The tooth fairy is one of those magical myths I remember from my childhood. I imagined that a small fairy similar to Tinker Bell, only quieter, would come into my room while I was asleep and exchange my tooth for a shiny quarter. But now that I have my own kids, I feel like I need a how-to manual for this tradition and fast. Our recent trip to the dentist revealed that both my boys have loose teeth. I am anticipating their many questions and have already managed to avoid several: Who is the Tooth Fairy? Is it a she or he? Is she small? Does she take the tooth? Where does it go? How come some kids get money? How much money? How come some kids get presents? I never really thought about the details or what other parents tell their kids until now.

Losing baby teeth is an important rite of passage for kids. I want to make it fun and magical for my kids like I remember it. I’ve learned a bit from talking to other parents, and my sons’ dentist. Children generally lose their first baby tooth between the ages of 5 and 7, although it can vary. In the United States, it seems the tooth is placed under the child’s pillow at bedtime – sometimes in a special container or Tooth Fairy pillow. During the night, only when the child is asleep, the Tooth Fairy visits and makes an exchange (usually monetary) for the tooth.
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Do you wonder what your kids are learning at school? Some kids like to discuss their day in great detail while other kids are less forthcoming.

PBS parents worked with a panel of educators from across the country to develop a useful guide showing what our children learn and how they learn from preschool through fifth grade. Since school curriculums vary widely, these are only general guidelines, but it may help keep you informed and give you ideas of questions to ask your children about their day.

By Marianne Ruggiero
Coordinator of Family Programs at The RISD Museum
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Note: The images of artwork from The RISD Museum collection will remain on the Kidoinfo website for only 3 months as requested by the Museum. Although the images have been removed, kids may still enjoy doing some of the following projects.
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Could you describe your favorite place purely in terms of the objects - great or small - you’ve seen there? Joaquin Torres-Garcia, Uruguayan by birth but a world traveler for most of his life, created such city word-pictures. New York City was “enormous surfaces with a thousand rectangular openings… elevators… trains, underground subways, numbers, 56, 56, 56, passing rapidly on the post…” The artist used to ask his friends to read this description, as fast as they could, to get a sense of the bustling life of the city. See if you can do this as well.

The French port city of Dunkerk was “harbor, dock, cranes… compass… telescope, helm wheel… rope ladder… heavy, static ships.” Think about the movement of ships in comparison to that of trains and subways. Would you read this city word-picture quickly or slowly?

Now you try it!
On a piece of paper, write the name of the city where you live or choose a place that you have visited. Make a “word picture” like Torres-Garcia to describe it. Parents can help write down the words for the younger kids. Try to write down six to ten words that describe the city.

…………………………………….. …………………………………….. ……………………………………..
(City)

…………………………………….. …………………………………….. ……………………………………..

Torres-Garcia lived at a time when many people traveled from one continent to another - say New York to France - by ship. In his painting 1943 America, we see a steamship that the artist has envisioned as brightly colored interlocking shapes, almost like a jigsaw puzzle. Can you tell from this painting that Torres-Garcia also designed wooden toys?

What would this painting look like with different colors and a few extra details? Click to upload an outline drawing of the painting, and color it with pencils, cray pas, or markers. Add extra details, if you like. Something you may find swimming in the ocean? Flying overhead?

Credits for Artwork:

Joaquin Torres-Garcia
Uruguayan, 1874-1949
1943 America, 1943
Oil on board, 23.625 ” x 27.75 ”
The Nancy Sayles Day Collection of Modern Latin American Art
Photograph by Erik Gould

Aztec, Monkey
around 1325-1521
Volcanic stone, 14 ” x 10 1/2 ”
Mary B. Jackson Fund
Photograph by Erik Gould.

ARTplay is a monthly column written by Marianne Ruggiero from The RISD Museum in which various themes and activities will introduce kids and parents to the museum’s collection both online and off. Each month Kidoinfo will help spark your children’s interest in art – they can learn about different works at the museum and download a related activity to create offline. Be sure to visit the museum and explore the art in person. On Free-for-All Saturdays (the last Saturday of every month), kids may continue their exploration through a variety of hands-on workshops, performances, videos, and special gallery quests throughout the day.

All additional inquires or requests should be directed to: Melody Ennis, Coordinator of Photographic Services, The RISD Museum, 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903. 401 454-6535. E-mail inquires to: mennis@risd.edu

We discovered this book by Neil Gaiman on a recent trip to the library. What a cool find for kids and parents. I am a fan of Dave McKean’s mixed-media style illustrations – his art is an amazing combination of collage, paint, and pen. The book came with a CD of the author reading the story – hearing Neil read was a treat.

This zany story is about what happens when you trade your dad with a friend for two goldfish, and your mom finds out. We got caught up in the funny journey the brother and sister go on to retrieve their dad. We had the book out for less than a week and my boys listened to it more times than I can remember.

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish (age 5 and up). Written by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Dave McKean.

If you liked that book, try The Wolves in the Walls. Also written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean. This is a funny story about what may be hiding in your walls and how the family reacts to the situation.

After reading these books, my boys and I talked about what we’d do if we were in these situations, which led to making up our own stories. See what your kids think.

I don’t believe only girls can have dollhouses. My husband calls the ones he built for our sons when they were 3, “architectural models”. I find it easier to say dollhouse.

