Things To Do in Columbus While at #PTACon19

The 2019 National PTA Convention & Expo will be hosted in Columbus June 20-23. Ohio’s capital city has a large and diverse community with many things that you and your family can do. Maybe you want to get hands-on with science or eat some of the Midwest’s best food. Either way, both options (and many more) are possible. When you are not at #PTACon19, consider going to some of these places to explore the city and all that it has to offer.

 

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to thousands of animals from all over the world, ranging from things like fish and stingrays in the aquarium, to lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) in the zoo. Along with animals, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has an 18-hole golf course called Safari Park and an expansive water park called Zoombezi Bay as well. Admission to the water park includes admission to the zoo but admission for golf is separate from the rest of the facilities.

 

COSI

The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is a science museum and research center filled with hands-on exhibits and displays that are fun for kids and adults. Some current exhibits include the Dinosaur Gallery, the Planetarium, Jim Henson: Imagination Unlimited and the Giant Screen Theater which currently features movies about Apollo 11 and D-Day.

 

Columbus Museum of Art

               The Columbus Museum of Art features late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American and European modern works of art. Some exhibitions that will be open during the convention include Blacklight Magic, which celebrates the role blacklight posters played in artwork during the late 1960s and early 1970s American counterculture, and the works of Jim Hodges, a highly regarded figure in contemporary art.

 

Columbus Commons

Columbus Commons is a six-acre park in downtown Columbus that features different events that are fun for all ages. During the convention, the Commons will host Commons for Kids, which features family friendly activities for you and your kids, and will play Mary Poppins Returns for a free movie night.

 

Here are some Restaurants to Check Out as Well!

Little Eater in the North Market http://littleeater.com/restaurants/north-market/

Max and Erma’s https://www.maxandermas.com/

Paulie G’s https://pauliegee.com/short-north/

Donato’s https://www.donatos.com/locations/downtown-columbus

Condado Tacos http://www.condadotacos.com/

Jeni’s in the North Market http://www.condadotacos.com/

7 Best Tips When Applying For a Grant

1. Know what grants exist and when to apply

Sign up for National PTA’s newsletters and bookmark our grants page.

2. Tell a compelling story

Make sure all your answers work together to highlight your PTA’s strengths.

3. Share how the grant would impact your school community

Identify an existing need in your school community and explain how the grant will address that need.

4. Show your enthusiasm

Describe how the grant will provide an exciting opportunity for your school and PTA.

5. Answer all parts of the question

Include concrete, detailed examples and explanations that completely answer the questions asked.

6. Promote family engagement

Demonstrate how this grant will help you build stronger families in your community and how you will encourage all families to attend your event.

7. Get a second set of eyes

Ask someone to proofread your work for spelling, grammar and clarity before submitting the application.

 

We offer over 500 grant opportunities throughout the year. If you don’t receive a grant the first time, apply again!

Ten Questions to Help You Start the Conversation

Social media plays a big role in teens’ lives today. It’s where they connect with friends and family, celebrate major milestones, share everyday moments, and discover new passions and interests.

As parents, we want our children to connect, share and have fun through social media, and at the same time, stay safe. An important way to help ensure this is by having proactive, open and ongoing conversations with children around digital safety and setting rules together for technology use. 

Instagram, a top social media platform among teens, partnered with social media and education expert Ana Homayoun, M.A., P.P.S., author of Social Media Wellness, to create a set of 10 questions you can use to guide a conversation with your teen about Instagram. The intention is that you use these questions to learn more about how your teen is using Instagram and to ensure they’re using the app in a positive way.

  1. What do you like about Instagram?
  2. What do you wish I knew about Instagram?
  3. What are the top five Instagram accounts that you enjoy following?
  4. What are some things you think about before you post something on Instagram?
  5. If you have multiple Instagram accounts, what do you share in each account?
  6. How do likes and comments affect how you feel about a post?
  7. Do you know your followers? (If your teen has a private account, ask them how they decide who follows them.) What do you do when someone you don’t know tries to contact you via direct message?
  8. How do you feel about the amount of time you spend online?
  9. Have you ever felt uncomfortable with something you saw or an experience you had online?
  10. What would you do if you saw someone being bullied on Instagram? (Do you know about the reporting tools and the offensive comment filter on Instagram?)

National PTA has also collaborated with Instagram to create a guide for parents and guardians to help teens use social media safely and responsibly. The guide includes basics of the app, a description of the safety tools, plus a discussion guide for how to have an open conversation with teens about Instagram. It also focuses on three ways to control teen’s Instagram experience, including privacy, interactions and time on the platform.

Download the parent’s guide at PTA.org/InstagramResources and start the conversation today!