Get the kids suited up in that new mohawk helmet and find them the perfect bike for your day on the bike trail. Akron, Ohio is home to miles of trails that are perfect for new riders, experienced bikers and our favorite, the family cargo bike riders. Ride along paths that used to be train tracks, look for hidden waterfalls and take a dip in a lake when you are done. Scroll down for all the best bike trails for kids of all ages and abilities.
Bike and Hike Trail, Summit Metro Parks
The paved 34-mile Bike & Hike Trail travels southeast from Sagamore Hills to Munroe Falls and Stow. This was one of the first "rails to trails" conversions in the country and sections of the Bike & Hike Trail follow the course of two abandoned railroads. There are several parking lots with access points along the way.
East of Route 91 in Munroe Falls, the Bike & Hike Trail parallels a scenic section of the Cuyahoga River where great blue herons, Canada geese and a variety of ducks can be seen. Don't miss a stop at Brandywine Falls. At 75 feet, the fall are one of the highest in Ohio.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area that draws hikers, bikers, horseback riders and birders. This path is partially paved and very popular for good reason as it is a gorgeous area to explore via your bike. On weekends it can get pretty crowded so pick it for your weekday rides. Check out the Bike Aboard program where you can bike one way between the Boston Store and Station Road train stations, and ride the train the other direction with your bike onboard.
This 237-acre park has six trails that total 3.6 miles. The trails are smoothed with some rolling hills that are perfect for younger riders. There are several trails to choose from, the longest is about a mile and a half. As a post ride reward, children will enjoy the orchard-themed playground. There's also an awesome sledding hill here in winter months.
The 3.3-mile paved trail around the lake offers great opportunities for bike riding kids. Located in the southern end of Cleveland Metroparks, Hinckley Reservation is the site of the nationally-known annual Return of the Buzzards. Bonus: you can cool off in the water after your ride!
The Greenway Corridor is a 4.8-mile paved trail that's perfect for family bike rides in the beauty of nature. Bonus: The beautiful waterfall locally known as “Chair Factory Falls” is a natural feature accessible by a pedestrian trail off the Greenway Corridor in Concord Township. You'll have to park your bikes and take the very short pedestrian pathway to see the falls.
You teach your kids to wear a helmet and buckle up because their safety is always top of mind. Whystle, an app created by a mom of four kids, shares your values. The app provides personalized product safety alerts, recalls and other news items related to parenting that will help keep your family safe and healthy.
We know you do your best to keep up on the latest product and food recalls, but even the most super mom needs some super help sometimes. We like to think of Whystle as an extra layer of security. Here are some ways the app will help make parenting easier for you:
• When you’re researching a new product or brand, Whystle will provide a history of for that specific product type or a safety record of the brand. You’ll know whether the stroller you’re eyeing has presents a choking hazard or the dog treats you’re buying for Fido is contaminated.
• You can personalize your app so you receive product and brand alerts immediately that pertain to your stage of parenting and lifestyle habits. Get alerts affecting pregnancy, children, pets, food, allergies, medications, medical devices and much more.
• Share Whystle and your personalized feed with family and friends. This ensures that the people caring for your kids are on the same page as you and have access to the same information.
• If you own a product that’s been recalled and are entitled to a replacement, refund or some other benefit, Whystle will let you know. They’ll tell you exactly what steps to take to get what you’re owed (which is sometimes hard to navigate directly with the company).
Lauren Bell, the founder of Whystle, is a mom herself to four kids. She spent 10 years at the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuting companies for dangerous products so she knows firsthand how people kept getting hurt because the message wasn’t getting out effectively about safety issues and recalls. Her app is providing parents peace-of-mind and that is truly priceless.
Download Whystle here. Users can snag a free 7-day trial. Monthly an annual plans range from $2 to $5.99/month.
You are going to feel the need…the need for speed. Hasbro and Paramount pictures are teaming up to bring you the first ever Transformers-Top Gun collaboration starring the brand new character, Maverick. This new Transformers robot is the ideal wingman taking form as the iconic Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat jet from the original Top Gun film.
The new Top Gun mash-up Maverick robot was created in honor of the highly anticipated sequel to the iconic film. Top Gun: Maverick is expected to premiere Dec. 23, 2020.
The new Transformers Autobot Maverick stands at 7 inches tall in robot mode and can convert from a robot to a Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat in steps. Maverick includes a screen-inspired miniature motorcycle accessory and two alternate hands that can hold the included volleyball accessory. The figure also features folding jet wings, movie-inspired details, including a helmet design inspired by the new film. It also includes four missile accessories that can be mounted on the figure’s arms while in robot mode and under the wings in jet mode.
The Maverick figure is available now for pre-order at HasbroPulse.com, while supplies last.
The only thing better than a bike ride is a family bike ride. Now you can get outdoors and stay socially distanced while cycling through town or your local rail trail. Trek Bicycle has all the must have cycling gear and accessories for families to keep your family safe during your next bike ride.
Keep your kids riding safer, happier and more confidently with a helmet and lights.
The new Bontrager Jet WaveCel Helmet is the first-ever kids’ helmet to feature WaveCel, a leading technology in the protection against cycling-related head injuries. Key features include:
Skater-inspired kids’ bike helmet design
Comes with a sticker pack for kid-friendly customization
Fidlock magnetic buckle that fastens quickly and easily
Dialed fit system for a secure and comfortable fit
Thick helmet pads that are easy to remove for cleaning
The helmet retails for $100.
The Safety Bike Lights and Daytime Running Lights are the perfect biking addition to provide visibility all day and night so kids can constantly be seen by passing drivers.
