Indoor Play & Themed Events during the month of January

• The Monkey's Treehouse (Nashville): Offers specific January events like a Bounce & Glow Party (Jan 15), a Parents Night Out (Jan 23), and an Elsa & Olaf Visit (Jan 27), plus general drop-in play.
• Urban Air Adventure Park & The Treehouse Indoor Play: Good options for active fun, according to Nashville Guru and Yelp. 

Winter Outdoor & Holiday Fun

• Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery: Hosts Winter Break Family Days (Dec 29 - Jan 3) with crafts, games, and snowglobe making.
• Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center: Features synthetic ice skating with music and themed nights, check their schedule for January dates. 

Other Local Favorites

• Cheekwood: A great spot for seasonal beauty and family activities.
• Nashville Zoo: Always a family favorite for animal encounters.
• Lane Motor Museum: For unique vehicle exhibits. 

How to Find More Events

• Kids Out and About Nashville: A comprehensive guide to local family activities.
• Nashville Parent: Lists events specifically for families in the area.
• Nashville Guru: Offers lists of fun places for kids in Nashville. 

Budget-Friendly Fun

• Consider creating your own fun with winter crafts (snowflakes, cards) or scavenger hunts at home.

 

Last Minute Holiday Games for Families

We all know how crazy things can get around the Holiday's. Take a look at these last minute family friendly games to help keep everyone jolly!

1. Snowball Scoop:
   • Supplies: Cotton balls, spatulas, two bowls, blindfold
   • How to Play: Players are blindfolded and then using a spatula they race to “scoop” as many cotton balls into the bowl in 60 seconds. You can have two players go at the same time using different bowls, or just have one player go at a time and compare the number they scooped up.
2. Jingle Bell Shake
   • Supplies: Empty tissue box, jingle bells, belt, tape or ribbon
   • How to Play: Strap a tissue box filled with bells to a player’s waist (a wide ribbon works well, wound through slits cut in the tissue box). They have one minute to shake, jump, and wiggle all the bells out.
3. Candy Cane Pick-Up
   • Supplies: Candy canes
   • How to Play: Using one candy cane in their mouth, players hook and lift as many candy canes as they can from the table and transfer them into another container.
4. Snowball Cup Stack:
   • Supplies: cotton balls, cups and new years noise makers
   • How to Play: Line up plastic solo cups all along each side of the table, and place a cotton ball on each. Opponents line up facing each other across the table. It’s then a race to see who can blow all the cotton balls off of the cups with their noise maker and then stack all the cups on their side to finish.
5. Gift Wrap Race
   • Supplies: A small box, tape, wrapping paper, ribbon
   • How to Play: See who can wrap their box the neatest — one-handed!
6. Gift Unwrap Race
   • Supplies: wrapped boxes, oven mits
   • How to Play: Now try the reverse, see who can unwrap the present the fastest- with oven mits on!
7. Muffin Tin Lotto:
   • Supplies: muffin tins with numbers inside (can use little post it notes or just a slip of paper with some tape), ping pong balls, prizes
   • How to Play: Set up the muffin tin with a number in each spot. There is a corresponding prize for each number in the tin. Muffin tin is placed on the far end of the table, players line up at the other end and take turns trying to land a ping pong ball into one of the slots. When a player lands one they receive the prize that corresponds with that number. For fun you could make a few of the slots something bad- like dinner dishes duty.
8. Stocking Stuffer Race
   • Supplies: Christmas stockings, small items (candy, trinkets)
   • How to Play: Using only one hand, fill the stocking with all the items scattered on the table. Players take turn and the fastest time wins!
9. Christmas Sock Challenge
   • Supplies: socks for each player (Christmas socks is a bonus, or just ask people to wear Christmas socks to the gathering)
   • How to Play: Pull your socks off your feet a bit so their “floppy” in the toes. Then try to pull all your opponents socks off by stepping on their socks, you can only use your feet! Last person with a sock still on wins.
10. Swing the Ornament into the Cup
    • Supplies: large rubber bands, plastic solo cups, string, plastic ball ornaments
    • How to Play: Tie ornaments from long strings and then tape that string to the outside of a plastic solo cup. Then strap that cup to the players with a large rubberband. Then it’s a race to see who can swing their ornament into their cup first!
11. Reindeer Pick Up (bonus idea)
• Supplies: plastic solo cups, candy, paper plates
• How to Play: A pile of candy is put in the center of the table (try things like m&s, starburst or marshmallows). Players sit in a circle surrounding the candy and put the plastic solo cups on each hand. It’s then a race to see who can pick up the most candy from the middle with their “reindeer hooves” and place it on the paper plate in front of them.

