The Role of Boredom & Unstructured Time Downtime is not wasted time. Just as there are benefits to participating in activities, there are also benefits to simply being.
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According to Brown, “Unstructured time is incredibly important for child develop- ment. Free play, rest, imagination, and even boredom help children build emotional regulation, creativity, problem-solving skills, independence, frustration tolerance, and social confidence.” Pourciau even recalls a recent vacation when she and her husband loved keeping a full itinerary, while their children expressed a desire to slow down, relax, and simply sit on the beach. It was a shift for the family, but a welcome one. SUCCESSFUL OR STRESSED? So what are parents really doing? They’re giving their children opportunities, preparing them for success in a world that feels busier than ever. But even with the best intentions, packed schedules can sometimes become over- whelming for children. Brown encourages parents to look beyond accomplishments and pay attention to how activities are affecting their child as a whole. “A healthy schedule supports the whole child, not just achievement. The key question is not simply, ‘Is my child successful?’ but rather, ‘How is this schedule affecting my child emotionally, physically, socially, and behaviorally?’” Pull out the calendar, talk with the kiddos, and find out what drives their hearts and what they’re truly passionate about. Brown continues, “Children can absolutely benefit from sports, structure, activities, and enrichment. The goal is balance. Healthy schedules still leave room for rest, emotional recovery, family connection, and flexibility.” FINDING BALANCE There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for raising successful, well-rounded children. Every fami- ly and every season looks different. That’s why Pourciau encourages parents to give themselves grace. Some weeks may feel beautifully balanced, while others feel like pure survival mode, and that’s okay. Child- hood is not a checklist to complete perfectly. It’s about creating space for children to grow, explore their interests, rest, connect with family, and simply be kids. At the end of the day, success may not be found in a perfectly packed schedule, but in raising children who feel supported, healthy, and loved along the way.
New Episodes! Watch now on PBS KIDS
CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 2026 15
What Teachers Wish Parents Knew in 2026 BY AMELIA ROESSLER
B ehind every report card, parent-teach- er conference, and late-night email is a teacher juggling far more than lesson plans. We asked educators what they wish parents knew about today’s classrooms, and their answers reveal the challenges, misconceptions, and opportunities shaping education in 2026. WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW Lori Gates taught third grade at a public school for almost 25 years before she retired at the end of May this year. She said it’s the kids’ attention span that is really hard to deal with right now. Gates recommends the CDC guideline for screen time for kids. “Many students don’t look you in the eye, and their listening capa- bilities are not as they used to be. Students have difficulty focusing and it’s not just because of ADHD. It’s because many kids are on devices when not at school and are used to the constant dopamine hits,” she says. Sumeera Aggarwal, a kindergarten teacher, says she has started seeing kids who lack resilience. If a child forgets their lunch or as- signment at home, parents immediately rush to grab it and bring it to the school. Aggarwal adds that as a parent, she understands, but knows it is something parents should work on. “If you have missed an assignment, I am not going to leave my job and go home and pick up the assignment that’s sitting on the table,” she says. “You will have to deal with it. You will have to talk to your teachers, because
that is one-time learning that will teach you responsibility in the long term.”
