Kids

Summer Activity for Families – Ice Cream in a Bag

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The weather might be cooling off for a few days in Ohio, but within the next week the heat will be back! Summer is is in full swing, so you might be looking for some inexpensive, fun activities to spend some quality time and cool off with your family. Keep reading to check out this easy homemade ice cream recipe activity from Growing a Jeweled Rose.

This may contain: an ice cream bag with a green spoon in it

Ingredients for the Ice Cream Bag:

  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 tsp sugar (turbinado or granulated)
  • 6 tablespoons of coarse kosher salt
  • Sandwich bags
  • Gallon size resealable bag

Steps to make Ice Cream in a Bag

  1. Place these ingredients into a tightly sealed sandwich sized bag, pressing the air out as you seal it.
  2. Then put this into another tightly sealed sandwich bag.
  3. Fill a gallon size resealable bag half-way full of ice cubes, and mix with 6 tablespoons of coarse kosher salt.
  4. Then put the sealed sandwich-size bag into the middle of the ice, and seal the larger bag.
  5. Mix up the ice cream! This can be achieved by simply shaking the bags around for five minutes. However, you can make a fun game of mixing up the ice cream with move-around games like tag.
  6. Enjoy the ice cream!

You can make this fun, hands-on experience into an educational one as well! Check out this article from Britannica Kids to learn more about the history and production of ice cream: https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/ice-cream/275028 

 

Adapted from: https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/07/summer-fun-ice-cream-in-bag.html

 

Registration Open – 2024 Family Camps

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We’re happy to announce that the registration for our Family Camps is now open! A 3-day, 2 night weekend event for military-connected families. Each family will have their own cabin and will be able to participate in scheduled activities and events together through the weekend. Here are the upcoming dates:

Central Ohio Fall Family Camp #1 August 23 to August 25

Location: 4-H Camp Ohio

Age: Any age

Cost (per person):

  • Ohio Army National Guard: $60
  • Any other branch/component: $100
  • 0 to 5 year olds are FREE

 

Northern Ohio Fall Family Camp September 13 to September 15

Location: Kelleys Island

Age: Any age

Cost (per person):

  • Ohio Army National Guard: $60
  • Any other branch/component: $100
  • 0 to 5 year olds are FREE

 

Central Ohio Fall Family Camp #2 September 27 to September 29

Location: 4-H Camp Ohio

Age: Any age

Cost (per person):

  • Ohio Army National Guard: $60
  • Any other branch/component: $100
  • 0 to 5 year olds are FREE

 

The deadline to register for the 2024 Family Camps is 11:59 pm on Sunday, July 14, 2024. You can find more information and registration at go.osu.edu/OMKEvents

Safety Tips for Families This Halloween

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The ghouls and goblins out and about on Halloween are all in good fun, but no one wants to be spooked when it comes to their kids on the upcoming holiday. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your family safe this trick-or-treating season.

For kids 12 and under

  • Dress your kids in clothing that is easily visible at night time or add features to make them visible. Light-colored costumes will make it easy to keep an eye on your kiddos. Furthermore, you can give them glow-in-the-dark bracelets or add reflective tape to their trick-or-treat bags to make sure they’re visible.
  • Masks, wigs, and beards can make it hard for kids to breathe and see. Consider alternatives like face paint and makeup!
  • Make sure your kids’ costumes fit well in order to prevent falls. Oversize shoes and long costumes can be a tripping hazard.
  • In the case that you and your kids do get separated, make sure they are equipped with a name tag that includes your contact information. 

For kids 12 and up

  • Check with your older kids who are trick-or-treating alone and ensure they know their planned route. Familiarize yourself with the route in the case of an emergency.
  • Make sure older kids who plan on going trick-or-treating without adult supervision go with a group and stay with that group for the duration of the evening.
  • Let them know that they should never enter a stranger’s house or car while trick-or-treating. Additionally, encourage them to only go to houses with porch lights on.
  • Consider letting your older kids carry cell phones or other communication devices. This way, they can get in contact with you at any point while they’re trick-or-treating.

For all kids

  • On Halloween, kids are more likely to get hit by cars than any other day of the year. With this in mind, make sure your kids know to stay on sidewalks, only cross streets at crosswalks, and walk facing traffic if they absolutely have to walk on roads.
  • Supply your kids with flashlights or glow bracelets/necklaces.
  • Stay local and trick-or-treat in neighborhoods/communities that you are familiar with.
  • Check to make sure all the treats they receive are sealed, and throw out anything that looks to be tampered with or damaged. Pay attention to candy that may be a choking hazard for younger kids.

Adapted from:

“Halloween Safety Tips (for Parents) – Nemours Kidshealth.” Edited by Melanie L. Pitone, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Oct. 2022, kidshealth.org/en/parents/halloween.html.