👋 Hey there, chaos coordinator—

Welcome to this week’s edition: Craft, Splatter, Roll, Repeat 🎨🌧️🎳
Because not every summer memory has to be picture-perfect—and let’s be honest, the best ones usually involve dirt, glue, or a bowling ball.

We’ve rounded up five playful picks that embrace the beautiful mess: from backyard mud pies and paper crafts to free kids’ bowling and good old-fashioned running wild. Whether it’s a creative splash or a full-on muddy masterpiece, these are the kind of low-stress, high-giggle wins we love.

As always, no fluff. Just doable family fun—tossed together like a toddler’s art project and served with a side of barely-controlled chaos.

Here’s what’s in store

• One Place to Play — Strike & Spare

• 3 Events to Check Out — Paper Crafting, Water Splashing, and Storytime

• One Place to Eat — Crewitts!

• One at Home Activity — Mud Pies!

• One thoughtful moment — Dada, Ball!?

🎳 One Place to Play: Erlanger Strike & Spare

📍 510 Commonwealth Ave, Erlanger, KY
Bowling Center Hours

Sunday: Noon – 11pm
Monday-Thursday: 10am – 11pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am – Midnight

Need a break from the heat, the bugs, or the “I’m bored” chorus echoing through your living room? Erlanger Strike & Spare has you covered—and this one’s easy on your wallet, too.

Now through August 10, kids bowl FREE every day as part of the Kids Bowl Free program (just pay for shoe rental). It’s the perfect way to squeeze in some midweek fun or surprise the kids with a spontaneous outing.

🎯 What you’ll find:

• Bumper lanes for littles who are still perfecting their roll

• A clean, friendly vibe that’s great for families

• Cosmic Bowling nights with glowing lights and cranked-up tunes (basically a mini dance party with bowling shoes)

🧡 Parent tip: Sign up for the Kids Bowl Free pass online before you go—once you’re in, it’s all strikes and smiles from there.

🧡🧡 Bonus tip: Look for used shoes on Facebook Marketplace and only pay for shoes once this season!

Don't miss out—this summer deal ends August 10, and it’s too good to gutter!

🎨 One Creative Event: Print & Page Art Hive

📍 Hellmann Creative Center, 321 MLK Jr. Blvd, Covington
📅 July 22^nd and Every 4th Tuesday of the Month
🕒 Event lasts 2 hours | 🅿️ Free venue parking
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome

Looking for something a little more paper and paint than sweat and sunscreen this week? Print & Page Art Hive is a cozy, come-as-you-are space where families can explore all things paper—think junk journaling, mini book-making, zine creating, print-making, and good old-fashioned stamping fun.

🖍️ Supplies are provided, or bring your own project to work on. No experience needed—just curiosity and a kid or two who likes to cut, glue, or scribble.

This community-powered art gathering is part of the international Art Hive network, and it's all about creative play, connection, and making space for expression at any age.

🧡 Parent tip: Great for mixed-age siblings and kids who prefer quiet, hands-on fun. Bonus—it’s indoors and totally free.

📚 One Little Local Outing: Storytime

📍 Erlanger Branch Library – Children’s Activity Room
📅 Wednesday, July 23 ⏰ Baby Storytime 10:00- 11:00 AM ⏰Toddler Storytime 11:30 AM–12:30 PM

Got a toddler who loves to wiggle, giggle, and flip through every book on the shelf? Storytimes are a warm, no-pressure way to ease into group fun with stories, songs, and simple playtime— ages 0-5 welcome.

🧡 Parent tip: Great for building routines and getting those early social skills going (plus, it’s free and indoors—win-win).

No registration needed—just show up and settle in.

💦 One Local Event: Depot Days – Water Day!

📍 Erlanger Railroad Depot Park, 3313 Crescent Ave
📅 Thursday, July 24 | ⏰ 10:30 AM–12:00 PM

It’s the last Depot Day of the summer, and they’re going out with a splash—literally. Water Day is back, and it’s the perfect excuse to let the kids get soaked while you enjoy lunch in the shade.

👕 Bring towels, extra clothes, and maybe reserve some energy for the round-up.

🍽️ Free lunch for kids under 18 (grown-ups can grab a plate for a small fee)
📚 Program kicks off at 11:00 AM with stories, hands-on activities, and summer-wrapped fun

🚸 Best for ages 0–8
🅿️ Street parking only

🧡 Parent tip: Come early—lunch starts at 10:30 and supplies go fast.

🌧️ In case of storms, check the City of Erlanger or library social pages for updates.

This one’s all about letting kids be kids—and ending summer break on a high (and very wet) note.