Both Gates and Aggarwal encourage parents to become more involved in their child’s classroom, whether that is through volun- teering in the classroom or just stopping by. Aggarwal says she has an open door policy where she says parents can come in and talk about what they do or just see the classroom routine. COMMUNICATION “I always say, nobody can do this job alone, teachers or parents,” says Aggarwal. “It has to be a combined effort because this is the ac- tual learning, actual teaching life—resilience and perseverance—and we need to stop advocating for our children just because they have made the mistake and now they want you to clean the mess.” Gates says it’s always a triangle—the teacher, the student, and the family at home. Each part of the triangle needs to be on the same page or it isn’t going to work. “I know parents are bombarded with emails and texts from the schools and districts,” says Gates, “but the unwritten rule is that email communication should be responded to within 24 hours. A communication should be either ‘I got it,’‘I’m going to look into it,’ or ‘Thank you for that.’” Both Gates and Aggarwal say they send out weekly emails for parents to give them important information about the classroom. Aggarwal adds that she daily sends parents prompts and pictures through an app to not only communicate with parents and give them updates, but to give parents the oppor-
Kids need to fail and get up. Aggarwal ex- plains that kids nowadays are kept in bubble wrap, but they don’t need their problems solved for them, they need to become critical thinkers and good decision-makers. Teachers also are finding themselves spend- ing a lot of their own money on the supplies and on the things to make the lessons engag- ing for kids. Gates says people think teaching is fun, especially with summers off, but in reality, many teachers are working second jobs, especially in the summer. “If it’s a behavior issue, and you get a phone call, and you’re thinking your child never acts that way at home, the school or teacher is probably right,” says Gates. She explains that teachers don’t have time to make a phone call home or send an email home just to “pick on a child.” So when they do initiate a com- munication from school, parents should listen. Parents can try to defend their child, but Gates says they should try to take the teacher’s or the principal’s word for it, have a conversation with their child about what hap- pened, and help reinforce discipline at home. BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS PARENTS HAVE Aggarwal says parents need to presume positive intent. “You are worried about your own kid, they’re worried about 27 of them in their classroom.”
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a little attention to what they’re saying, kids have the ability to synthesize so much information. THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION With everything teachers have to face and deal with in 2026, Gates says she worries about the longevity of teachers. Not only are teachers having to deal with long working hours or small paychecks, but they also are concerned about the state of education. If a person becomes a teacher not because it’s a calling but because they didn’t really know what to do for a career, they’ll figure out they’re not making enough money, and the work is more demanding than advertised. “I’m just scared that people are going to work for three years and then dip out, which means you’re not going to get any teachers like me that can pull stuff out of their back pocket all day long, that know how to deal with behaviors, like I know how to do it,” ex- plains Gates. “I have magic tricks all the time, but these three year teachers are not going to be able to come up with the magic tricks. So I’m worried—they’ve got to either pay teachers more, or make the workload less. Or you’re not going to have good teachers.”
tunities to start conversations with their kids.
different lessons, there are so many papers to grade and lessons to be planned. Once she goes home, she has to go right back to work, either to finish up things from that day or get ready for the next. “I’m the funny teacher. What I used to say to the kids was like, ‘Look at this gorgeous worksheet I made for you, and I really was thoughtful.’ But I go, ‘I did this when I wasn’t…’ and the kids would always say, ‘When you weren’t getting paid,’ because they needed to know that I’m doing all this extra stuff for them.” STRENGTH IN KIDS Despite the trials of teaching, and kids strug- gling to have resilience or strong attention spans, Gates says there is a positive note to social media. With their access to YouTube and educational programs, she explains that kids have an impressive background knowl- edge of topics that surprise even her. “I always tell the parents, like I do deal with these five- to seven-year-old bodies, but I treat them as adults,” says Aggarwal. “They have such an amazing audacity to imagine, and they’re so empathetic.” She adds that adults tend to ignore what kids are dreaming about or just brush off their conversations as childish. But if people pay
As for parents reaching out, Gates recom- mends keeping it brief. She says she uses bullet points in her weekly emails and recom- mends parents also heed to using brief com- munication because of all the texts, emails, and communications people get every day. THE REALITIES TEACHERS FACE IN SCHOOLS TODAY “I’ve always said, the thing you think I do all day, I do for about 10 percent of my day,” Gates laughs. People tend to think of teachers standing at the front of the classroom, teaching kids information all day. Or maybe you picture teachers at their desk grading papers in be- tween classes. In reality, teachers are forced to work long hours outside of their scheduled 8-4 just to get everything done. “Parents have no idea what the reality of a school day looks like,” says Aggarwal. “That is why I use a talking points app where every other day I put some pictures with a prompt- ing question.” Not only that, but there’s no time to do other work, like creating lessons or grading papers or projects, until the kids are gone. Gates explains that because she teaches so many
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After-School Activities & Extracurriculars
B ack-to-school also means back to after-school activities and enriching extracurriculars. No matter your child’s age or interests, Cincinnati and North- ern Kentucky are both absolutely full of fun and enriching extracurricular activities for children to explore this fall, and beyond. So grab that family calendar and get ready to fill in those empty spots with some awesome after school activities!