Winter Weather Safety

With the cold weather upon us, it's a good idea to know how to protect yourselves and your families from the cold. Read on for some Winter Weather Safety
 

• Prepare for power outages: Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and have extra supplies like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, and blankets.
• Stay warm safely: Wear layers of warm clothing, and use portable heaters safely by plugging them directly into outlets, keeping them 3 feet away from flammable materials, and never leaving them unattended. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
• Protect pipes: Wrap exposed faucets and pipes, and allow water to trickle from faucets to prevent freezing.
• Practice fire safety: Never leave a fireplace fire unattended and ensure any heating sources are properly ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. 

Outdoors and while traveling

• Dress in layers: Wear loose-fitting layers of lightweight, warm clothing made of synthetic materials that wick moisture. Mittens are warmer than gloves, and a hat is essential for preventing heat loss from your head.
• Limit travel: Stay indoors during the worst of a storm. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit in your vehicle.
• Prepare your vehicle: Before winter, ensure your vehicle's antifreeze levels, tires, heater, and defroster are in good condition. Keep your gas tank near full.
• Be cautious when shoveling: Avoid overexertion by taking breaks and stretching first. Pushing too hard can lead to a heart attack.
• Watch for hazards: Be careful on icy walkways and roads. 

Know the signs of cold-related illnesses 

• Hypothermia: Look for shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, and exhaustion. Symptoms can include very low energy or bright red, cold skin in infants.
• Frostbite: Signs include numbness, tingling, and a gray, blue, or ashy appearance to the skin. The skin may also feel hard or waxy. 

Check on others

• Check on neighbors, especially the elderly and those with children, and bring pets indoors. 

Fun Thanksgiving Facts for Kids

 Take a look at these Thanksgiving Fun Facts for Kids! 

The Academy will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th.

Best of Parenting 18 Years In A Row

 A huge THANK YOU to everyone as The Academy has won Best of Parenting of 18 years in a row! We couldn't do it without you!

Halloween Safety Tips

We want everyone to be safe and have fun during this Spooky Season. Here are a few safety tips to help you out! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

Safe Travels In Cooler Weather

 

How Does Cold Weather Affect Tire Pressure?

When outdoor temperatures drop significantly, so does the pressure in your tires. That’s because cold causes air molecules to slow down and stick together, resulting in a drop in air pressure and a potentially underinflated tire. Conversely, when it’s hot outside, warmer air molecules move around faster, bumping into each other more and raising the tire pressure to a potentially overinflated level.

Many tire manufacturers, such as Firestone and Goodyear, estimate that tires lose one psi for every 10 degrees the outside temperature drops. If your car has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, the warning light will be triggered by at least a 25 percent drop in tire pressure. This is especially useful for keeping track of tire pressure in cold weather.

Checking Tire Pressure in Cold Weather

Check your tires after your car has been parked for at least three hours. (Driving raises the air temperature and therefore the air pressure in the tires.) Your car’s ideal tire pressure is usually listed inside the driver-side door and in the car’s owner manual. A common mistake is to fill tires to the max pressure listed on the sidewall, instead of what’s recommended by the auto manufacturer. Also, be sure to check the recommended pressure for the front and rear tires in case they’re different.

Insert a pressure gauge into the tire air valve swiftly and firmly for an accurate reading. Then, immediately replace the air valve cap to avoid letting out any air. If your tires are below the recommendation for your car, use an air compressor to inflate them until you get the right reading.

It’s best to check your tires once a month, but you might need to check your tire pressure more often in cold weather. Other signs that your tires might be underinflated:

• They look flatter than usual;
• The steering wheel shakes;
• It takes longer to come to a stop when braking.