Why Cleveland is Cool for Kids, Part One
Part One of a 4-part series
The Arts are smART

Max Mulready often reports on cool events for kids in Cleveland. Just about every week, in fact. But, have you ever really pondered what makes Cleveland a cool place to have kids, raise kids, visit with kids, or just be a kid?''' In fall 2005, Cleveland ranked as the number one "Most Livable City" in the U.S. and 26th in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a leading international research and analysis firm. Northeast Ohio’s negative aspects—loss of jobs, loss of population, poor city schools—often obscure the (now proven) fact that our community is rich with a variety of family-friendly gems and resources, making it indeed a cool place for kids. Whether you are born and bred here, raising your kids, or just stopping in for a visit with friends or family, here are some hot spots of what makes Cleveland cool.

The Arts are smART
If the arts make you smart, the kids in and around Cleveland are going to be brilliant. Have you watched a young child move to the beat of music? Seen a child’s eyes light up because of the bright colors presented to them?

According to recent reports from the National Association of Young Children (http://www.naeyc.org), even before children can speak, children move, gesture, and respond to sound, color and rhythm. An arts-based curriculum provides the opportunity to learn today and develop skills for tomorrow (and isn’t that what we need for Northeast Ohio, Cleveland born and bred leaders?).

Through an arts education, research has noted that children acquire the abilities to:

Express and interpret understandings of their world
Healthily express emotions, conflicts and needs
Make connections between disciplines/subject matter
Use feedback to improve performance, as well as obtain self confidence
Work collaboratively with others to accomplish a common goal

So, how do you get your kid art smART? Head out to the many cultural offerings around town.

Everyone in Northeast Ohio should know about and take advantage of one of the world’s (yes, the world’s) greatest symphony orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra. With its home base at Severance Hall in University Circle and its summer home at Blossom Music Center, the Orchestra provides a variety of musical programs. Aimed at introducing children to classical music, concerts are age appropriate, and many provide hands-on explorations before the concert experience. For example, have you ever experienced a musical petting zoo? Blossom Music Center is picnic (and kid!) friendly on the lawn, and some nights feature fireworks or music from movies such as Harry Potter and Star Wars. During the cold winter months, the Orchestra offers plenty of educational programs for children as young as three years old an up. Learn more about The Cleveland Orchestra at http://www.clevelandorchestra.com or by calling 231-7300.

Outside of NYC, Playhouse Square (http://www.playhousesquare.com) offers one of the largest theater complexes in the country, and along with these theaters come dynamite offerings for families. A non-profit organization dedicated to “presenting and producing a wide variety of quality performing arts, advancing arts education and creating a theater district that is a superior location for entertainment, business and housing, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the region”, the offerings for families are plentiful. From a family theater series (and optional hands-on workshops which introduce and extend the theater experience), to classes and new programs recently launched in the Idea Center, Playhouse Square invests $1 million dollars annually in their arts education programs According to research, that is money well-spent and a great investment in the kids of northeast Ohio.

Every smART family needs to explore University Circle where the institutions geared for learning and fun are as varied as kids and their interests themselves. From The Western Reserve Historical Society (did you know that they operate seven historical properties in northeast Ohio? Visit www.wrhs.org to learn more), to The Cleveland Museum of Art (http://www.cma.org - Offering family festivals and classes for kids), to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (http://www.cmnh.org - Have you taken the opportunity to visit Sue and Jane yet?), there is plenty to explore. Overwhelmed with the choices? Visit http://www.universitycircle.org as a one-stop shop that gives you an overview (and a map) of this area’s dynamic offerings -- including, the not-to-be-missed, one-of-a-kind University Circle tradition: Parade the Circle, which happens annually in June.

Editor's Note: Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, M.A., is not only a freelance writer, but a "kid at heart" as well. Contact her at the address below.

From Cool Cleveland Contributor Jeannie Fleming-Gifford fleminggiffordATyahoo.com
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