Creative House of Art & Design 609 Main St., Covington, KY (859) 669-1425 | creativehousead.com Fitton Center for Creative Arts 101 S Monument Avenue, Hamilton, OH (513) 863-8873 | fittoncenter.org Happen, Inc. 4201 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 751-2345 | happeninc.org Kennedy Heights Art Center 6546 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 631-4278 | kennedyarts.org Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, OH (513) 868-8336 | pyramidhill.org Queen City Clay 2760 Highland Avenue, Norwood, OH (513) 871-2529 | queencityclay.com Sound Support In-home services for the greater Cincinnati area (513) 572-1838 | soundsupportohio.org Taft Museum of Art 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH (513) 241-0343 | taftmuseum.org
DANCE
Arabesque Dance Academy LLC 2475 W. Galbraith Road, Suite A2, Cincinnati, OH (513) 401-5361 | adancecincy.com
Belladance Multiple KY locations bella-dance.com
ANIMALS
Cincinnati Ballet 1801 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 562-1111 | cballet.org
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 281-4700 | cincinnatizoo.org Newport Aquarium 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY (800) 406-3474 | newportaquarium.com WAVE Foundation 1 Levee Way, Unit 1103, Newport, KY (859) 815-1441 | wavefoundation.org Winton Woods Farm & Equestrian Center 10073 Daly Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 521-3276 | greatparks.org
Dance Factory 6011 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 271-7111 | dancefactoryfitness.com Emerge Dance Academy Multiple locations (513) 923-2356 | emerge-dance.com Encore EDA 3320 Tylersville Road, Fairfield Township, OH (513) 892-2609 | encoreeda.com Fairytale Land 3049 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 440-9393 | thefairytaleland.com Gotta Dance Studios 7892 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 232-9710 | gottadance-studios.com Hairston School of Dance 4329-B Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 271-0095 | hairstonschoolofdance.com Mason Dance Center 600 Reading Road, Suite B, Mason, OH (513) 398-0353 | masondance.com Moss Performing Arts Academy 1671 Park Road #2, Fort Wright, KY (859) 344-6362 mossdanceandperformingartsacademy.com
ART
Abrakadoodle See website for current program locations (513) 297-5655 abrakadoodle.com/oh-greater-cincinnati
COOKING
ArtsConnect 9158 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 522-2108 | theartsconnect.us Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center 620 Greenup St., Covington, KY (859) 431-0020 | bakerhunt.org Cr(eat)e Culinary Studio 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 287-7000 | cincymuseum.org Sur La Table 2673 Rookwood Commons Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 351-7444 | surlatable.com
ArtsConnect 9158 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 522-2108 | theartsconnect.us Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center 620 Greenup St., Covington, KY (859) 431-0020 | bakerhunt.org
The Children’s Art Academy 1347 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY (859) 781-1609 | thechildrensart.com Cincinnati Art Museum 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH (513) 721-2787 | cincinnatiartmuseum.org Clifton Cultural Arts Center 3412 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH (513) 497-2860 | cliftonculturalarts.org Contemporary Arts Center 44 E 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH (513) 345-8400 | contemporaryartscenter.org
Q-Kidz 1524 Linn St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 331-4871 | q-kidz.org
Tablespoon Cooking Co. 1731 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 268-6344 | tablespooncookingco.com The Learning Kitchen 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester Township, OH (513) 847-4474 | thelearningkitchen.com
Queen City Dance Academy 7900 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 489-7575 queencitydanceacademy.com The Studio for Dance 10831 Millington Court, Blue Ash, OH
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9690 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester, OH (513) 779-7070 | indianspringsacademy.org Musicologie 7120 Dunn Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 620-4923 | go.musicologie.com
