Special Interest
During our project kickoff at ODNR, we learned that an important factor in the development of park trails is the whether visitors feel welcome when they arrive at a state park. The following excerpts are from an article by Powers et al. (2024) that examines whether the access to state
Arts & Lifestyle
According to data from travel research firm MMGY, road trips have been rising in popularity (Elliott, 2019). As such, teaching children how to soothe themselves while their parents engage with a long drive has become more important than ever. In a conversation with Masters of Social Work student Hannah Seitz
Business
I found while interviewing parents on their experiences with children in cars that environmental elements such as other kids and the weather can greatly impact mood. Sudden negative changes can cause tantrums and derail trips. Hypothetically, creating a perfect environment that is conducive to a calm, meditative trip would reduce
Special Interest
As seen from my findings on traditional meditation techniques such as sand mandalas, art can have a soothing and grounding effect that could facilitate a more calm car ride. However, how do we introduce art in a familiar yet challenging way? Without familiarity, some risk-adverse children may not interact with
Special Interest
Wildlife are a big part of state parks: Not only are the parks their homes, but many people go to parks to see them (birdwatchers, for example). And, impact on wildlife is one of the things that should be reduced to have a more sustainable park. The following excerpts are
Science & Tech
One issue that cropped up when researching children in cars was the framing of time. As explained by Ruth Ogden, "a five-hour car journey may feel longer to a five-year-old than to a 50-year-old, simply because it is a greater proportion of the five-year-old’s life" (Ogden, 2022)
Numbers
To ascertain how parents view long car rides and their methods for calming down children, I sent out a survey to a community of parents. Specifically, I surveyed The River, a church with approximately 26 families that regularly attend. I received 22 viable responses. Each participant was asked to fill
Special Interest
The Etch-a-Sketch, one of the most iconic toys in history, turned 65 years old this year. Its harnessing of new at the time technology such as plastic molding could serve as inspiration for modern toy innovation. The Etch A Sketch helped kick-start a “golden age of toy creativity,” says Edwin
Science & Tech
When designing for children, designers may convince themselves that they must give the entire solution. However, education on how to handle the problem could be just as effective in the long term as a pre-packaged solution as explained by Lovino, Koslouski, and Chafouleas: The acquisition of self-soothing skills begins in
Arts & Lifestyle
(Spoilers ahead) In Weapons (2025), cars are the hunting grounds for the villain of the film. This is in contrast to other horror films, in which cars are symbols of safety and an escape from violence. The film does this to blend multiple aspects of fear in American suburbia to
Arts & Lifestyle
I have never been a fan of Superman. I've always preferred Batman. (Though, I would be completely against him if he were real. A billionaire who decides to beat up criminals one by one with expensive tech instead of using his wealth and political influence to tackle the
Special Interest
When you think of art museums the image of a blank white hallway with elaborate oil paintings and marble sculptures may come to mind. However, these works are not the bulk of art created each day. The Children's Museum of the Arts showcases the works of artists with