 🍔 One Place to Eat: Crewitts Creek Kitchen & Bar

📍 2037 Centennial Blvd, Independence, KY
📞 (859) 359-5121
🕒 Open: Tues–Thurs 2–9PM | Fri 2–10PM | Sat 11AM–10PM | Sun 11AM–8PM | Closed Mondays

Looking for a spot that hits the sweet spot between kid-friendly and grown-up approved? Crewitts Creek serves up casual comfort food in a relaxed setting where families don’t have to whisper or apologize for spilled crayons.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What makes it family-friendly?

• A solid kids' menu with all the classics: grilled cheese, chicken tenders, burgers, mac & cheese—most under $6

• High chairs, friendly staff, and an atmosphere where your toddler’s volume level isn’t a deal-breaker

• Outdoor seating for wiggly kids who need fresh air between bites

• Ample free parking (aka stroller-friendly!)

• Takeout & delivery available for those "not today, dining room" kind of nights

🧡 Parent tip: It’s both a kitchen and a bar, but don’t let that throw you—this spot is laid-back and welcoming to families. No playground here, but the service is kind and the food hits the spot.

📢 Heads up: It gets busy during peak times, so earlier dinner or takeout might be your best bet if you’ve got hangry little ones in tow.

🎂 One Backyard Activity: Mud Kitchen Magic

Got some dirt, water, and a few old kitchen tools? You’ve got the makings of a mud kitchen—aka a recipe for hours of imaginative, gloriously messy play. No Pinterest-perfect setup required!

🛠️ Set up a space:
Pick a shady corner outside and toss together a table, an old bench, or even some sturdy crates. Add pots, pans, ladles, muffin tins, and measuring cups from the back of your kitchen cabinet or your last thrift store run.

🌼 Stock the shelves:
Let your kids "cook" using sticks, flowers, pebbles, leaves—anything they can gather from the yard. Add a bucket of water and you've got instant mud pie ingredients.

🎨 Optional extras:
Add a chalkboard for a mud pie menu, or a few stumps for seating. Bonus points for a “fancy” faucet made from a funnel and pipe!

🧡 Parent tip: Don’t overthink it. The mess is half the magic.

🍪 One At-Home Activity: Indoor “No-Mess” Mud Kitchen

Rainy day? No yard? No problem. You can still cook up a big batch of pretend fun—mud-free.

🧾 What you’ll need:

• A small table or corner of the kitchen (even a big tray on the floor works!)

• Old pots, muffin tins, and spoons

• Reusable play materials like:

  • Kinetic sand or play-dough

  • Dried beans or rice

  • Cotton balls, pompoms, felt scraps, buttons

  • Spices (like cinnamon or cocoa) for “mud pie” magic

• Toy dishes or kitchen tools, if you’ve got them

🎨 Let the fun begin:

Encourage your kiddo to “bake,” “stir,” “serve,” and invent their own dishes. Add a notepad or chalkboard for taking orders and naming creations—bonus points for pretend menus like "Cocoa Dirt Cupcakes" or "Button Soup."

🧡 Parent tip: Keep everything stored in a bin so it’s easy to pull out anytime you need 30 minutes of peaceful(ish) play.

🧡🧡 Bonus Tip: Blend Cheerios into sand if your tot still likes to eat what they play with.

No mud, no mop—just good, clean pretend fun.

Dada? Ball?!

I wanted to share a little moment that’s been brightening up my day this week. My son is about 13 months old now, and watching him grow into this curious, joyful little human has been the best kind of magic.

Lately, he’s started getting really excited when he hears me come in the door after work. I’ll hear a tiny voice shout, “Dada? Ball?!”—and there he is, grinning ear to ear, waiting at the baby gate with his big orange rubber ball. Before I even get my shoes off, he’s tossing it over the gate to me, and we’ll play catch like that for a few minutes—just back and forth, ball and belly laughs.

It’s such a small thing, but it’s quickly become one of the brightest parts of my day. No matter how tough the day’s been, knowing he’s waiting to play ball with Dada makes everything feel lighter.

💬 I’d love to hear your version of this—what’s a small moment with your kids that completely filled your heart this week? Click on the “Have an experience to share?” button below. Let’s celebrate those tiny joys together!

Until Next Week…
Until next week...
Whether you're knee-deep in pretend mud pies or just sweeping up the real dirt tracked in from the backyard — we’re cheering you on. You're doing amazing.

So go ahead—let 'em dig, stir, and squish. We’ll bring the napkins. If you enjoyed this weeks fun packed issue consider sharing it with a parent or gardian in a similar stage of life and need a bit of a pick me up.

We'll be back next Friday with more doable fun, fresh local picks, and just enough muddy inspiration to remind you that the mess is often where the memories are made.

With muddy shoes and a grateful heart,
Otto Neff
Creator of Hopscotch Highlights
A fellow tired parent growing something good, one moment at a time