(513) 563-9484 | heritagevillagecincinnati.org
(513) 984-3311 thestudiofordancecincinnati.com
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
GYMNASTICS
50 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH (513) 333-7500 | freedomcenter.org
Acrocheer Gymnastics 1155 Old State Rte 74, Batavia, OH (513) 807-3459 | acrocheergymnastics.com
MARTIAL ARTS
School of Rock Multiple locations schoolofrock.com
Cincinnati Quest Martial Arts 11711 Princeton Pike, Suite #451, CIncinnati, OH (513) 671-0239 | cincinnatiquestcenter.com Cincinnati Taekwondo Center 3600 Red Bank Road, Suite E, Cincinnati, OH (513) 271-6900 | cincinnatitkd.com
Gym Nation 836 Reading Road, Mason, OH (513) 229-7315 | gym-nation.com Gym Skills 5639 Creek Road, Blue Ash, OH (513) 319-1512 | gymskills.com
Tallant Music Studio 122 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY (859) 620-6065 | tallantmusicstudio.com
West Chester Academy of Music
The Gymnastics Center 5166 Crookshank Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 922-3433 | thegymnasticscenter.com Gymnastics Central 3972 Bach Buxton Road, Amelia, OH (513) 947-0540 | gymnastics-central.com Kids First Sports Center 7900 E Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 489-7575 | kidsfirstsports.com Perfection Gymnastics 5637 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, OH (513) 860-3351 | perfectiongymnastics.com Top Flight Gymnastics 721 Centre View Blvd., Crestview Hills, KY (859) 344-1010 | topflightgymnastics.com Westside Academy of Gymnastics 5755 Filview Cir., Cincinnati, OH (513) 574-0444 | westsideacademyofgymnastics.org
Club MMA Multiple locations club-mma.com
8107 Market Place Drive, West Chester, OH (513) 829-2345 | westchesteracademy.com
NATURE
I.K. Kim Tae Kwon Do Centers, Inc. Multiple locations ikkimtkd.com Mt. Washington Taekwondo 1715 Beacon St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 428-1853 | mtwashingtontkd.com Nishime Martial Arts 7012 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 353-5425 | cincinnatimartialarts.com Premier Martial Arts 5518 Irwin Simpson Road, Mason, OH (513) 299-7074 | premiermartialarts.com Summit Martial Arts 335 Crossroads Blvd., Cold Spring, KY (859) 488-1166 | summitblackbelt.com
Cincinnati Nature Center 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH (513) 445-4271 | cincynature.org Cincinnati Parks Foundation 421 Oak St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 861-0023 cincinnatiparksfoundation.org Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 221-0981 | civicgardencenter.org Gorman Heritage Farm 10052 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 563-6663 | gormanfarm.org
Great Parks Many locations (513) 521-7275 | greatparks.org
HISTORY
MUSIC
SPECIAL NEEDS
American Sign Museum 1330 Monmouth Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 541-6366 | americansignmuseum.org Behringer-Crawford Museum 1600 Montague Road, Covington, KY (859) 491-4003 | bcmuseum.org Cincinnati Fire Museum 315 W. Court St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 621-5553 | cincyfiremuseum.com Cincinnati Museum Center 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 287-7000 | cincymuseum.org Harriet Beecher Stowe House 2950 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 751-0651 | stowehousecincy.org Heritage Village Museum 11500 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH
Cincinnati Boy Choir 350 Walnut St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 396-7664 | cincinnatiboychoir.org Cincinnati Music Academy 7420 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 891-7714 cincinnatimusicacademy.com
Big Blue Canopy 11230 Cornell Park Drive, Blue Ash, OH (513) 880-6800 | bigbluecanopy.com Stepping Stones 5650 Given Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 831-4660 | steppingstonesohio.org We Rock the Spectrum Cincinnati 4060 E. Galbraith Road, Unit 17, Cincinnati, OH (513) 429-5905 werockthespectrumcincinnati.com We Rock the Spectrum NKY 331 Kenton Lands Road, Suite 400, Erlanger, KY (859) 727-9787 werockthespectrum northernkentucky.com
Cincinnati School of Music Multiple locations cincinnatischoolofmusic.com
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 1225 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 381-3300 | cincinnatisymphony.org
HeartSeed 601 E 2nd St., Newport, KY (859) 488-1508 | heartseed.net
