There’s more to art than paint and crayons. Warren and Yolanda Woodberry do teach traditional arts and crafts in their Young Art Work programs at the new Family Activities Center at 6202 Trust Dr, off Holland-Sylvania. But with their new N’ventions and N’novators program, beginning this fall, they hope to teach children the art of discovery. The program, sponsored by the Norman & Louise Jones Foundation LLC, teaches students about the history of invention, a subject that the Woodberrys believe has been sorely neglected. “America needs to regain the lead in technology,” says Warren Woodberry. But children, he believes, are not taught where the ideas come from that bring new things into the world. “We want to go beyond Thomas Edison,” he says.
“If you ask kids where their sneakers come from,” Woodberry says, “they’ll tell you Wal-Mart.” But N’ventions and N’novators wants to take them deeper. Students will learn that the birth of the tennis shoe came in Brazil, where the natives would coat their soles in natural rubber for traction. Did you know that the invention of the potato chip is often attributed to a black Native American chef, with the unlikely name of George Crum? The Woodberrys’ students do. The goal is to demonstrate to students that ideas can come from unlikely places, and that anyone has the capacity to innovate. Students will be required to take on the role of an inventor, and research the origin and history of something they may not have thought very hard about before. They must also show their artistic talent by drawing the invention and showing ways in which they could improve on the model.
There will be two separate programs, beginning in September, one a traditional after-school program, and the other aimed at homeschooled students which will be held earlier in the day. The program is appropriate for ages 6 to 14. Any parents interested in the program, particularly homeschooling parents, are encouraged to contact Warren Woodberry at [email protected], or to call 419-724-0888, extension 39.
Children of invention
A financial lesson
One of the hardest responsibilities to conquer is living within a budget, but the Community Credit Counseling Specialists want to help by providing free personal assistance classes and counseling to community members. The classes aim to benefit the entire family, and focus on the parents becoming more informed about budgeting, credit issues and debt and to then teach the information to their children.
The program is broken into three steps. First, participants take a class on the internet or by teleconference. After the final test, Director of Education Donna Grazes analyzes the information and constructs a plan to increase the financial well-being of each individual. She then works with each client one-on-one setting in order to provide a personal, private experience. “The one-on-one counseling, I think, is the most important,” Grazes said.
The program is on-going and to sign up for one of the classes call
419-865-2333. Visit www.creditcounsel.com for more information.
One stop fun
Parents will now have one-stop shopping for children’s entertainment and infant needs with the nationwide consolidation between Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us. Both brands will continue to feature full size stores, with existing stores developing a side-by-side format, as well as combined superstores opening across the nation.
A grand opening at the store in Lima, located at 2292 Elida Rd., will take place from Friday, Sept. 10 through Sunday Sept. 12. Popular costumed characters, children’s activities, giveaways and special deals will highlight the day.
The “I want to be a Toys “R” Us Mom” program encourages local mothers to visit the company’s website to download the ‘secret coupon’ and bring it to the grand opening. The coupon can land moms up to 50 percent off one item. The first 100 moms at the grand opening will receive a gift bag.
The five senses
Toledo is one of only 30 cities nationwide that can boast having a Sensory Learning Center program. SLC was created in 1997 to offer drug-free, non-invasive, and non-cognitive treatment for adults and children with sensory perception problems such as autism or ADD. The 30-day program, conducted in part at SLC and partially at home, exposes patients to gentle visual and audial stimuli that can lead to improved speech, coordination skills, auditory processes, handwriting and even fewer meltdowns. The Toledo chapter of SLC will host a free informational seminar on Tuesday, September 14, from 6 – 8 p.m. where Dr. Jeff Schmakel, the local developmental optometrist responsible for bringing the program to Toledo in 2008, will be on hand to discuss the program’s techniques and answer questions. The seminar will be held at Charter One Bank, 3130 Executive Parkway, Toledo. For more information, visit www.sensorylearning-toledo.com.
“Better Moms Make a Better World”
It’s here again. The school year that is. As moms begin sending their little ones off to preschool, CedarCreek Church is starting its 2010-2011 season of Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). MOPS is a group for pregnant women and women with young children under kindergarten age that offers community, parent support, and spiritual growth alongside other moms. MOPS meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays every month from September through May, with the morning session running from 9:30 -11:30 a.m. with an evening session from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. All meetings are held at CedarCreek’s Perrysburg campus. Childcare is provided during every meeting. Additionally, MOPS has special events and outings with the children, the whole family, or as “Moms Night Out.” The cost is $50 for the year if registered on or before the first meeting on September 16, $60 for the season thereafter, or $35 for only half the year. Newcomers may attend up to two meetings for free. For more information, visit
www.cedarcreek.tv/mops.
Daycare insurance
It’s a fairly common thing for stay-at-home moms to offer after school care or, in the summer, all-day care in their homes for the children in their community. But Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson is urging anyone thinking about offering child care in their home to contact their insurance provider to make sure they have adequate liability coverage. “Accidents happen, especially when young children are involved,” said Director Hudson. “It’s important that in-home child care providers have the proper amount of liability coverage in the event something was to happen.” According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the providers of in-home child care are not required to purchase liability insurance, but they are required to inform the parents of the children they watch that they have not purchased coverage. Additionally, insurance companies may deny coverage for a child care related accident in the home, or a child-care-providing homeowner may have their policy cancelled for not providing full disclosure in using their residence as a business. For more information about becoming an in-home child care provider, visit www.jfs.ohio.gov.