One of my sons kept his house neat and orderly for a while and “played house”. My other son liked to mess up his house and store some of his stuffed animals in it. Since my boys are twins and share a room, I think it gives them a good opportunity to make their own decisions about personal space - no sharing and no debating about how to use their own houses. Now one is painted green and the other is blue.

Over time, the dollhouses get played with for many days in a row or they may sit idle for long time periods - it all depends on the interest of the moment.

Recently my son decided his house is a cool place for his Batman and Robin toys to visit. Now the house is the hub of superhero adventures…

more
• Classic superhero toys found on eBay.
• Portable house from Sparkability.
• Buy a ready-made wood dollhouse from genius babies.

We are madly in love with our little one, but he hates to be put down. I’m thinking a sling or carrier might help me. When I look online I find the choices overwhelming. What should I even be looking for?

When thinking about purchasing a carrier of some sort, first think of what you will be using it for, how large your child is, your health (i.e. do you have a past shoulder injury that could be aggravated by a sling?), and your child’s favorite positions. Choosing a carrier or sling is a very personal choice and being comfortable is your primary objective. The main types of carriers, Pouch Sling, Ring Sling, Wrap, and Back Carrier are outlined below:

Pouch Sling (pictured)
Most families looking for something basic in the first 4-6 months of their baby’s life tend to be very happy with a pouch sling. It is one-piece, usually fitted for your body, and is very easy to use (no snaps, rings, or buckles). This is the type of carrier that can be balled up inside of your diaper bag and within seconds pulled out and used. The sling gives baby a cradle-like carry that provides parents hands-free baby holding. See more styles at Hotslings.

Ring Sling
If your child has reflux or needs to be upright to be happy, a ring sling is your best option. Also, if you are looking to share the carrier with your partner (who likely has a different body shape), this works well because it is adjustable. However, the adjustability is also a drawback for some families because this carrier can sometimes seem bulky due to the extra fabric. See more styles at ZoloWear.

Wrap
If you have shoulder or back issues, the wisest carrier for you is a wrap. At Bellani Maternity, our favorite is called the Moby Wrap. The wrap uses your entire back and evenly distributes the weight of your baby throughout your shoulders, hips, and torso. The wrap can be used in a variety of positions on the front and hip during baby’s first eighteen months.
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September 23, 2007

Locally, The Peace Flag Project invites you to celebrate today from 3 - 5 pm
Davey Lopes Rec Center Park, 227 Dudley St. at Prairie Ave., Providence, RI

Hope Arts High School has brought back their instrumental music program. They have about 150 students who need instruments to play in school. If you have an instrument you are not using anymore, you can help put music into the hands of urban students whose families cannot afford to buy their own. Your used instrument may even be worth more as a tax deduction if you donate it to a charity than if you sell it. And the value of giving the gift of music to kids? Priceless.

So far they have received a bass clarinet, a guitar, and a banjo. They need violins, cellos, violas, and basses, and other band instruments.

For more information contact:
Michael L. Werth
Hope Arts High School - 324 Hope Street, Providence, RI
email: michael.werth@ppsd.org
office: (401) 456-9161

FirstWorks is one of the many things I love about Providence. This amazing organization brings an array of arts to our city twice a year for kids of all ages to experience. Dedicated to firsts, FirstWorks’ mission is to connect arts to audiences - from kids appreciating the arts for the first time to artists premiering new works in our city. The festivals are full of innovation and unforgettable performing arts.

Months ago, I mentioned what a fan Kidoinfo is of the FirstWorksKids festival in June (a free day jam-packed with music, dance, crafts, theater, and more for kids). Well now it is time for the annual FirstWorksProv Festival. Although this festival is geared towards a slightly older audience (tweens and up), it offers something for everyone. At Kidoinfo we love the creative, learning time we spend with our kids, but we are also adults who need to feed our own creative souls.

Read on for your Kidoinfo guide to the 2007 FirstWorks Festival:

FirstWorksProv Festival: September 29 - November
Location: Downtown Providence performance spaces including PPAC, VMA, RISD Auditorium, Pell Chafee Performance Center and Beneficent Church.
Tickets are required for many of the events. Prices range from $18 – 50 with student rush the hour beforehand. Passes for the entire festival as well as group sales are available.
Visit FirstWorksProv or call 401-621-6123 (ArtTix).

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Days and nights are hectic no matter the age of your kids – newborn, toddlers, or teens. And whether you are home full time, work outside the house, or work from home, finding a little time for yourself is like finding a bikini that fits. Save time by making your meals ahead at The Mixing Table. Make it a real night out by bringing your friends and mixing at this month’s Back to School, Back to You event.

The Mixing Table has created a special evening just for you (and me) that will include meal preparation, a sampling of upcoming menu items, a cooking demonstration by chef Mike Connetta of Waterman Grille, wine tasting with Chris Gasbarro of Chris Gasbarro’s Fine Wine & Spirits, and much more! Enter to win a Kidoinfo totebag filled with great gifts for moms from local businesses, including a gift certificate for three entrees from The Mixing Table.

Details
• Thursday, September 27, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• The event is free but please register in advance so there’ll be enough food for everyone to sample. Email info@themixingtable.com or call 508-336-3369.
• If you want to mix your own meals as well as socialize, reserve your menu in advance. Pick a minimum of 3 meals to prepare. Bring a cooler to transport your meals home.

Location: 1165 Fall River Ave. #2, Seekonk, MA
(Conveniently located across Route 6 from Target, Home Goods, and the Children’s Orchard in Seekonk, MA)
Questions? Email info@themixingtable.com or call 508-336-3369