Indian Springs Academy of Music
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Drake Planetarium 2020 Sherman Ave., Norwood, OH (513) 396-5578 | drakeplanetarium.org Haile Planetarium 409 Science Ctr., 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY (859) 572-5600 | nku.edu iSpace 10020 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 607-6622 | ispacestem.org Snapology Serving West Chester Township and surround areas (513) 988-7363 westchestertwp.snapology.com The STEM Lab 11223 Cornell Park Drive, Blue Ash, Oh (513) 857-3366 | cincystemlab.com
SPORTS
8201 Arbor Square Drive, Mason, Oh (513) 935-0525 | tlgmasonoh.com Mayerson JCC 8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 761-7500 | mayersonjcc.org Northern Kentucky Ice Center 2638 Anderson Road, Crescent Springs, KY (859) 344-1981 | nkyicecenter.com Queen City Sportsplex 10765 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 483-0233 | queencitysportsplex.com RG Basketball Academy 7950 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 605-3836 | rgbasketball.com Rock Quest 3475 E Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 733-0123 | rockquest.com Skate Downtown Cincy 907 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, OH skatedowntowncincy.com Sports of All Sorts 10094 Investment Way, Florence, KY (859) 372-7754 | sportsofallsortsky.com Swift Movement Studio 4460 West Mitchell Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 549-4460 | swift-movement.com TOCA Soccer Center Cincinnati 5999 Meijer Drive, Milford, OH (513) 630-1276 | tocafootball.com Town & Country Sports Complex 1018 Town Drive, Wilder, KY (859) 442-5800 | towncountrysports.com USA Ninja Challenge 4727 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 739-5528 | ninjacincinnati.com
Bear Paddle Swim School Multiple locations bearpaddle.com
Beechmont Rollarena 3988 Commercial Blvd., Cincinnati, OH (513) 753-6868 | beechmontrollarena.com
Cincinnati Open Sporting Club 6100 Legacy Park Way, Mason, OH cincyopensportingclub.com
Cincinnati Pickleball Club Multiple locations (513) 607-6277 | cincinnatipickleball.com
Cincinnati Premier Youth Volleyball League Multiple locations cpyvl.com
Cincinnati Recreation Commission Multiple locations cincinnati-oh.gov/crc Cincinnati Soccer Box 4460 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 220, Blue Ash, OH cincysoccerbox.com
THEATRE
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 569-8080 | thechildrenstheatre.com Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park 962 Mt. Adams Cir., Cincinnati, OH (513) 421-3888 | cincyplay.com Cincinnati Shakespeare Company 1195 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH (513) 381-2273 | cincyshakes.com Clifton Performance Theatre Multiple locations (513) 813-7469 cliftonperformancetheatre.com Covedale Center for the Performing Arts 4990 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 241-6550 cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati 1127 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 421-3555 | ensemblecincinnati.org Know Theatre 1120 Jackson St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 300-5669 | knowtheatre.com Royal Theatre Company 308 West Main St., Mason, OH (513) 398-0116 | royaltheatrecompany.com
Cincinnati Sports Club Multiple locations cincinnatisportsclub.com
Climb Cincy 1708 Blue Rock St., Cincinnati, OH (513) 541-1111 | climbcincy.com
Climb Time Multiple locations ctoba.com D-Bat Baseball & Softball Academies Multiple locations dbat.com
YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Many locations in Cincinnati area (513) 361-9622 | myy.org
Goldfish Swim School Multiple locations goldfishswimschool.com
STEM
Cincinnati Observatory 3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH (513) 321-5186 cincinnatiobservatory.org
I9 Sports Multiple locations i9sports.com KidStrong Multiple locations kidstrong.com
Classroom Antics Multiple locations classroomantics.com
Kids First Sports Center 7900 E Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 489-7575 | kidsfirstsports.com
Theatre at the J 8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH (513) 761-7500 | mayersonjcc.org
Code Ninjas 6507 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513) 878-1338 | codeninjas.com
The Little Gym of Mason
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