Check your toy box because there’s been a recall of Grizzly Industrial Children’s Tool Kits. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the tool belt, hammer and suspenders (model H3044) contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead content standard. In addition, the toy goggles and hardhats do not meet toy safety requirements.
The recalled Children’s Tool Kits have two different model numbers: H3044 and H5855. Model H3044 is a 12-piece tool kit that contains a helmet, goggles, tape measure, tool belt, hammer, pair of leather gloves, ruler, carpenter’s square, level, bottle of chalk and suspenders. Model H5855 is an 11-piece tool kit that contains goggles, tape measure, wooden tool caddy, hammer, ruler, carpenter’s square, level, screwdriver, pliers and an adjustable wrench. Model numbers are printed on the front upper right hand corner of the packaging. “Grizzly Industrial” is printed on multiple items of the tool kits.
Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled Children’s Tool Kits and keep them away from children. Consumers should contact Grizzly Industrial for instructions on returning the recalled tool kits to receive a full refund including return shipping. Grizzly is contacting all known purchasers directly to notify them of this recall.
Call Grizzly Industrial toll-free at 888-615-7944 anytime, email at recalls@grizzly.com or go to www.grizzly.com and click on recalls for more information.
No injuries have been reported.
These toys were sold at Grizzly Industrial’s showrooms nationwide and online at and Amazon from September 2002 through November 2019 for about $20.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Just in time for the premiere of the new Star Wars movie, Roblox rolled out the new Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Creator Challenge.
The popular online gaming platform Roblox has teamed up with Disney to offer a unique challenge to its users. Players can design and build their very own driftspeeder to race head-to-head against other players. They can also unlock limited-edition virtual items, like a Stormtrooper Helmet, Rey’s Staff and BB-8.
Players need to complete lessons that teach the basic elements of building and publishing a game on Roblox, like game design, building and 3D modeling, scripting and coding. Once the lessons are completed, users can collect the Star Wars-inspired items.
“Star Wars has inspired generations of fans of all ages with its compelling narrative, expansive universe, and iconic characters, and we’re proud to bring a piece of that to Roblox’s millions of users,” said Craig Donato, Chief Business Officer at Roblox. “Our collaboration with Disney is all about unlocking your imagination, empowering anyone to create their own immersive worlds, and simply having fun while learning the fundamentals of coding and game design in the process.”
The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Creator Challenge is on now through Jan. 6, 2020.
Is your kiddo in full-on Halloween mode? With October right around the corner, Hanna Andersson is here to help—with its online Halloween store. Check out the PJ’s, costumes and other pint-sized picks the retailer has to offer.
It’s been 15 years since artist, Paula Strawn began painting corrective helmets for babies with plagiocephaly and she’s loved every minute of it. Also known as “flat-head syndrome,” cranial plagiocephaly is a correctable condition that affects almost half of babies under one, but it takes an adjustable helmet to do so.
When Strawn was approached by a friend to spruce up a bland, white helmet for her granddaughter, she was a little nervous having never seen one before. But her designs were met with rave reviews, and the artist has gone on to paint more than 3,200 in the last decade and a half.
She tells PEOPLE, “It’s a fun, friendly and personal design that brings smiles to baby and a chance for parents to have a conversation about the helmet instead of pity [from others],” Strawn says. “Smiles are always preferable over pity!”
Each design is unique and takes three hours to 12 hours to finish. Strawn uses water-based non-toxic paint and the average cost runs from $220 to $300 each. Looking for a discount? The artist gladly marks down prices for military twin helmets.
Pink is no stranger to social media trolling. The pop star, like many celebs, has gotten more than her fair share of “parenting advice” via Instagram.
Not one to sit back and take social media shaming, Pink recently posted a pic with a caption that says it all. The mama to two wrote, on IG, “Here’s a picture of my child running through water. It wasn’t even filtered. What a waste of water.”
The singer went on to add, “And no helmet? I hope she had sunscreen. If she slips and falls she may be traumatized for life.” Pink finished the post with a totally necessary jab at her working mom critics, “And her mother wasn’t even there. I was….. gasp…. working!!!! In another country!”
With nearly 350,000 likes, we’re pretty sure the sarcastic sentiment was very much appreciated!
Your fave kids’ show just got some serious social media attention. When the Sesame Street Twitter account recently asked which of their “friends” you’d want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island, the internet had feelings on the matter.
So which fave friend did the Twitter-verse choose? The picks were mixed. One eager answer-er nominated Oscar for his trashcan of “useful junk.” But then took it back and picked Grover for his can-do attitude.
Another Twitter user also chose Grover, noting the Muppet’s ability to tie knots, build wooden structures and lay bricks.
I agree! If you've ever read "There's a Monster at the End of This Book," you know that Grover can tie all kinds of knots, build wooden structures, lay bricks, etc. He'd be a super useful survival partner.
— Nicole Papaioannou Lugara, PhD (@NicolePapaPhD) March 18, 2019
Of course, food would turn into an issue. And this Twitter user had a solution by picking Cookie Monster.
Some comments took to the darker side of things. Director Joss Whedon choose Super Grover for his ability to “get stuff done,” but also noted that the Muppet would provide plenty of food—in that “stranded on a deserted island with nothing to eat” sense. (Oh Joss, could we please go one plot without killing a beloved character? Please?)
Ever heard of Super Grover, you idiots? He’s gonna get stuff DONE. Planes will see him in his cape and Roman helmet or whatever it was. He’s ENTHUSED. He’d do all the cooking for sure. Also will provide a good amount of food when you kill/eat, not like scrawny #Elmohttps://t.co/bEutULhpoe
While there’s no total yet, judging by the tweets it seems like your kiddo’s favorite red monster, Elmo, is in last place. But that could change at any time! Check out all the hilarious answers here on Twitter.